It was 4 a.m. when we arrived at the converging place. I instantly felt the cool morning air starting to diminish as the hour inched its way to sunrise. Members of the Philippine Armed Forces, war veterans, their families, socio-civic groups, government employees, Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) members, and dedicated volunteers quickly filled the grounds of People’s Park in Tarlac.

While the revving engines of military AUVs and heavy footsteps of army boots sounded off, a familiar and highly respected figure took to the stage and was handed a microphone to officially address the crowd. It was then I caught sight of former Philippine President and Korean War veteran, Fidel V. Ramos (FVR). Still brimming with energy, he quickly boosted the crowd from a state of half-awakening into a lively, spirited mood by leading a morning exercise and joyfully reenacting his iconic EDSA People Power jump, to the raucous cheer of the crowd.