PHINMA Commemorates Ninoy’s Death Anniv with PETA Play

In the spirit of remembrance of the anniversary of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino’s death, widely regarded as the precursor of “EDSA People Power 1,” the PHINMA Group of Companies recently sponsored a gala presentation of the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) production “Walang Himala.”

PHINMA Chairman Ramon R. del Rosario Jr., also the incumbent PETA chairman, in his welcome remarks for the gala show explains PHINMA and PETA’s choice of the play to mark the 20th anniversary of Ninoy’s death and EDSA 1.

Del Rosario says, “Twenty years after EDSA 1 is a good time to look back. Both young and old need to recall that important moment in our history and what it meant to us as a people. “Walang Himala” listens to what ordinary Filipinos underwent – how they created that history; and what happened to them after EDSA.”

PETA Chairman and PHINMA CEO, Ramon R Del Rosario Jr. with the honourable guest of the night, Former President, Corazon C. Aquino.

“This act of remembrance helps us to call forth our collective power to solve our problems especially today when many of us are overwhelmed by a panorama of cynicism and despair. PETA, through this play, challenges us to reflect on the lessons of history and in the process keep the true spirit of EDSA 1 alive,” enthuses Del Rosario.

For her part, PETA President Cecilia Garrucho fleshes out the play’s main message: "We don't need to wait for the great leader or the great hero like Rizal or the mythical figure Bernardo Carpio to save this country from its woes. Each one of us has to be that hero through the daily choices that we make. We can express our love for country by both the small and the big decisions we make in our lives.”

Garucho further explains, “We can be ordinary, everyday heroes who create change and a sense of hope for our country like what the ordinary characters (a couple who rode through the tides of the Marcos era and EDSA 1, the Mangyans, the NGO workers, etc.) in the play did. When this happens, that would be the real miracle of EDSA."

Mr. Ramon del Rosario greets Mr. Rafael Alunan, President of First Philippine Infrastructure Corporation who arrived with this wife Mrs. Elizabeth Alunan.

Aside from the PHINMA executives who are in full force that night, the gala was also attended by key personalities like former President Corazon Aquino, former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, former Education Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, Rep. Satur Ocampo, ex-Senators Vicente Paterno and Rene Saguisag, former Central Bank Gov. Jose Cuisia, Jr., outgoing Makati Business Club Chairman Ricardo Romulo, and former Tourism Secretary Rafael “Raffy” Alunan.