THOUSANDS of members of various religious and progressive groups marched toward the People Power Monument along EDSA to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the People Power Revolution on Tuesday. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMANOPTING not to declare the EDSA People Power anniversary as regular holiday will not stop Filipinos from commemorating the nearly two decades after the ouster of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr., a senator said on Tuesday.
“Even if Malacañang cancels (the) holiday, the spirit and message of People Power will remain alive — especially among the Filipino youth who stand up and speak out for freedom, justice, and collective empowerment,” Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said in a statement in Filipino.
Ms. Hontiveros lauded students, teachers, schools, universities and youth organizations for leading the commemoration of the event this year, even without the declaration of a state holiday.
In October, the Palace declared Feb. 25 as a special working holiday this year, diverging from past administrations’ practice of observing it as a special non-working holiday.
The day commemorates the popular street uprising that toppled the late Mr. Marcos, Sr. in 1986, the father and namesake of the current Philippine president.
Last year, Mr. Marcos moved the special nonworking holiday of the People Power Anniversary from Feb. 25 to Feb 24.
“We should take inspiration from the courage of our young kababayans (countrymen), and never be cowed into fear and inactivity,” she said. “We must speak truth to power, overcome disinformation and historical distortion, and continue to resist the corruption, violence, and lust for power of those who are supposed to serve the nation.”
Multiple schools have also declared that they have suspended classes on Feb. 25 or shifted to alternative learning modes.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Tuesday dispelled accusations that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is trying to halt the commemoration of the revolution by not making it a national holiday.
“When we say special working holiday, still there is encouragement to commemorate, to join any event and it will not hinder any activity to commemorate the People Power,” PCO Undersecretary Claire B. Castro said at a news briefing at the Palace.
“Since he became the President, we did not hear him stop activities to commemorate the said event.” — Adrian H. Halili and John Victor D. Ordoñez
