Since 2022, the Marcoses have worked relentlessly to rehabilitate their name and erase their spectacular fall from grace in 1986. But history resists erasure. Now, under the second Marcos presidency, the spirit of People Power rises again — this time, in defiance of a son bent on burying the memory of his father’s humiliating fall from power.
In 2024, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. took a calculated step toward erasing EDSA from Filipinos’ consciousness by silently dropping Feb. 25 from the list of holidays. This year, he has grown more brazen, downgrading the anniversary to a mere “special working day.” This effectively diminishes the revolution that restored Philippine democracy — which, ironically, he has sworn to uphold as president.
Year after year, the Marcoses seem to be coming up with a new ploy to absolve themselves of their family’s bloody legacy and distort history. Though their methods evolve, their message remains clear: EDSA is not worth commemorating.
Fortunately, our academic institutions remember.
In an unprecedented act of defiance, at least 50 academic institutions have suspended classes on Feb. 25. Beyond cancellations, schools have organized activities to commemorate the revolt, with some even encouraging student participation.
This resistance proves that the EDSA spirit remains alive and deeply ingrained in the nation’s memory. Schools, as centers of learning, now serve as the frontline defense against historical distortion.
UST was one of the first schools to announce “no classes, no work” on Feb. 25. In his memorandum issued Feb. 14, Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said “Thomasians are highly encouraged to participate in activities commemorating the spirit of EDSA People Power Revolution.” He added: “The University, through various units, has prepared worship and prayer activities, academic and discussion sessions, cultural activities, and social media engagement.”
The UST memo explained the importance of Feb. 25: “As we commemorate the EDSA People Power Revolution, we are reminded of the power of unity, courage, and peaceful action. Let us stand united and never forget that true power lies in the collective will of the people, and it is our responsibility to uphold the values of integrity, justice, and freedom for generations to come.
Other Catholic schools stood firm as well. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the revolt’s memory, condemning attempts to “devalue and degrade” its significance.
“The 1986 EDSA People Power revolution shall always be a constitutive dimension of learning of our students. Philippine and Catholic education shall never be without it,” CEAP said in a Feb. 20 statement.
The National Capital Region unit of CEAP echoed this sentiment: “As Catholics, we are people of memory — both of blessings and trials. When we remember and celebrate significant events in our nation’s history, we affirm their lasting value, keeping their spirit, message, and lessons alive for generations to come.”
Marist schools nationwide, including the Notre Dame University of Dadiangas City, the neighboring school of UST General Santos, have also canceled classes on Feb. 25 and marked it as a “Day of Reflection and Solidarity.”
“We cannot allow this milestone to be consigned to the dustbin of history,” the schools under the Society of Mary religious brothers have declared in a statement.
“What took place (on Feb. 25) 39 years ago was the triumph of the Filipino spirit characterized by courage, love of country, and faith in God that needs to be celebrated, commemorated, and shared (as) stories of solidarity, resistance, and freedom.”
Class suspensions may seem like a small act of defiance, but they are a powerful statement: No presidential proclamation can strip EDSA of its dignity, just as no single family can ever suppress the collective power of the Filipino people.
Marcos Jr. has grown more insolent this year in his attempts to devalue EDSA, perhaps emboldened by the impeachment controversy surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte. The political turmoil conveniently cast him as the “better half” in their decaying political marriage, allowing him to push his revisionist agenda with even greater audacity.
At a time of deep division, schools must serve as the nation’s moral cornerstones, just as EDSA was. As institutions of learning, they are the first line of defense against historical distortion and should lead the charge in preserving the truth. It is their duty to ensure that students — already far removed from the EDSA years — understand not just the revolution’s significance but also the urgency of resisting those who seek to erase it.
Instead of fading, the revolution’s memory has only been reinforced by Marcos Jr.’s attempts at whitewashing. His attempts to diminish EDSA’s legacy expose his fear of its enduring power, which no amount of revisionism can suppress.
Because no matter how hard Marcos Jr. tries to scrub EDSA from memory or sweep its legacy of unity and democracy under the rug, the true People Power will always rise. And this time, it is the schools that are leading the charge.
