I woke-up to this news article
BILL SEEKS TO RENAME EDSA “CORY AQUINO AVENUE”
by Jess Diaz of the Philippine Star
Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos has filed a bill that seeks to rename Epifanio de los Santos Avenue from Caloocan City to Pasay City after the late President Corazon Aquino.
Bill 5422 would rename EDSA, site of two civilian backed people power revolts that toppled the Marcos and Estrada administrations, as Cory Aquino Avenue.
The measure is now pending with the committee on public works and highways of the House of Representatives.
Relampagos said EDSA should be named after Aquino because “one cannot think of the 1986 EDSA Revolution without thinking of former President Corazon Aquino”.
“It would be but a fitting tribute to Mrs. Aquino, a woman of courage and valor, that EDSA – an avenue that became testament to the country’s love of democracy, be named after her”, he said.
The bill would repeal Republic Act 2140 which named EDSA previously called Highway 54, after Filipino historian Epifanio de los Santos.
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I AM OUTRAGED BY OUR POLITICIAN’S PROPENSITY TO RENAME STREETS AND PUBLIC EDIFICES.
While I fully agree that Mrs. Aquino was a key figure to the People Power Revolt, there are many ways to honor and remember her other than renaming a major highway.
Part of our history is the names of places, roads, edifices, etc.
We alter our history and our identity if we keep on changing names. What if after Pnoy’s term, his enemies naman came into being, naku eh di papalitan na naman nila ang name ng Cory Aquino AVenue, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, etc.
Rep. Relampagos can build a giant statue somewhere in EDSA. Relampagos can also rename every street in Bohol after Cory, Ninoy, Noynoy and Bimbi or Baby James. They can declare every last Sunday of each month Cory Aquino Day.
If service to the nation is what Relampagos seeks, there are many things that he could do and think of other than rename a street.
For one, Congressman Relampagos, you may spend your time traversing this EDSA for one whole week, back and forth, so you can observe how it’s being choked together with all the motorists, pedestrians and residents living around it.
Please try all means of transpo, your own vehicle without wang-wang escorts, travel from Makati to Cubao on a friday at 5 pm, ride the buses, MRT, fx, so that one would have a better understanding of the situation.
You may devote your time thinking of a bill to prevent the billions lost in gasoline while vehicles’ engines are running while the wheels are not moving for 2 hours,
Think of a bill to seek redress to our environment due to this bombardment of air pollution. Instead of traveling for 20 minutes, this is multiplied and becomes 2 hours. Imagine the amount of pollution being inhaled by Mother Earth and mothers in Metro Manila.
Please file a bill on how to address this pollution killers that pry on women’s bosom thus making the Philippines #1 in breast cancer victims.
After a week, you may have gathered enough feel and info, and maybe you can think of other ways to improve the horrendous traffic along EDSA. File a bill to increase the security of the motorists from killer buses, a bill seeking to add foot patrol to protect commuters from bad elements, a bill seeking to install sufficient lightings in bus stops, pedestrian walkways, crossings, to discourage criminals from prying on hapless citizens, a bill seeking to install CCTV cameras, etc etc.
File a bill for an integrated and comprehensive master plan to improve the lives of every citizen living in the metropolis and specifically near EDSA, not only for implementation during Pnoy’s term but for the generations to come.
If the goal is to please the good exPresident, one may distribute noche buena packs to the hundreds of street people living under the EDSA flyovers and sidewalks, every Christmas Eve and New years Eve from Monumento to Pasay City in her honor. Mrs. Aquino would certainly be pleased seeing one’s good heart from heaven together with all the angels and saints.
Upholding the rights of every citizen, remaining true to Pnoy’s thrust of honest service to the country, competently and sincerely performing your duties as a lawmaker, would show utmost reverence to former President Cory Aquino, Ninoy and Pnoy.
I respectfully appeal to all our politicians and lawmakers, please stop renaming streets. Think of something better to do. LEAVE EDSA ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
