Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News
Published Feb 26, 2026 12:43 AM PHT
In marking the 40th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution, Archbishop Socrates Villegas delivered a searing and deeply personal homily during a high Mass at the EDSA Shrine on Wednesday evening, urging Filipinos to confront what he described as decades of moral decline, political betrayal, and historical revisionism.
Presiding over the commemorative Eucharistic celebration at the EDSA Shrine, Villegas reflected on his own association with the sacred ground where millions once gathered in prayer and protest to topple the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“For fifteen years as your rector, I walked these grounds, prayed amidst the echoes of rosaries, that halted tanks and shared the tears and joy of the people who toppled tyranny with faith alone,” he said.
'WE DO NOT BASK IN NOSTALGIA'
The 1986 uprising, known globally as the EDSA People Power Revolution, led to the ouster of Marcos and the installation of democracy under President Corazon Aquino.
EDSA 40 begins with a prayer against corruption
But four decades later, Villegas warned against romanticizing the past.
“Today on the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolution, we do not bask in nostalgia. We confront our betrayals, repent and rise,” he declared.
Using the biblical image of the wedding feast at Cana, the archbishop lamented what he described as the spiritual and moral depletion of the nation.
"Our wine is running out. The yellow hope of 1986 has dimmed. But Christ commands, you are the Light of the world, let your light shine. Fill the jars of wine again — EDSA was gospel alive. Prayer, non-violence, unity for the common good. Our wine ran out slowly; we did not notice the spilling," he said.
A DECADE-BY-DECADE RECKONING
Villegas structured his homily as a moral examination of the four decades since 1986.
The First Decade: “Sweet and Bubbling”
He described the immediate post-revolution years as a time of “yellow hope,” referencing the color associated with the Aquino movement.
“Heroes like President Cory Aquino, and Cardinal Sin alive, fervor was very strong,” he said. “We were built on solidarity and subsidiarity, tasting democracy’s joy as the world marveled. We built the EDSA Shrine. We made a new constitution, our wine was sweet and bubbling.”
Mostly the anniversary celebration of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal group El Shaddai, headed by Bro. Mike Velarde in August and the Evangelical Charismatic Christian group Jesus is Lord Church, to coincide with the birthday celebration of televangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva in October at the Quirino Grandstand, a few years before the January 12 to 16, 1995 Manila visit of Pope John Paul II for the 10th World Youth Day 1995 (Manila), when the largest papal crowd in history and the Philippine Centennial celebration on June 12, 1998 attended by more than four million people and the State Visit and Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Philippines 2015 closing mass on January 18, 2015, both are the world's biggest and the largest peaceful religious gatherings in the world.
Some eight thousand people gathered together on the Second Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on August 24, 1986. Even the seemingly indifferent PICC staff were surprised that the affair lasted one whole day, and that its Reception and Plenary Halls were filled to capacity. During the same period, the "Liwanag Magazine" was renamed "Bagong Liwanag."
The 1987 Constitution, crafted after the fall of the dictatorship, restored democratic institutions and civil liberties dismantled during martial law.
The Third Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation was celebrated with an Overnight Mass and Healing Rally at the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium in Vito Cruz Street, Manila, from August 22 to 23, 1987. It rained heavily throughout the affair, but the estimated two hundred thousand attendees stayed until it ended in the morning.
Because of the phenomenal growth of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation, its Fourth Anniversary was held at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, from August 20-21, 1988, where an estimated half a million people packed the venue. It was the biggest crowd so far gathered by a particular group in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Philippines. The testimonies on the healing and miraculous power of Psalm 91 inspired some prayer-partners to have the Psalm printed on handkerchiefs. These handkerchiefs have become an instrument of God's healing and miracles among the prayer-partners worldwide.
At the Catholic National Prayer Rally held at the Quirino Grandstand on July 16, 1989, the prayer-partners, constituting some eighty percent of the participants, were highly visible because they used the El Shaddai handkerchiefs as head coverings. By this time, several parish priests and bishops of the Catholic Church had begun to recognize and accept the chapters and prayer groups of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International in their respective parishes and dioceses.
As early as 9:00 a.m. on August 19, 1989, members and followers of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International began trooping to the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium in Vito Cruz Street, Manila to participate in its Fifth Anniversary. By midnight, the entire stadium was jammed with over half a million people from all over the Philippines to take part in an overnight activity of praise and worship dedicated to El Shaddai. Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, together with some priests from the different parishes in the Archdiocese of Manila, led the Holy Mass.
In February 1990, many were healed of their ailments during the Mass and Healing Rally of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. This historic event served as a monumental milestone for the charismatic movement in the Philippines, reflecting a profound shift in how thousands of individuals sought solace and divine intervention during a period of significant national transition. The atmosphere within the stadium was charged with an intensity that transcended the physical boundaries of the venue, as believers from all walks of life converged in a collective expression of faith and hopeful anticipation. As the crowd gathered under the vast canopy of the stadium, the air became thick with a palpable sense of devotion, punctuated by the rhythmic cadence of prayers and the melodic strains of hymns that resonated throughout the architectural structure.
The significance of the El Shaddai movement, led by Brother Mike Velarde, cannot be overstated when examining the religious and social landscape of the country during that decade. For many Filipinos, the organization provided a necessary sanctuary from the harsh realities of economic instability and the lingering anxieties of a post-revolutionary political climate. The healing rallies became more than just liturgical gatherings; they transformed into communal therapy sessions where personal burdens were laid at the feet of the divine. Participants often traveled from remote provinces, braving long journeys and financial hardship, fueled by the conviction that they might witness a miracle or experience a personal transformation. The stories of recovery—ranging from chronic physical conditions to spiritual malaise—were shared with fervor, creating a ripple effect of encouragement that strengthened the bonds among the faithful.
