On Feb. 22, 1999, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada issued Executive Order No. 82 on the creation of the EDSA People Power Commission “to perpetuate and propagate the spirit of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.” Eight years later, on Jan. 30, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, through Proclamation No. 1224, declared Feb. 22 to 25 of every year as EDSA People Power Commemoration Week.
President Benigno S. Aquino III, son of the two acknowledged Heroes of EDSA — the late Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. and President Corazon C. Aquino — led the commemoration programs at the EDSA People Power Monument outside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, and at the Our Lady of EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City. In 2014, he opted to visit various major disaster sites in Davao, Bohol, Cebu, and Leyte. He urged the citizenry to manifest solidarity with the communities affected by Typhoons Pablo and Yolanda and an intensity 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2013.
On Nov. 24, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order No. 47 that integrated the functions of the EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The NHCP assumed the management of the People Power Monument, ensuring its continued maintenance and upkeep. The planning, organizing, and implementation of activities to commemorate the 1986 EDSA Revolution was retained with the EPPC.
In 2023, on the first EDSA commemoration since he took office in 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. issued Proclamation No. 1967 declaring Friday, Feb. 24, as a special non-working-day throughout the country. He also issued the following message:
“As we look back to a time in our history that divided the Filipino people, I am one with the nation in remembering those times of tribulation and how we came out of them united and stronger as a nation. I once again offer my hand of reconciliation to those with different political persuasions to come together as one in forging a better society — one that will pursue progress and peace and a better life for all Filipinos.”
In 2024, Malacañang did not declare the EDSA anniversary as a special non-working holiday as it fell on a weekend. For this year, the Palace issued Proclamation No. 727 which, while listing all the non-working holidays, declared that the EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary on Tuesday, Feb. 25, would be “a special working day.”
Regardless of whether it is a working or non-working day, the spirit of EDSA is alive and embedded in the hearts and minds of millions of Filipinos.
Some universities and schools have announced that in lieu of regular classes, alternative learning activities will be held to mark the 39th anniversary of EDSA People Power. Indeed, Feb. 25 is a day for reflection on unity among the citizenry for the betterment of Philippine society. The spirit of “kapit-basig,” or linking arms, symbolizes solidarity, the collective will to surmount challenges and difficulties by taking determined action.
Let the words of “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” (Filpinos’ Gift to the World) that resonated in the aftermath of the events of Feb. 22 to 25, 1986 continue to inspire us in the continuing enterprise of nation building: “Magkakapit-bisig libo-libong tao/Kay sarap palang maging Pilipino/Sama-sama iisa ang adhikain/Kelan man ’di na paalipin/ (Thousands of people linking their arms/Celebrating how good it is to be Filipinos/United in a common aspiration/Never to be enslaved.)”