A GROUP of Catholic schools is taking a stand against efforts to “downgrade and devalue” the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, as its anniversary this year was relegated to a “special working day” by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the dictator’s son.
In a statement released ahead of the Feb. 25 commemoration, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) vowed to uphold and protect the spirit of EDSA, the historic revolt that restored Philippine democracy.
The statement comes as schools push back against Marcos Jr.’s proclamation of Feb. 25 as a “special working day” by suspending classes and office work or shifting to alternative learning modes. Before Marcos Jr., EDSA had consistently been observed as a non-working holiday.
“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.
“CEAP shall push back all attempts to deny, distort, downgrade, and devalue it in our schools, in our communities, and in our life as a nation.”
Nearly 40 years after Filipinos ended the two-decade dictatorship, CEAP — comprising more than 1,500 member schools — said EDSA’s legacy remains as vital as ever, especially as the 2025 midterm elections approach.
“The EDSA spirit is a shining moment in our life and history as a people. It showed the world what is best in the Filipino, how we can transcend ourselves and sacrifice for our country, how we choose peace over violence,” the statement read.
“We urgently need to re-ignite this spirit today, especially in the upcoming May elections and in our daily exercise of our rights, freedoms, and responsibilities.”
READ: Thomasians ‘highly encouraged’ to join EDSA anniversary activities
In UST, classes and office work will be suspended on Feb. 25, and activities such as a Mass, lectures, and discussions have been organized to mark the EDSA anniversary.
Other universities, including De La Salle Philippines schools, Adamson University, San Beda University, and University of the East, have also canceled classes. The University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University opted to shift to alternative learning arrangements.
‘Catholics are people of memory’
In a separate statement, the Catholic Association of Social Science Teachers asserted that Catholics, above all, should protect the EDSA legacy and honor those who fought for democracy.
EDSA, it said, must not only be remembered as the downfall of a dictator but as a moment when Filipinos stood against the “evils of injustice” and “degradation of human dignity.”
“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,” the statement read.
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CEAP’s National Capital Region (NCR) unit also called on schools to educate students about EDSA’s significance, calling it a “powerful reminder of the Filipino people’s patriotism, courage, and unity in the face of adversity.”
“CEAP NCR urges all member schools to organize meaningful activities that will educate students about the People Power Revolution, its causes, and its impact on Philippine society,” it said.
“Let us continue to honor the spirit of the People Power Revolution and its enduring legacy by nurturing a deep sense of patriotism and civic responsibility among the youth,” it added.
This is not the first time Marcos Jr. has been criticized for diminishing the importance of EDSA.
Last year, he completely removed the uprising’s anniversary from the list of holidays, arguing that it fell on a Sunday and declaring it a non-working holiday would have “minimal socio-economic impact.”
