MANILA, Philippines - Instead of watching President Benigno Aquino III solve the country's ills in the next 100 days, a group calls on Filipinos to do their part in nation-building with the re-launch of the "People Power People" Program.

The "People Power People" Program was started by the current president's mother, former President and democracy icon Corazon Aquino, in a fight to restore democracy during the Martial Law era in the country.

In August 2009, the former President succumbed to colon cancer, an incident that ushered the bid of his son for the highest position in the country.

A year after Mrs. Aquino's death and with her son in Malacañang Palace, the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF) saw the need to re-launch the "People Power People" Program and will pledge 9 organizations in August 1 as a start of the program.

According to NCAF executive director Rafael Lopa, the group aims to "get people to stop depending on government to do everything" by reliving the spirit of volunteerism and dispelling the negative notions of People Power.

“What she has bequeathed to us is the realization of the inherent power that dwells within us, coupled with the inspiration and the confidence to wield that power to uplift the quality of life of our less fortunate countrymen,” Lopa said in a press release.

The organizations that will make the pledge are: One Tama; Hapag-Asa Integrated Nutrition Program; Dynamic Teen Company; Gawad Kalinga; Sparks for Change; 57 75; KIDS Foundation; Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP); and the YES Pinoy Foundation.

The said organizations have been empowering marginalized and disadvantaged Filipinos, according to NCAF, as Mrs. Aquino's idea of People Power is "an engaged and dynamic citizenry."

“Now that the spirit of volunteerism is very much alive, we’d like to harness our people’s talents and energy to make a difference among needy sectors of our society,” he shared.

Other organizations can join the democracy bandwagon by making "concrete commitments over the next 100 days and beyond" and help their needy fellow Filpinos, Lopa said.

“There is a lot of talk about the President’s ‘first 100 days’, but we ordinary citizens should also be ready to step up and declare what we are prepared to give or accomplish in our own ‘first 100 days’,” Lopa said. “Of course, we won’t stop there. There are many volunteers and concerned citizens out there who want to do their share, and we’d like to sustain their enthusiasm and momentum by linking them up with each other and with organized groups.”

In commemoration of Mrs. Aquino's death, a memorial mass will be presided by Bishop Soc Villegas at the St. Benilde Gymnasium at the La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong, the site of the 1986 National Citizen Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) Operation Quick Count. A marker will also be unveiled in remembrance of the elections that made Aquino president.

Before the formal ceremonies, cyclists will be part of the "Ride for Cory," a bikeride for the benefit of cancer patients. The ride will take the Ortigas-Bonny Serrano-EDSA-Connecticut road from 6:45am to 8:45am.