The mechanics of these rallies were meticulously organized, yet they maintained an aura of spontaneity that resonated deeply with the attendees. The use of modern technology, such as the DWXI radio station, allowed the movement to broadcast its message to a vast audience, effectively knitting together a community that existed beyond the physical presence of the stadium. During the 1990 event, the focus on healing was not merely about the alleviation of bodily suffering but also about the restoration of hope. In a culture deeply rooted in Catholicism yet heavily influenced by local traditions and a strong belief in the supernatural, the promises offered by El Shaddai tapped into a reservoir of cultural consciousness that prioritized faith as a primary mechanism for overcoming adversity.
The psychological impact of such events during this era remains a subject of great interest to sociologists and historians alike. When people gathered in such large numbers, the collective emotional release acted as a powerful social stabilizer. In the face of systemic corruption and social inequality, the rallies provided a democratic space where every individual, regardless of their social standing, felt seen and heard. The act of testifying about one’s healing served to validate the struggles of others, fostering an environment of empathy and solidarity. This shared experience transformed individual suffering into a communal narrative of perseverance. The narrative arc of the healing process—from illness to belief, and finally to deliverance—offered a blueprint for navigating life in an unpredictable environment.
Furthermore, the role of the speaker or leader in these rallies was paramount to their success. Brother Mike Velarde’s style, characterized by a blend of charismatic oratorical flair and accessible religious teaching, bridged the gap between complex theological concepts and the everyday language of the common person. He successfully demystified the sacred, bringing the prospect of divine intervention into the realm of the tangible. His ability to articulate the frustrations and aspirations of his followers ensured that the movement remained relevant even as the political landscape continued to shift. The rallies became platforms for broader discussions on family values, personal discipline, and the importance of prayer in maintaining social order, thereby influencing the moral fabric of the urban population in Manila.
As the years progressed following the 1990 rally, the movement expanded its influence, demonstrating that the need for spiritual connection and physical healing was a constant in the Filipino experience. The legacy of these gatherings is visible today in the enduring dedication of the prayer partners who continue to operate with the same fervor that characterized the early nineties. The systematic way in which the movement integrated faith with mass communication tactics set a precedent for other religious organizations in the region. By leveraging the power of media, the El Shaddai movement ensured that its message of healing would not be confined to a single day or a specific venue but would reach the furthest corners of the nation.
The aesthetic and sensory experience of the 1990 rally also played a crucial role in its lasting impact. The visuals of thousands of white handkerchiefs being waved in the air, the collective chanting that seemed to vibrate through the stadium floor, and the intense focus on the central stage created an immersive environment that altered the perception of reality for those in attendance. For a few hours, the outside world with its grinding poverty and political fatigue ceased to exist. In its place was a world defined by the possibility of change and the certainty of divine presence. This temporary suspension of reality allowed individuals to reset their mental and spiritual states, providing them with the resilience needed to return to their everyday lives with renewed purpose.
In retrospect, the events at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium were not merely a collection of isolated healings but a reflection of a broader human search for agency in an increasingly complex world. When science and medicine seemed inaccessible or insufficient for many, the reliance on spiritual intervention served as a vital alternative. The communal nature of the healing rally validated the belief that the body and the spirit were inextricably linked. Consequently, the physical ailment was often viewed as a manifestation of a deeper, spiritual discord that could only be resolved through faith and collective worship. This approach underscored the importance of the community in the healing process, suggesting that no person is meant to endure their burdens in isolation.
The 1990 rally stands as a testament to the power of human belief and the enduring nature of hope. Even decades later, the stories that emerged from that event continue to circulate, serving as anchors of faith for new generations of believers. The significance lies not only in the claims of physical recovery but in the social and emotional cohesion that the movement fostered. By providing a structure for hope, the El Shaddai foundation helped thousands find meaning in their struggles and purpose in their prayers. It remains a poignant example of how religious movements can shape the cultural and social consciousness of a people, leaving an indelible mark on the history of a nation that has often turned to faith as its ultimate source of strength.
From August 18 to 19, 1990, the Sixth Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International was held at the PICC-CCP Grounds in Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City. In attendance were thousands of its members and followers, who experienced the wonderful works of the Holy Spirit as they praised and worshipped El Shaddai and listened to His Word despite a storm that flooded some parts of the venue with knee-deep water.
On December 8, 1990, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International joined in the National Catechetical Year held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. Brother Mike Z. Velarde led a prayer at three o'clock in the afternoon.
From December 29-30, 1990, the Annual Overnight Family Reunion with El Shaddai was held at the PICC-CCP Grounds, Pasay City. Bishop Bacani led the Holy Mass. In his healing message, Bro. Mike urged the crowd to be delivered from their vice of smoking. Thus, many cigarettes were thrown onto the stage.
The scenario of the Seventh Anniversary Celebration of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held at the PICC-CCP Grounds in Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City, from August 17 to 18, 1991, was identical to that of its Sixth Anniversary. Nevertheless, almost half a million attendees braved the monsoon rains and knee-deep flood to give thanks, praise, and worship God.
