Opposition candidates joined the country in commemorating the 36th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution--the bloodless upheaval that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines.

Vice presidential bet Senator Kiko Pangilinan recalled his experience during the EDSA uprising while he was still a student at the University of the Philippines (UP). He called the event the "rebirth of our nation".

"EDSA was the culmination of a long, bloody struggle against the dictatorship that started small but ballooned -- went viral in today’s language -- almost overnight," he said in a statement on Friday, Feb. 25.

" was the rebirth of our nation. Tumindig na ang mga tao at nagsabi, ‘Tama na, sobra na, palitan na!’" he added.

Pangilinan said the revolt is like a "miracle", as their courage and solidarity helped end a 20-year strongman rule.

"Kaya parang himala. Parang tinadhana. Hindi mo aakalain na puwede kang magpatalsik ng diktador. Nagbunga ang tinanim na tapang, na katotohanan, na liwanag noong dalawampung taon ng one-man rule (It was like a miracle. It seemed destined. You’d never think that you could oust a dictator. The seeds of courage, truth, and light that had been sown during the 20-year one-man rule finally bore fruit)," he added.

Youth keeps democracy alive

Senatorial candidate and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, meanwhile, put a spotlight on how the Filipino youth have always stepped up for the country at pivotal points of history.

From the young Jose Rizal who wrote Noli Me Tangere that played a crucial role in the political history of the Philippines, Diokno said countless Filipino youth also gave their lives fighting for our freedom against the Marcos dictatorship.

"Now, the youth have stepped up again. In the cacophony of the campaign leading up to the 2022 elections, young Filipinos are making their voices heard. You have spearheaded a volunteerism movement unheard of in previous elections," Chel said, referring to the campaign of opposition standard-bearer Vice President Leni Robredo.

"You are the children of the light. You keep the spark of freedom and democracy alive at a time when the forces of darkness are doing everything they can to snuff it out. You will not be cowed. You will not surrender," he added.

EDSA highlights Filipinos' courage

Reelectionist Senator Risa Hontiveros also recounted her experience during the 1986 revolt, which she said highlighted the courage and solidarity of Filipinos to reclaim their freedom.

"Paulit-ulit mang tangkain na burahin sa kasaysayan ang EDSA, hindi mababago ang katotohanang pinagkaisa tayo para sa pangarap na mabuhay ng may dignidad, karapatan at demokrasya sa sarili nating bayan (Despite the many attempts to erase EDSA from history, it will not change the fact that it united us to live a life with dignity and democracy)," she said.

Hontiveros added that the spirit of EDSA liveds on and could still revive the Filipinos' hope for a better country.

"Hindi pwedeng hanggang ngayon ay stranded pa rin tayo sa alaala ng nakaraan. Kailangan nating magkapit-bisig muli, kasama ang mga kabataan ng bagong henerasyon (We should not be stranded in the memory of the past. We need to unite again with the new generation)," she said.

'Never again, again!'

Senator Leila De Lima, meanwhile, said EDSA People Power is not just a non-working holiday in the country but a historic event that should be remembered for Filipinos who stood up together to fight for freedom and democracy.

De Lima added that this is also a day to remember the atrocities during Marcos's government. which paved the way for the peaceful EDSA revolt.

"During the darkest days of the martial law by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Filipinos were treated like garbage. Marcos and his cronies raided public coffers and abused their positions in the government," De Lima, also a reelectionist, said.

"Subalit hindi nagpatalo ang Pilipino (The Filipinos did not lose their hope). In the darkest days of our history, Filipino heroes stepped forward and stood against injustice. In the face of insurmountable challenge, the Filipino masses emerged victorious," she added.

De Lima said the People Power Revolution toppled the abusive dictatorship and gave the sovereign power back to the people.

The detained senator also called on Filipinos to wake up again from the abuses during the present administration and have the courage to fight again for our rights.

"Dapat tayong magising muli. Hanapin natin muli sa ating puso ang demokrasya at buong tapang natin itong ipaglaban (We must wake up again. Let us look for the democracy in our hearts and fight for it with courage). Let us all say 'Never again, again!'" De Lima said.