MANILA - In a rare public appearance, former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III marched to the People Power monument Saturday, joining hundreds of Filipinos in commemorating the 31st anniversary of the EDSA revolution.

Aquino said this year's commemoration was different from previous events, where the people's victory is celebrated.

"Pagtipon natin dito for a long time [is] celebration, ngayon, medyo may mas dagdag na kailangan gawin, maliban sa paggunita at pag-alala," Aquino said.

"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it," he added, quoting lines of famous writer George Santayana.

Aquino, whose mother Corazon was installed as president after the bloodless revolt, walked alongside Liberal Party members, a day after he skipped a government-led commemoration in Camp Aguinaldo.

Aquino explained that he received the invitation to Friday's event too late and that it felt there was a "disconnect."

"After what happened to Leila [De Lima] I felt parang may disconnect," said Aquino, referring to the former justice secretary's arrest.

Aquino was wearing black, veering away from the usual yellow, a color associated with EDSA revolution and the Aquino family.

In her social media post, Senator Risa Hontiveros and other reform advocates were also seen marching with Aquino at EDSA, a day after Malacanang held low-key celebrations of the popular revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Aquino's camp said the move was not a protest against President Rodrigo Duterte but was a celebration of the People Power revolution.

Meanwhile, over 1 million people are expected to join a show of support rally for Duterte at the Quirino grandstand