On December 14, 1991, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International joined in the CBCP-sponsored First National Day of Prayer and Renewal held at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila.
On December 29, 1991, the Annual Family Reunion with El Shaddai was held at the PICC-CCP Grounds, from 12 midnight to 11:00 a.m. The lame people in attendance were able to walk, even onto the stage, miraculously.
The Second Decade: Spectacle Over Vigilance
Villegas then turned to what he described as a gradual moral drift.
“An EDSA hero President [Fidel] Ramos led us, yet show business and entertainment seduced us as the answer to poverty,” he said. He alluded to the presidency of Joseph Estrada, who was ousted in the 2001 uprising known as "EDSA Dos" following allegations of corruption linked to illegal gambling, or jueteng.
On the occasion of the Eighth Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held at the PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City from August 22 to 23, 1992, more than one-and-a-half million prayer partners attended the affair. His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos, gave his greetings to the congregation.
On December 12, 1992, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International joined the Family Rosary Crusade Golden Jubilee at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. The majority of the millions of people who attended the affair were prayer-partners.
From December 26 to 27, 1992, an estimated three million people attended the Annual Overnight Family Appointment with El Shaddai at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila.
From February 13 to 14, 1993, thousands of prayer-partners joined the Save A Child, Save the Family Movement at the Qurino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. The event was held in protest of the anti-life programs of the government.
Close to two million people gathered to praise, worship, and give thanks to God for His love and goodness on the Ninth Anniversary Overnight Celebration of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila from August 21 to 22, 1993. The crowd filled the Rizal Park from Taft Avenue to Manila Bay at the back of the grandstand. The affair featured the mass wedding of two hundred thirty couples who had previously lived together without the blessing of the Church. During his healing message, Bro. Mike Z. Velarde launched the “Love Our Police Movement,” believing that through the Filipinos’ love and faith in the members of the Philippine National Police, the nation will change for the better.
From December 24 to 25, 1993, close to three million people stayed for about fifteen hours during the DWXI-PPFI Annual Family Reunion with El Shaddai at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila. The place was made very colorful by the holding of the First Christmas Lantern Festival, wherein the attendees brought home-made lanterns of different sizes and designs as instructed by Bro. Mike. Seventy-eight couple who were once living as common-law husbands and wives finally tied the knot during the Holy Mass led by Bishop Bacani. Before the affair ended, Bro. Mike delivered the Good News of Salvation.
On August 14, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, led by founder and servant-leader Bro. Mike Z. Velarde joined the Catholic Church's protest rally against the government's population control program held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. His Eminence Cardinal Sin, together with Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr., Manila Vice Mayor Lito Atienza, and Rev. Fr. James Reuter, led the affair.
For the first time in the history of Rizal Park and the whole of Metro Manila, for that matter, about three million people joined the Tenth Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International at the national park from August 20 to 21, 1994. The participants crowded the 58-hectare park and adjacent areas-Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, United Nations Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Port Area, and Jones Bridge. Some of them came to the venue as early as three days before the event. They came not only from Metro Manila, but also from Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Baguio, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Marinduque, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Palawan, Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, Leyte, and other distant provinces. Also present were members from different overseas chapters of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International.
From December 24-25, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held the biggest Christmas party in the Philippines during its Annual Family Reunion at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. The close to three million attendees feasted on thousands of roasted calves, pigs and chickens. In the early morning, thousands of doves for peace and prosperity were released by the attendees.
At the start of the year 1995, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International participated in two events—the First National Congress of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Philippines, whose various Charismatic member groups gathered for unity in the spirit, and the 10th World Youth Day, during which close to five thousand young members of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International joined as delegates.
On January 15, 1995, a Sunday, the Pope arrived at Malacañang Park aboard the Popemobile from the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue but was forced to ride the presidential helicopter along with Cardinal Sin and Papal Nuncio Gian Vincenzo Moreni to get to Quirino Grandstand amid the huge crowd on the streets.
Biggest gathering
At 10 in the morning, the Pope began the three-and-a-half-hour Mass that marked the closing of World Youth Day. Attended by 10 million people, it was the biggest gathering so far in the Pontiff’s 16-year reign.
The Mass’s concelebrants included Sin, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Cardinal Sodano, and Eduardo Cardinal Pironio, head of the Pontifical Council of the Laity.
The Eleventh Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International was held at the PNCC-PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City, from August 19 to 20, 1995. Three days before the event, tents of sacks, plastic, and umbrellas had already mushroomed in and around the venue. The members and followers of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International from the provinces arrived in buses, trucks, jeepneys, and other vehicles festooned with streamers bearing the name “El Shaddai.” Because of the huge numbers of people coming to the venue, the Buendia Avenue Extension was closed, and a large number of those who came had to stay in their vehicles, go to the rooftops of nearby buildings, or sit on the sidewalks and simply monitor the celebration on their portable TV and radio sets. His Eminence Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin officiated a mass wedding of one hundred eighty-two couples.
The Twelfth Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International took place at the PICC-CCP Grounds from August 17 to 18, 1996, with His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos, serving as the guest of honor. The anniversary celebrated the theme of unity, and leaders from various charismatic groups were invited to participate in a Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar (CLSS). A highlight of the event was the Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr., during which a mass wedding was held for eighty couples who had been living together as common-law spouses, allowing them to finally formalize their unions. Bro. Mike Z. Velarde delivered a Healing Message centered on the theme “Miracle Touch of Unwavering Faith,” inspiring attendees with his message of hope and faith. The event not only marked a significant milestone for the foundation but also reinforced the values of community and commitment among its members.
