BY ASHZEL HACHERO

CIVIL society, opposition, militant, worker, student and other sectoral groups, led by former President Corazon Aquino, are offering a thanksgiving Mass today at the Baclaran church to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the Edsa "people power" 1 that ousted the Marcos regime.

Militant groups, who are calling for President Arroyo’s ouster, are also set to stage protest actions in at least 15 cities for the Edsa 1 anniversary.

The thanksgiving Mass, which will be held at 3 p.m., was originally set to be held in Makati City then moved to Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City and finally to the Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, Parañaque.

Sto. Domingo Church declined to host the Mass because Malacañang also sought to "reserve" the place for a Mass on the same day, said Joey Salgado, chief of the Makati public information office.

"Instead of being the site of two Masses, they decided not to allow any Mass there, said Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada, the Senate’s key witness in alleged anomalies in the government’s national broadband project. "It’s sad but this is the reality."

Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay said the venue "is not important."

"What matters most is that people from all sectors will be coming together to give thanks to the Almighty not only for the miracle at Edsa 22 years ago that gave us back our freedom but also for the awakening of the Filipino people to the urgent needs for change in the national leadership today," he said.

Binay reiterated his call to the public to attend the Mass as an "expression of solidarity with the various sectors that have actively taken part in national affairs, in the face of the latest crisis besetting the nation."

He also said Filipinos must not lose the spirit of reform and vigilance that characterized the "people power revolt" of 1986, regardless of how many times it has to be resorted to.

Binay was reacting to Arroyo’s statement that "the world will condemn the Philippines if there is an Edsa 4.

He said it was an "obvious self-serving and convenient argument in a limp attempt to dissuade another possible people power amid strong calls for her to step down."

He said people power could not have been right in 1986 and in 2001, and then wrong if it were to happen now. If at all, he said, it was Edsa 2 that arguably opened the door to political instability, coming as it did when the political institutions were healthy, strong, and solidly in place.

"The appropriateness of an action is not dependent on how many times it is done. Clearly, more and more people feel the need for vigilance and reform at present, and it is therefore understandable that Mrs. Arroyo will try to scare them into believing that the rest of the world will censure us for another people power uprising," he said.

It is the rampant corruption in the Arroyo government – and not a possible Edsa 4 as Arroyo claims – that leads to political instability and contributes to lack of investor confidence in the country, Binay said.

‘BE INVISIBLE’

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said it is better that politicians stay away or be not visible in rallies as the public are now more willing to go out to the streets to express their outrage over the excesses of the Arroyo administration.

Pimentel said the disenchantment over the sad state of affairs in the country is driving the ordinary citizens to join street marches and protests, inspired by the call for change and action by the Catholic bishops, priests, nuns and other influential leaders of the community.

"In fact, it is my suggestion that we politicians should lay off from visible participation in protest rallies because the people seem to be turned off by our presence," he said.

CRITICAL MASS

He said it may be better for politicians to leave to the bishops, Bro. Eddie Villanueva (of Jesus is Lord Movement) and Bro. Mike Velarde (of El Shaddai charismatic group), the task of mounting massive demonstrations so as not to inject partisan politics into these activities.

"The more we keep ourselves out of sight in mobilization and demonstrations, I think, would be for the better," Pimentel said.

"Perhaps, we should stay away from these demonstrations because, otherwise the impression is that we may be manipulating the process to our advantage," Pimentel said.

He said the "critical mass" would be there in an interfaith prayer rally on February 29 to compel President Arroyo to heed the calls for her resignation.

"That may yet be the tipping point as regards the political fate of Mrs. Arroyo. And perhaps that is why First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is already paving the way for change by going to Hong Kong," Pimentel said.

PROTEST ACTIONS

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said its protest rally will be held at the Don Chino (formerly Mendiola) bridge in Manila after the Quezon City government denied it a permit to stage its rally at the People Power Monument.

Renato Reyes, Bayan secretary general, said it decided on Mendiola as venue after learning that pro-Arroyo groups are going to stage a rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio.

Bayan members will gather at the Welcome rotunda at 1 p.m. and March to Mendiola.

"It will be a peaceful and organized protest. We urge the residents of Sampaloc, Manila to come out and see the march to Mendiola. There is hope that people power is still alive in the heart of our people," Reyes said.

Protest actions will also be held in Baguio City, Calamba, Legaspi, Naga, Sorsogon, Daet, Masbate, Virac, Davao, Butuan, Surigao, Tandag, Bislig and Cagayan de Oro. – With Anthony Ian Cruz and Job Realubit