The nation marked the 39th anniversary of the People’s Power Revolution at the EDSA Monument on Feb. 25, commemorating the non-violent uprising that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., ending his regime that night in 1986. This year, the event also served as a protest against the corruption of President Bongbong Marcos Jr., the human rights violations of former President Rodrigo Duterte, and the conviction of Vice President Sara Duterte.
With student and progressive groups carrying banners that speak the same message of resistance, the rallying cry for the event was “Marcos singilin, Duterte panagutin, Sara litisin.”
Clergy members, various organizations, and universities from Metro Manila joined the One Taft Mobilization & March, marching from the EDSA-Ortigas Flyover to the EDSA Monument.
Participating in the march were students from schools such as De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, De La Salle University Manila, Adamson University, Philippine Christian University, St. Paul University, St. Scholastica’s College, and the University of Santo Tomas, as well as state universities including the Philippine Normal University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and University of the Philippines.
The main program at the EDSA monument was divided into three parts: “People Power: Ang Pakikibaka Laban sa Diktadura,” “Nagpapatuloy na Kahirapan, Korapsyon at Kawalang Pananagutan,” and “Pagkakaisa at Paglaban.”
The first part began with speeches from representatives of various organizations. One of them was Chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Teddy Casiño, who is also a senatorial aspirant. He recalled spending three days at EDSA in 1986 and EDSA II in 2001, and shared the important lessons from the uprisings he witnessed.
“Unang-una, ang EDSA ay hindi nagtatapos, ang laban natin ‘di nagtatapos. Hindi lang ito nagsimula noong February 22 [at] natapos noong February 25. Nagsimula ang paglaban even before nagdeklara si Marcos ng Martial Law, nagsimula ang tradisyon ng pakikibaka panahon pa ng ating mga ninuno [...] hanggang sa kasalukuyan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the second part featured a sabayang pagbigkas performance of “Panata Ng Kabataan” by 12 students from various universities, as well as more speeches from other organizations.
From the Labor Center Kilusang Mayo Uno, senatorial aspirant and Secretary General Jerome Adonis voiced the ongoing struggles of Filipino workers, citing low wages and widespread contractualization under another Marcos administration.
“Tanging sa kilusang masa makakamit ang tunay na kalayaan at pakikibaka na pang-ekonomiya at pampulitika,” he stated, emphasizing that true freedom lies in mass movement.
The final part of the program featured a speech by Nina Laron, from Student Council Association of the Philippines, who took a strong stance on the ongoing fight for freedom as public institutions chose not to declare EDSA a holiday.
“Ang tunay na esensya ng EDSA ay hindi lamang nasa litrato at kwento, kundi nasa bawat isa sa atin, sa ating tapang, prinsipyo, at sama-samang pagkilos.”
Msgr. Jerry Bitoon from Clergy and Citizens for Good Governance shared a hopeful message to continue living the EDSA spirit, “Ako ay nananawagan sa mga seminarista na magpatuloy kayo na ang diwa ng EDSA ay pagmamahal sa Diyos ay pagmamahal rin sa bayan.”
He reminded, “Lagi nating tatandaan na ang krus ay may dalawang linya. One is a vertical line relating us with God and another one is a horizontal line relating us with the country.”
The annual EDSA commemoration ended with a Holy Mass held at the EDSA Shrine.