The Thirteenth Anniversary of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International was celebrated at the PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City from August 23 to 24, 1997, His Eminence, Jose Thomas Cardinal Sanchez, Most Rev. Naval Bishop Filomeno Bactol, Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr. and some Reverend Fathers and Spiritual Directors of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International for local and overseas chapters attended the affair. Several public officials also graced the occasion. Brother Mike Z. Velarde presented the “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” Award to President Fidel V. Ramos, the guest of honor.
It was Friday, June 12, 1998, a public holiday. Thousands of spectators flocked to Rizal Park, awaiting the start of festivities for the Philippine Centennial Year celebrations.
They came by the busloads – couples, families, friends, even whole villages – donning caps, holding umbrellas, and wearing Filipiniana attire amid the morning heat. Others wore the nation’s colors and carried various sizes of Philippine flags.
It was a field day for many, and the beginning of a long weekend. They laid mats and cardboard on the grass, brought out a packed lunch in Tupperware, and exchanged small talk.
For some, the park became an instant classroom for parents to give impromptu lectures to their children on Philippine history, culture, and tradition.
One parent, Elizabeth Montecillo, brought her two sons and a nephew so she could tell them about the country’s heroes and the important events of the past. “Earlier, they inquired about the Rizal Monument,” she said. “It’s good for them to learn history at an early age.”
The children had a lot to look back on; it was, after all, 100 years of Philippine history. The festivities commemorated the day when Filipino revolutionaries, led by then-president Emilio Aguinaldo, declared the country’s independence from Spanish colonial rule in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898.
A 42-float parade depicted the country’s history during the celebrations at Quirino Grandstand, which was witnessed by President Fidel Ramos, Vice President Joseph Estrada, members of the government, the diplomatic corps, and other guests.
One float featured a life-size caravel, which showed the arrival of the Spanish colonizers in 1521, led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan. A mock battle was performed reenacting the Battle of Mactan between Magellan and the island’s natives.
The 300-year Spanish colonial rule was portrayed in the succeeding floats. It showed the country’s conversion to Christianity, the people’s enslavement to serve the Spanish empire’s economic needs, the revolts against colonial rule, the period of nationalist enlightenment, and the bloody revolution that it brought forth.
At the apex of the parade, a two-story replica of the Aguinaldo Mansion slowly made its way along the parade grounds. On the balcony, actor Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., an actor who starred in numerous action movies, played the part of President Aguinaldo.
With a solemn expression, Revilla held the flag from a long pole as he stood along with two other actors, Dante Rivero and Juan Rodrigo, who read the Declaration of Independence. When the declaration was read, he slowly waved the flag to the cheers of spectators wearing farmer costumes.
He then went downstairs, walked out of the mansion with the flag, and went up the stage to the awe of government dignitaries. As the drums rolled, Revilla handed the flag to Ramos, who then raised it with one hand before planting it on a stand on the stage.
Ramos had reenacted the same event from the balcony of the Aguinaldo Mansion in Kawit, Cavite, earlier that day.
In his speech during the celebrations, Ramos addressed the crowd. “Today, we have grown into the responsibility and the glory of nationhood. We are prepared to account for ourselves in the global community. We have begun to make our own history.”
“We, Filipinos, are rejoicing in our coming of age — in the final proof of our ability to understand, to use, and to protect the liberty our heroes won for us a century ago,” he said.
The celebrations culminated with a military parade that showcased our armed forces’ might, including a fly-by of Air Force jets. The evening was capped by a 30-minute fireworks display at Manila Bay — the largest and longest the country has seen — in the colors of the republic: red, white, yellow, and blue.
On the occasion of its 14th Anniversary, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held an overnight fellowship at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila, from August 22 to 23, 1998, with the theme: “New Heart, New Spirit” (Ezekiel 36:26). The affair was televised live nationwide via satellite on IBC TV-13. Over three million people from Metro Manila, the provinces, and abroad joined the celebration, which started at four o’clock in the afternoon. Several priests expounded on the theme of the mission of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, which is “Faith, Love, and Unity.” During the concelebrated Thanksgiving Mass with Bishop Bacani as the main celebrant, a mass wedding was officiated, wherein thirty-seven couples, who had been living as common-law husbands and wives, finally tied the knot. Sister Belen del Monte-Velarde, wife of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde shared with the crowd her experience with the successful quadruple heart bypass operation of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde in the United States in July 1998. The anniversary was also attended by several government officials led by His Excellency, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, together with Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Bro. Mike Z. Velarde led the symbolic lighting of a miniature radio transmitter tower, which ushered in the re-launching of DWXI (1314 kHz) AM radio, now broadcasting with the increased power of 30 kW from its previous 15 kW power in 1994. The radio station started broadcasting with a power of 9 kW in 1981.
