The rally at EDSA in January 2001 against the Senate over Joseph Estrada epitomizes the Filipinos’ approach to life. It demonstrated their belief in the freedom of speech (politicians, priests, and community leaders made speeches against the decision of the Senate). It showed their love of entertainment (musicians performed on stage, the speeches with plenty of jokes were applauded the loudest). It displayed their love of luxury and ostentation (the wealthy took rooms in a four-star hotel behind the EDSA shrine to watch the events on TV and hurry to the stage area when a VIP arrived to make a speech). It showed their optimism (they believed that there would be a peaceful handover of power).