Not declaring Feb. 25 or the EDSA People Power anniversary as a non-working holiday was neither an effort to erase history, nor undermining the gains from the historic revolution.
This was what Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro said on criticisms over President Marcos' non declaration of the People Power anniversary as a non-working holiday since 2023, when he moved the holiday from Feb. 25 to Feb. 24 in order to have a long weekend.
Castro, the new undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), pointed out that the President has not done any action to prevent the people from commemorating the EDSA People Power.
She stressed that not declaring it as a special non-working day does not equate to him attempting to undo history.
"Unang-una, isipin po natin, mayroon po bang pinahinto ang Pangulo na anumang activity na patungkol dito sa commemoration ng EDSA People? Since the time po na siya ay naging pangulo, wala po tayong nadinig na anumang pagpapahinto ng anumang events ‘no, any activities na maaaring mag-commemorate ng nasabing event (First of all, was there even a time the President ordered a stop to activities commemorating the EDSA People Power? Since he became the President, we did not hear him stop activities to commemorate the said event)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
"And at the same time, pansinin po natin, papaano po mabubura ang history? History is history. So, hindi po kakayanin po lang ng Presidente na ito ay mabura sa ating history (notice this, how can history be erased? History is history. The President alone cannot erase this from our history)," Castro added.
It was also not an action that undermines the essence of the People Power, Castro further said.
"No, I don’t think so. We don’t think so. Why? Sabi ko nga po kanina (As I've said), if there is the intention to erase the memories of EDSA People Power, ibang klaseng pamamaraan ang gagawin (It would take a great effort to do that)," she stressed.
The Palace official also said it was just an opinion from people trying to attack the President and the government.
Castro emphasized that Feb. 25 this year was instead declared as a special working day to encourage the people to participate in any event to commemorate the EDSA People Power.
"As of now, February 25 is declared a special working day and I think it is the prerogative of the President. And when we say special working day, still there is encouragement to people to commemorate, to join any event and it will not hinder any activity to commemorate the EDSA People Power," Castro said.
Although Marcos has yet to issue an official message for the commemoration of the massive revolution that ousted his father, former president Marcos Sr., from power, Castro said he is encouraging the people to join any activity to mark the 39th anniversary of the People Power.
"As of now, iyon pa lang po, dineclare lang po na ito ay (that's all, it was only declared as a) special working day and we mean—and I think it means a lot to all the people – you are encouraged to go out, to do your activities, to commemorate the EDSA People Power," she said.
On schools that opted to suspend classes on Feb. 25, Castro said they have the freedom to do so in order to commemorate the People Power Revolution.