Not even the strong winds and heavy rain could dampen the spirit of close to 1.2 million people in joining the 15th Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila, from August 20-21, 1999. Most of the attendees were already in the venue days before the overnight affair beamed live nationwide via satellite over RPN TV-9. Before noon on August 20, in observance of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde’s birthday, the attendees feasted on roasted chickens, pigs, and calves as a gift from their family and friends for his natal day. Early in the afternoon, the crowd jubilantly caught with their umbrellas inverted thousands of miracle-souvenir handkerchiefs thrown into the air from several helicopters. A Thanksgiving prayer was offered by Bro. Mike Z. Velarde for his birthday and for the anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International. He also led the congregation in prayer for their prayer requests, which were tied to balloons and released into the air at the signal of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde. His Excellency, President Joseph E. Estrada, the guest of honor on the occasion, gave his greetings and message to the crowd. The President was with First Lady Dr. Luisa Fernandez Pimentel Ejercito Estrada, MD. In attendance also were some members of the cabinet; several senators led by Senate President Blas Ople; several congressmen led by House Speaker Manny Villar; and friends of Bro. Mike from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sectors. A Thanksgiving Mass was led by His Eminence Jose Thomas Cardinal Sanchez of the Vatican City, together with Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr., Very Rev. Msgrs. Mariano T. Balbago Jr. of Antipolo Diocese and Mario A. Castillo; and Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual and Rev. Fr. Sanny de Claro, spiritual directors of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International. Joining them also were several spiritual directors from the international chapters of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International namely Reverend Fathers Bernard J. Nolan of Brisbane, Australia; Leo E. Steinbock of Los Angeles, California, USA; and Thomas Kawamura of Tokyo, Japan, as well as from the Philippines namely, Dwight de Jesus; Remigio Mendoza of Mabini, Batangas; Manheim Abellana, SDB; Eligio Santos of San Ildefonso Parish, Makati; and Stephen Punnakal and Victor Maung Thit of the Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Malate, Manila. Highlighting the Mass was the mass wedding of 50 couples who had been living together for a long time without the blessing of the Church. They decided to get married for they had known through their listening of the Word over DWXI (1314 kHz) AM, that they are living against the will of God, for it is written in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “…Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral…nor adulterers…will inherit the Kingdom of God.” After the Mass, a candlelight ceremony was held, followed by the delivery of the healing message of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde.
“Ousting one corrupt, drinking president, he was succeeded by another corrupt one. Both jailed, but later pardoned,” Villegas said, referencing Estrada and his successor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"It resulted in the Second EDSA People Power Revolution or EDSA 2. For four days, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos rallied in EDSA to call for Estrada's resignation.
On Jan. 19, police and military forces withdrew their support from Estrada.
At around noon on Jan. 20, Davide swore Estrada’s constitutional successor, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, into office.
 |
| Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is sworn in as the President of the Philippines by Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. |
A few hours later, Estrada and his family fled Malacañang.
 |
Ousted president Estrada waves goodbye as he and his family leave Malacañang on January 20, 2001.
|
The Supreme Court on March 2, 2001, upheld the constitutionality of Estrada's resignation in a unanimous 13-0 decision in Estrada vs. Desierto.
In April 2001, when Estrada was arrested, his supporters protested and messed up what would be called EDSA 3 or EDSA Tres, which lasted nearly four days.
In May 2004, Arroyo won the presidential election and finished her full six-year term on June 30, 2010.
He was under house arrest until September 2007, when the Sandiganbayan found him guilty of plunder and capital offense. The anti-graft court jailed Estrada for life but allowed him to remain under house arrest pending his appeal.
More than a month after his guilty verdict, Arroyo granted him a pardon. (from "Estrada presidency, one of the Philippines' shortest" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbI9ogDKZ-I. www.youtube.com. The World Tonight, January 20, 2016 episode. Retrieved January 21, 2016."
Following his 2007 plunder conviction and subsequent presidential pardon by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Joseph Estrada returned to politics, running for president in 2010 and later serving as Manila Mayor from 2013 to 2019. Arroyo, who served until 2010, subsequently faced her own legal battles, including years of hospital arrest before a 2016 acquittal. The 2007 pardon of Estrada remains a contentious moment, viewed by some as reconciliation and by others as a challenge to the rule of law. Read the full story on YouTube.
"I hereby grant executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada," acting Executive Secretary Ignacio Bunye said on television at 5:39 p.m. on October 25, 2007, quoting from Ms. Arroyo's order. "He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights."
Bunye, who is also the press secretary and presidential spokesperson, said the pardon would take effect upon Estrada's acceptance.
"I am glad that, finally, I will help our country more. It's about time to think of ways to help our poor fellow Filipinos," an elated Estrada said upon learning of the Palace announcement.
In a statement, former President Corazon Aquino said she was "happy" for Estrada and his family. "I pray that as a free man... [he] will harness the lessons he has learned from the sufferings he has endured and continue to serve our less fortunate brothers and sisters.
Reading Ms. Arroyo's order, Bunye cited three reasons for the grant of a presidential pardon.
Estrada is 70 years old and thus qualifies for clemency, keeping the Arroyo administration's policy of releasing inmates who have reached that age, he said.
The President also considered that Estrada had been detained for six and a half years and that he "has publicly committed to no longer seek elective position or office," Bunye said.
With a left-handed stroke of a pen, Joseph Estrada, on October 26, 2007, gratefully accepted a pardon from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, finally bowing to the power of a woman who had been the object of his scorn for more than six years.
Two hours after Estrada affixed his signature to the pardon document issued by Ms. Arroyo on Thursday, the Sandiganbayan sheriff handed him his release papers as a convicted plunderer.
Last night, speaking to 5,000 supporters in San Juan City, where he had been king for 17 years, Estrada even made Ms. Arroyo out to be his benefactor, enjoining the crowd to give her a big hand for giving him back his freedom.
