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MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos cannot erase history, Malacañang stressed yesterday, as it justified the decision of the Chief Executive not to declare the 39th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA people power revolt as a special non-working day.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said the administration has not prevented Filipinos from commemorating the event.
The EDSA revolt, which took place from Feb. 22 to 25, 1986, marks the ouster of the President’s father and namesake after over a decade of martial law.
“History is history. So the President can’t just let this be erased from our history,” Castro said at a Palace press briefing.
“Since the time he became President, we have not heard of cancellation of any events, activities commemorating (EDSA People Power),” she said.
While Feb. 25 was declared a special working day this year, Castro said Filipinos were “encouraged” to commemorate the event.
“And when we say special working day, still, there is encouragement to people to commemorate, to join any event and it will not hinder any activity to commemorate the EDSA people power,” she said.
Castro said the Palace respects the decision of several schools to cancel classes yesterday to celebrate the anniversary.
‘Restore EDSA holiday’
Dozens of schools, colleges and universities in Metro Manila – most of which witnessed the uprising at their doorsteps – suspended classes to allow students, faculty and staff to commemorate the people power anniversary.
In a statement, public school teachers from the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) called on Marcos to restore Feb. 25 as a special non-working holiday, saying his administration cannot erase the significance of the EDSA revolt and the President’s “continued neglect” of the people power commemoration further entrenches the Marcos family’s place in history as “villains.”
“We call on the government to restore the People Power holiday, allowing Filipinos, especially the youth, to remember and learn from our collective struggle for freedom. The legacy of People Power is not just a relic of the past – it is a continuing lesson that must be passed on to future generations,” TDC said.
Some have seen Marcos’ move not to declare the bloodless uprising as a special non-working day as an effort to erase it from history and diminish its essence.
“To diminish its significance is to disregard the sacrifices of those who stood for freedom. The lessons of People Power are as relevant today as they were then, serving as a constant reminder that true democracy requires vigilance, participation and the courage to stand against oppression,” the TDC added.
The President normally releases messages to commemorate special events but, as of yesterday, nothing was issued by Marcos on the commemoration of the 1986 revolt.
The Gabriela women’s party yesterday called on Filipinos to embody the true spirit of EDSA by demanding accountability from the Marcos-Duterte administration and rejecting political dynasties in the upcoming midterm elections.
“The true spirit of EDSA is not only to commemorate history, but to continue the struggle for true democracy and justice. In the 39th year anniversary, it is just right to demand the Marcos (administration) to pay its debt to the people, hold the Dutertes accountable for their crime and fight for justice for all the victims of their anti-people policies,” Gabriela women’s party Rep. Arlene Brosas said in a statement.
Party-list Bayan Muna laid flowers at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani (Monument of Heroes) yesterday in remembrance of the heroes who sacrificed their lives, sweat, talents and skills to fight the dictatorship.
The flower offering was led by former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo who said, in a statement, “As the nation commemorates the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power uprising, it is crucial to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who valiantly opposed the tyranny of the Marcos regime.”
People power for polls
The Akbayan party-list yesterday called for a new people power revolt, urging Filipinos to use their votes in the 2025 elections to challenge traditional politicians and political dynasties.
“On this anniversary of EDSA, we call on the people to usher in a new People Power Revolution – an electoral uprising that will confront the trapos (traditional politicians) and political dynasties that have hijacked our democracy – and finally fulfill the promise of EDSA,” Akbayan said.
Renee Louise Co, national spokesperson and first nominee of Kabataan party-list, yesterday called on the youth to uphold the true spirit of EDSA.
“As the nation marks the 39th anniversary of the historic EDSA People Power Uprising, Kabataan Partylist calls on the youth and all sectors of society to defend historical truth, demand accountability and work towards genuine national transformation,” said Co.
‘Not a myth’
The people power revolt is not a myth, but a moment of people’s collective courage which toppled a dictator, former senator Leila de Lima said yesterday.
“The EDSA Revolution was not a myth… (It was) a moment when Filipinos proved that democracy is not just an idea – it is a fight. A fight that must be waged again and again, in every generation, because tyranny never truly disappears. It merely waits, repackages itself and returns,” De Lima said in a statement.
In his speech yesterday before members of the Rotary Club of Makati at The Peninsula Manila, former senator Kiko Pangilinan called for an “electoral uprising” among voters who want to take to the ballot, on May 25, their discontent with the government.
Pangilinan – who was a student leader in 1986 during People Power – said the spirit of the EDSA uprising is still alive, despite attempts to revise history and erase its gains in restoring democracy.
At a gathering of progressive groups at the EDSA People Power monument yesterday, senatorial candidate Luke Espiritu told The STAR that the relevance of EDSA has only grown stronger, particularly with the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
“EDSA is even becoming more relevant today because what we really need in our society is revolution,” Espiritu said.
For lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, a member of Duterte Panagutin Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties, the anniversary is deeply personal.
Lacanilao, who was a high school student when martial law was declared, recalled witnessing human rights abuses, corruption and economic decline under the Marcos regime, and described the original people power uprising as a rare moment of unity, where Filipinos risked their lives to restore democracy.
“There were tanks. But thanks to the nuns and the sheer number of people, we weren’t bombed,” he said. “The people had made up their minds: this was the end. Marcos had to go.”
For his part, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan believes that the spirit of EDSA remains strong, 39 years later.
“The spirit of EDSA lives on in our democratic institutions and in our daily lives,” Libanan said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III emphasized that Filipinos should take pride in the EDSA revolt.
“It should be celebrated. That’s part of the history of (the Philippines). Something to be proud of because the Filipinos stood for, fought for and were willing to die for some intangible matters like democratic principles, good governance and people empowerment,” Pimentel said.
Sen. Bong Go said he is hopeful that every Filipino will continue to embody the sacrifices made in the past by countless Filipinos to restore democracy in the country.
Protest
About 5,000 protesters gathered along EDSA-White Plains Avenue yesterday to commemorate the event.
Failing to overhaul the country’s political system after the late dictator’s ouster led to the Marcoses’ return to power and the rise of the Duterte regime, according to militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
Espiritu echoed this sentiment.
“The EDSA people power revolution is incomplete because the very forces we fought against – political dynasties, corruption and impunity – remain firmly in place,” he said.
Labor groups, student organizations and faith-based communities joined the protest.
Redemptorist missionaries recalled the sacrifices of clergy, such as Fr. Rudy Romano, who was kidnapped and made to disappear during the Marcos regime for his activism. — Neil Jayson Servallos, Evelyn Macairan, Jose Rodel Clapano, Mark Ernest Villeza, Delon Porcalla, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Emmanuel Tupas, Christine Boton
