Holiday or not, democracy advocates, human rights supporters, and friends and families of Martial Law victims on Sunday, Feb. 25, remembered the 38th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution and called for a “reclamation” of the Filipinos’ voice and legacy amid the distortion of the country’s history.
 

Wreath-laying ceremony for the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution held at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Noel Pabalate/MANILA BULLETIN)

The celebration began with a wreath-laying ceremony, organized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), held at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City.
 

Ian Alfonso, supervising researcher of the NHCP’s Research, Publication and Heraldry Division, expressed hope for Filipinos to appreciate the benefits of the People Power Revolt, and promised to continue commemorating the event as long as the NHCP has mandate.
 

“Kahit holiday siya o hindi, kailangan may umaalala (Even if it’s a holiday or not, we need to remember),” he said.
 

President Marcos, son and namesake of the late dictator, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., did not include the EDSA People Power Anniversary in this year’s list of holidays.
 

This attempt to “diminish” what EDSA means to Filipinos was the reason why the once ruling Liberal Party (LP) called on Filipinos to reject the lies spread about what the revolution means to the country’s democracy.
 

“Disinformation and historical revisionism don't just try to diminish EDSA; they attempt to rewrite it as the root of our present struggles. They twist narratives, painting the People Power Revolution as a naive misstep instead of the courageous act of self-determination it truly was,” the LP said in a statement.
 

“But we, the inheritors of that legacy, refuse to be silenced. We refuse to allow our history to be rewritten. We refuse to stand by while leaders prioritize personal agendas over the nation's future,” it added.
 

LP spokesperson and former senator Leila de Lima, who was detained for almost seven years after trumped-up charges by the Duterte administration, also refused beliefs that the EDSA revolution was about the Aquinos.
 

“EDSA wasn't about a singular leader; it was about the people reclaiming their voices, their future, and their right to be heard,” she said.
 

Emilio Aquino, grandson of former senator Agapito “Butz” Aquino and nephew of democracy icon Ninoy Aquino, attended the event at the People Power Monument and stressed how EDSA was not solely about politics.
 

“EDSA is not just about politics. It is really about values,” Aquino told reporters. “It’s really about remembering what we stood for, what the people stood for in 1986. Values like truth, justice and democracy.”

Confetti rain down from the sky to mark the anniversary of the EDSA Revolution. (Noel Pabalate/MANILA BULLETIN)

More than a hundred cyclists, joggers, and skaters also converged in Ayala Avenue for the “EDSA Freedom Ride,” which was organized by Akbayan Party to commemorate the anniversary and stand against attempts to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which was born in the aftermath of the Marcos dictatorship.

At the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, “The EDSA Story: A People’s Victory, A Nation’s Glory” event by the Buhay Ang EDSA Campaign Network featured performances from Bayang Barrios, Noel Cabangon, Xiao Chua, Jaime Fabregas, Arman Ferrer, Jep Go, Edru Abraham, UP Kontra Gapi, and the Ateneo Entablado.
 

Tindig Pilipinas convenor and former presidential adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles admitted that her generation might have been amiss in passing EDSA stories to the younger generation.
 

“Sabi namin papaano ba natin ito ikukwento? Mukha iyon ang pinagkulangan natin. Hindi natin naikwento. Medyo nakalimutan, napabayaan itong ating legacy, itong ating kwento (We said how can we tell this story? That’s our shortcoming. We did not tell the story. We forgot, we neglected our legacy, our story),” she said.
 

“And we said we have to find a way of telling the story. So, this morning, this is what it is. It is a way of telling a story that is especially dedicated to our young people,” she added.
 

Fabregas, an actor and activist, remained optimistic about the people’s will to act.
 

“Patuloy tayong mangarap. Patuloy nating igalaw ang ating mga kamay sa pagkilos dahil kaya natin. Sama-sama natin ipakita ang ating paniniwala sa isa’t isa (Let’s continue dreaming. Let us continue to move our hands and act because we can. Together, let us show that we believe in each other),” he said.
 

“This is a very special day. Yung (The) Buhay Ang EDSA Network Coalition came together because it was time, it was beyond time to stand up and reclaim our celebration, our victory, our legacy,” Deles added.
 

Among those who attended were 1987 Constitution framers Florangel Braid, Prof. Ed Garcia, lawyers Christian Monsod, and Rene Sarmiento.
 

Also present were human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Winnie Monsod, Rene Saguisag, Randy David, Butch Abad, Erin Tañada, Viel Aquino-Dee, and Francis “Kiko” Aquino Dee.