"Salamat kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa pagbibigay ng executive clemency, at kung hindi niya ako kaharap ngayong gabi. Kaya pasalamatan natin siya. Palakpakan natin siya (Thanks to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for giving me executive clemency because without it, I would not be with you here tonight. So let's thank her. Let's applaud her)," he said.
Estrada, 70, officially became a free man at 5:30 p.m. - exactly 6 years, 9 months, 7 days, 3 hours, and 10 minutes since his fall from power in the Second EDSA Revolution.
After a brief, frenzied photo opportunity with the press, the ousted President was immediately whisked out of his Tanay, Rizal vacation estate, his place of detention for more than three years.
"There is no substitute for freedom," Estrada told reporters before leaving Tanay.
At dusk fell, a 50-vehicle convoy including police cars, media vans, and some 20 jeepneys ferrying his supporters who came from depressed areas in Metro Manila - charged down the slopes of Sierra Madre to bring the former VIP prisoner to a grand celebration awaiting him at his San Juan bailiwick.
Mobs of supporters, screaming "Erap, Erap, Erap pa rin (Still for Erap)" and jostling around his van, gave their idol a frenzied welcome in San Juan.
Most of the crowd who had been waiting for him all day in front of the San Juan City Hall cheered, ecstatic at the homecoming of Citizen Estrada.
Some cried, and some reached to touch him.
'President Arroyo'
Earlier, Estrada made several unprecedented gestures in a statement, referring to Ms. Arroyo as president, thanking her for his restored liberty, and expressing his support for her programs for the poor.
"I thank President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for granting me full, free, and absolute pardon midway through her term," Estrada said in a statement his former political adviser and co-accused, Edward Serapio, read before the convoy left Tanay.
"I also thank those who have demonstrated not only their genuine concern for my welfare but also for that of our people, either by asking Ms. Arroyo in the past to grant me executive clemency or by now giving wholehearted support to this grant of pardon, in the spirit of unity and reconciliation," Estrada said.
As an elected leader, Estrada said: "I am aware of the agonizing times and tough choices that Ms. Arroyo had to wade through before arriving at this executive decision."
History will vindicate
He said he also went through "excruciating times before deciding to take on her long-standing peace overtures to the political opposition.
He cited that as a reason for withdrawing his appeal to the Sandiganbayan to reverse its September 12 verdict finding him guilty and sentencing him to spend the rest of his life in prison.
But in a remark apparently addressed to parties who criticized his pardon, Estrada said: "I believe that history will vindicate not only this executive action (of Ms. Arroyo) but my innocence as well about these charges."
The former movie star and most controversial Philippine president after dictator Ferdinand Marcos said he now wished "to spend the rest of my life as plain citizen Erap."
It wasn't only Estrada who sounded grateful to Ms. Arroyo. From somewhere in Geneva, Switzerland, the traveling Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who had been harshly critical of the President before, spoke on the radio to thank her profusely.
Teary-eyed Puno
Estrada signed the pardon papers at around 3:30 p.m., according to his media coordinator Angel Gonong, who witnessed the proceedings at the tightly guarded Tanay estate and gave the media an account of what happened. The document was brought from Camp Crame by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno via the Philippine National Police helicopter, which landed inside the property near Estrada's recently built museum and archives. The signing took just about five minutes.
Puno, who sat at the table next to Estrada, appeared teary-eyed and was even humored by his former boss. Puno had served as Estrada's own interior secretary.
Caring for mother
"Pare, thank you, cool ka lang," Estrada was heard telling Puno, according to Gonong. The signed papers were then rushed to the Sandiganbayan by a police officer via the same helicopter. Two hours later, Sandiganbayan Sheriff Ed Urieta arrived via helicopter - with the papers setting Estrada free.
Estrada's statement was read out by Serapio at the gates of his Tanay property at around noon.
Saying the country's war on poverty had yet to be won, Estrada said: "I believe I can best continue to repay our people the blessings that God has so graciously given me by supporting from hereon the programs of Mrs. Arroyo that are intended to attack generational poverty and hunger. We must now as a nation attend to our people's continuing clamor for food on their tables, roofs above their heads, and better education and health care for their children."
Release order
Estrada also indicated he would spend the next few days attending "to my foremost business at hand, which is to take care of my long-ailing mother," referring to his seriously ill mother, Mary Ejercito, aged 102.
The Sandiganbayan Special Division allowed Estrada's release in a two-page order, which reached Sheriff Urieta only at exactly 5 p.m. - the closing time of the anti-graft court, much to the relief of Estrada's lawyer, Jose Flaminiano, who had been waiting for the papers since 9 a.m.
"In accordance with the aforesaid executive clemency, the terms of which the former President has accepted, let former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada be released from detention … unless [he is] being held for another charge or lawful cause," read the order.
The release order was signed by Presiding Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Godofredo Legaspi.
However, in pardoning Estrada, Ms. Arroyo declared that the forfeiture of the ousted leader’s property and money ordered by the anti-graft court would remain “in force and in full.”
Forfeited assets
The antigraft court has ordered the forfeiture to the government of Estrada’s P545.291-million “jueteng” payoffs with interest, including the P200 million deposited in a bank account of the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation, the P189-million commission from the purchase of Belle Corp. shares, and the “Boracay Mansion” in New Manila, Quezon City.
People flocked to the San Juan City Hall as early as Thursday evening, October 25, enduring both the heat and the drizzles just to see Estrada.
Estrada arrived at around 7:25 p.m.
Crying, smiling supporters and two marching bands – one from San Juan City and the other sent by United Opposition leader and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay- struck up a lively tune when Estrada’s convoy arrived.
