ROAR!

ROAR! was launched in 1983 by August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) Founders Reli German and Agapito 'Butz' Aquino. 

Coined by PR Strategist Reli German, ROAR stood for Run On for Aquino and Resignation. The jogging activity was launched to call attention to the merciless killing of Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino, Jr. at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983. It was also the group's way of calling for the resignation of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., whose presidency was marked by human rights violations and abuses.

Starting with a small group of 15, ROAR became a weekly activity that thousands of ordinary Filipinos participated in. And while ROAR was a way for the group to show dissent, they espoused non-violence. The jog from Roxas Boulevard to the Baclaran Church is quite far, but people started joining because they were attracted to the spirit of camaraderie and pakikipagkapwa displayed in these events.

Three years later, the same people who marched the streets would realize their dream of toppling the dictator and restoring democracy. They would realize this, not by fighting abuse and violence with more violence, but by working together to bring about change.  

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Today, ROAR stands for Run | Ride On Against Revision. We are taking a stand against historical revisionism and the revision of the 1987 Constitution.

NO TO CHA-CHA

The last time the Marcos Administration spearheaded a revision of the Constitution in 1971, a bribery scandal erupted. An exposé led by Eduardo Quintero, one of the delegates of the Constitutional Convention, accused the Marcos Administration of leading a campaign that would allow then President Ferdinand Marcos. Sr. to evade the term limits set in the 1935 Constitution and enable him to stay in power beyond 8 years. The 1971 Constitution would lead our country into the depths of a Martial Law regime. 

We view the passing and approval of the Congress resolution to change provisions in our Constitution with skepticism as it was done in obvious haste and with little regard for the welfare of Filipinos.

Corruption remains rampant and as a result, our country continues to struggle with the rising prices of basic goods and other commodities. Political dynasties, nepotism, and cronyism have exacerbated corruption, but a resolution to ban political dynasties has not been passed in Congress even though there is a provision in the 1987 Constitution that prohibits them. 

A repetition of the events in 1971 is unfolding before our eyes, with the son following his father’s playbook. Thus, we stand vigilant, ready to fight those who threaten our rights and our freedom, and to uphold democracy.

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Panginoon, 

Kami’y naririto ngayon, mga taong bagamat walang magawa ay nagkakapit-bisig. Nakikiusap kami na Iyong tulungan sa pinakamadilim na gabing ito. Nakikiusap kami na Iyong tulungan na ipagtanggol kung ano ang tama at makatarungan.

Aming inaalala at pinasasalamatan ang himalang dulot ng EDSA. Inaalala namin ang mga martir at bayaning nag-alay ng kanilang buhay para sa ating bayan.

Ginugunita ng sambayanang Pilipino, na, sa pamamagitan ng Iyong makapangyarihang kamay, ay nabawi ang kapangyarihan at nagpatalsik sa isang diktador.

Nalalaman namin na makailang beses na aming sinayang ang Iyong mga himala at tinanggihan ang Iyong maraming mga biyaya. Kami’y binigyan ng Iyong awa at kapatawaran, dahil sa napakaraming  beses na hindi namin alam ang aming mga ginagawa.

Ngayon, nababatid namin na kami ay muling nasa isa pang sangandaan. Gabayan mo kami, Panginoon, sa gitna ng nagbabadyang bagyo na mas madilim pa sa mga nakaraan. Isang daan na walang malinaw na direksyon patungo sa katarungan.

Laban sa anumang pagkakataon, humihingi kami ng Iyong awa, ipakita Niyo sa amin ang tamang daan upang muli kaming bumangon laban sa kasamaan at panganib na dulot ng Charter Change. Bigyan Niyo po kami ng proteksyon sa aming layunin na ipaglaban ang ating Konstitusyon mula sa paniniil, mula sa mga nagnanais na ipagpatuloy ang kapangyarihan para sa iilan at ibigay ang ating ekonomiya sa interes ng mga dayuhan. 

Sa madilim na yugtong ito, nawa’y matagpuan namin ang ilaw ng Iyong pagmamahal, ang lakas na panatilihin ang diwa at buhay ng People Power. Nagtitiwala kami, sa inyong awa, nawa’y makita namin ang pag-asa mula sa Iyo. 

Ikaw, Panginoon na aming kalakasan at tapang. 

Ikaw, Panginoon na aming tagapagligtas. 

Ikaw, na sa buong kasaysayan namin, ang nagpakita na Ikaw ang Panginoon ng kalayaan at hustiya. 

Ikaw, Hesus, ang daan, katotohanan at ang buhay. 

Samahan mo kami sa aming laban. Nawa’y Ikaw ang aming maging lakas at mananatili, ngayon at magpakailanman. 

Amen.

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