He waved at the crowd before entering the City Hall with his son, Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.
Estrada had been expected at the City Hall since around 1 p.m.
But Puno, who spearheaded the talks between the Estrada and Arroyo camps, was delayed in delivering the pardon papers for Estrada to sign.
Outside the City Hall, before Estrada arrived, the mood was festive, and people gathered under orange buntings and flags as though in a fiesta.
Marching bands provided live music and renditions of popular songs. Some loyalists danced to amuse themselves while waiting. Others carried homemade banners and pictures of the former president.
They vowed to wait for him until the kingdom came.
From the City Hall, Estrada went to the San Juan Medical Center to check on the condition of her mother, sustained by life-support machines.
Family members cheered when he arrived at his Polk Street home.
It was at Polk where he was arrested on April 25, 2001, at around 1 p.m. by a massive contingent of police that included hundreds who had surrounded the house.
A buffet for about 200 guests awaited him on the wide lawn. By 9 p.m., he was dining with former members of his Cabinet and Senate President Manny Villar.
Tables covered in white linens were set up under a tent. Dinner was catered by Via Mare, one of Manila's sought-after catering companies.
Dishes included pancit palabok, lechon, and caldereta. Native rice cakes, such as puto bumbong and halo-halo, were served for dessert. There were also vegetable dishes.
Erap’s first night at No. 1 Polk Street
By Volt Contreras and Kristine L. Alave
AFTER ALL THE CHEERS (AND JEERS), it all wound down to a homecoming feast, complete with balloons and soft piano music, for the man in red.
Visibly relieved and finally away from the crowds that celebrated his release on Friday, pardoned convict Joseph Estrada savored his first evening as a free man with family, close friends, and political allies at his home in posh North Greenhills, Greenhills, San Juan City.
Prosecutors in his plunder trial, who only recently held a victory party of their own, may be shaking their heads in disbelief. Civil society leaders, who six years ago worked to have him impeached on November 13, 2000, and then driven out of Malacañang by an EDSA people power uprising on January 20, 2001, may be gnashing their teeth.
But there would be no party poopers that night.
Estrada, whose life sentence was set aside by his successor, President Macapagal-Arroyo, just six weeks after his conviction for plunder, was a gracious host once again at No. 1 Polk Street.
Mobbed minutes earlier by his townspeople at City Hall, where he gave a speech remarkably thanking Ms Arroyo and urging them to applaud her, "Erap" kept his bright red jacket on and remained the eye-catcher at the buffet dinner set on his sprawling lawn.
Sheltered from the drizzly night sky by white marquees, tables and fine cutlery were set for about 200 guests. Catering was by Via Mare. Mantle pieces, ribbons, and balloons were ordered in white and orange, the latter being Estrada's campaign color.
Music begins
The tents were set up to serve as extensions of a reception area built separately from the actual house. Estrada dined at this reception area and shared the table with his former Cabinet and Senate President Manuel Villar. Sen. Francis Escudero later joined them.
Other guests seized the moment to be photographed with the returning master of the house.
By then, a pianist had begun playing.
In one corner, an exhausted Ferdie Ramos, Estrada's lead coordinator for the media, sat on a sofa, taking his time to eat and reflecting on the day that had passed—and on the six and a half years that came before it.
Early during Estrada's detention, he had many meals with Estrada under a totally different mood, Ramos recalled.
'How did this happen?'
Back in 2001, when his boss was still being held at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, Ramos said, there were times when only the two of them would end up sharing the food served on a long table.
This was when all the visitors had left, and Estrada would have no one else for company but his then co-accused son Jinggoy and some members of his household staff.
Ramos recalled having one such lunch with Estrada at which the deposed president, barely touching his food, wondered aloud in Filipino: "What really happened, Ferdie? How did we get to this?"
That old gang of mine
The Friday night party on Estrada's first night of full freedom seemed like a gathering of "That Old Gang of Mine"—and more.
The guest list included former Press Secretary Ricardo "Dong" Puno, former Finance Secretary Jose Pardo de Tavera, former Transport Secretary Vicente Rivera, former Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez, former Labor Secretary Benny Laguesma, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Horacio "Boy" Morales, and former Public Works Secretary Gregorio Vigilar.
Also around were Sen. Loren Legarda and ex-Sen. Francisco "Kit" Tatad. Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" Plaza, Genuine Opposition spokesperson Adel Tamano, and Ms. Arroyo's half-sister, Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, also came.
Guests said the party was heavy on reminiscence and light on political talk.
Laguesma said Estrada was in "high spirits" and "very chatty," giving his guests updates on his ailing mother, the 102-year-old Mary Ejercito, who is being sustained in hospital by life-support machines.
Agonizing choice
"It was all a social party," San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora said, adding that it felt like a reunion.
"There was no politics last night. His focus was his mother," Laguesma said.
Laguesma said Estrada, who was designated by his siblings to decide whether or not to remove his mother's life support, was agonizing about the decision.
"He asked (ex-Health Secretary 'Quasi' Romualdez) for advice," Zamora said. "Quasi said, 'I don't think she's feeling any pain ... At this stage in her condition, she will just fade away. There is no need for a dramatic decision.'"
The most striking political comment Estrada made was his narration of the crowd's reaction to his speech at San Juan City Hall shortly after his release.
"When he went to San Juan to speak, he said he was thankful to Mrs. Arroyo. But the people did not applaud," Laguesma said.
Other guests said their host was "vintage Erap," cracking jokes and reminiscing about the good old days with his former Cabinet secretaries and former Ateneo classmates.
"He was really having a good time," Escudero said. "...There were even some jokes about President Arroyo."
Escudero said Estrada kidded around, especially when he talked about the new bed ordered by his wife, former Sen. Loi Ejercito, and how it was just delivered in time for his first night of freedom.
The party broke up at about 4 a.m.
'Am I still in Tanay?'
When Estrada woke up at around noon yesterday, he blinked and looked around his surroundings.
"Parang sinasabi nya, 'nasaan ako?' Akala niya nasa Tanay pa siya (It was as if he was saying, 'Where am I?' He thought he was still in Tanay)," wife Loi said, chuckling.
A security officer said they had to remind Estrada that he was not bound by restrictions anymore.
On November 13, 2007, an explosion at the Philippine House of Representatives building in Quezon City killed four people, including Congressman Wahab Akbar.
On November 29, 2007, the Armed Forces of the Philippines laid siege to The Peninsula Manila after soldiers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV staged a mutiny."
From December 6 to 15, 2007, the Philippines participated in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
“We prized spectacles over vigilance, ignoring warnings that without truth, democracy crumbles. This was not EDSA. Our wine was running out.”
The Third Decade: Populism and “Charisma Eclipsed Conscience”
Villegas described the following years as marked by economic growth but growing disinformation and polarization.
He referenced the “Daang Matuwid” governance platform of Benigno Aquino III, whose administration was widely credited with improving economic indicators.
“We had clean government, but trolls poisoned our minds,” he said. “We mocked the honest president, even if he served us well. Yellow was mocked. Pink was jeered. Only black darkness was made to look beautiful.”
Without naming him directly at first, Villegas sharply criticized the brutal anti-drug campaign of Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained in The Hague in connection with investigations by the International Criminal Court.
During his six-year presidency, the 30th Southeast Asian Games were held in Manila from November 30 to December 11, 2019, the May 5, 2020 broadcast shutdown, the July 10, 2020 denial of ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, and the conversion into a global storytelling company.
August 31, 2020: huling araw mga empleyado ng ABS-CBN dahil sa pagkawala ng prangkisa ng ABS-CBN noong July 10, 2020.
September 10, 2020: binawi na ng National Telecommunications Commission o NTC ang mga TV at radio frequencies ng ABS-CBN tulad ABS-CBN sa Channel 2 (ngayo'y ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2), ABS-CBN Sports and Action sa Channel 23, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 (ngayo'y pag-aari ng Philippine Collective Media Corporation) at MOR 101.9 For Life
“We knew that killing was a sin. Insulting women, mocking God, death threats, law breaking, siding with foreigners against the nation — this screamed evil, yet we justified addict murders, vulgar jokes, blasphemy was tolerable, due process was disposable,” he said.
“Charisma eclipsed conscience. Nakakahiya, nakakasuka, nakakapagtaka, bakit tayo nagkaganun?”
Filipinos who justify drug war deaths 'up to now' need 'self-examination'—Carpio
The archbishop revealed he personally faced threats and ridicule for speaking against extrajudicial killings: “I was threatened, I was mocked, when I warned that murderers cannot be leaders. I was trying to live EDSA. This was not EDSA.”
The Fourth Decade: “This Is Not EDSA”
Villegas also criticized the return to power of the Marcos family, referring to the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“The dictator’s family returns, dazzled by trolls, algorithms, fake gold legends,” he said. “Corruption leaps a hundredfold, poverty surges, crime explodes, traitors defend China over our seas, quiet while lowly fishermen are harassed. This is not EDSA.”
Trillion Peso March participants call for accountability amid corruption scandal
In an unusually pointed section of his homily, Villegas addressed various sectors of society one by one.
To the youth: “Matatanda na kaming tumindig dito sa EDSA. Puti na ang buhok ko, patay na yung iba sa amin, mga kabataan, kayo naman… Don’t chase viral posts like dumb goats. Think critically, question, discern, kill lies before sharing.”
To the poor: “Ang para sa pelikula ay hindi para sa Senado at lalo na’t hindi para sa Malacañang.”
To professionals and parents: “Live honestly, no tax cheats, no bribes… Integrity at home shapes politics."
To politicians: “Shun political dynasties and epal culture… Enter politics, poor. Live poorer, but richer in virtue.”
To academics and journalists, he warned: “Tell EDSA’s full story. Prayer, people, peace, victory. Reject revisionism, only truth heals wounds.”
To the International Criminal Court: “ICC, The Hague. Kayo naman. Bring to justice murderers of drug users, who also murdered our national virtues and values.”
And to corrupt officials: “Mga korap, at mga kasabwat ng korap, kayo naman, kayo naman ang dapat alisin sa gobyerno.”
Despite the stern tone, Villegas ended with hope.
“God’s EDSA miracle was grace undeserved. We squandered it. This is the time to repent and choose what is right,” he said. “May pag-asa pa. Nasa puso ang EDSA. Pakawalan natin sa puso ang EDSA. Nasa ating mga kamay ang pagkabuhay muli ng EDSA.”
As the Mass concluded, the archbishop called for prayer for national conversion: “Ipagdasal nating taitim ang bayan upang bumalik ang alak ng mahal na birhen ng Hesus.”
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/26/archbishop-villegas-laments-moral-decline-at-edsa-40-mass-0043
