Do not forget. Celebrate. Be proud.
On the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Tuesday, Feb. 25, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas urged students to uphold truth, fight injustice, and remember the peaceful uprising that changed Philippine history.
In a message to students posted on CBCP News on Feb. 24, Villegas underscored the significance of the EDSA People Power Revolution and emphasized the youth's crucial role in preserving democracy. He called on them to ensure that the lessons of unity, courage, and the pursuit of freedom are never forgotten.
A moment of glory: Catholic faith seeking justice
Villegas described the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution as a “moment of glory” for Filipinos.
“The whole world admired us Filipinos then,” Villegas said, referring to the ousting of the late dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos “without violence and bloodshed.”
“The greatness of the Filipino people was hailed by the world. It was faith seeking justice. It was faith making peace,” he added.
Villegas also shared that he was the first rector of the EDSA Shrine, which was built in 1989 under the patronage of Mary, Queen of Peace.
“EDSA People Power is about the Catholic faith seeking justice for victims of human rights abuses,” Villegas said, noting that the historic event embodied the Catholic faith proclaiming Veritas (Latin for "truth") at a time when dissent was suppressed, and the truth was hidden.
“It was the Catholic faith fighting corruption in government and challenging those in authority who were using taxes to enrich themselves,” he added.
Truths and Lessons of the EDSA People Power Revolution
Villegas emphasized the importance of remembering the lessons of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
“No matter what they say and how you feel, know that there is greatness in your heart [because] the soul of our Filipino nation is great, noble, and heroic,” Villegas told students.
He noted that under the government of former president Ferdinand Marcos, there was an illusion of peace and progress, but “behind the scenes were human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and massive corruption.”
“I will not lie to you. I will not mislead you. I was there. I saw the corruption, the torture, the killings, and the illegal arrests. That is what really happened,” Villegas said.
He encouraged students to search for the truth themselves, urging them to “Google” information about the late dictator and the events leading to the revolution.
“In February 1986, we—your grandparents—stood for four days at EDSA in Quezon City between Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame,” Villegas recalled. He described how they prayed the rosary, shared food with soldiers sent to disperse them, sang Bayan Ko, and slept on the streets.
On Feb. 25, 1986, Villegas said, they succeeded in removing the dictator “without violence and bloodshed.”
He also reminded students that the years under Marcos—from 1965 to 1986—were not “paradise years” for the Philippines but years of “massive corruption and stealing, suppression of opposition, and the torture of those who spoke against the regime.”
Nearly four decades later, Villegas urged Filipino youth to “resist those who want to revise that historical chapter and mislead or deceive you.”
He clarified that EDSA People Power was “not about one political group ousting another.” Instead, it was the Catholic faith’s message of peace and love inspiring a social revolution without bloodshed.
Moreover, Villegas stressed that the revolution was the people’s response to the “massive election cheating” committed by the late dictator during the 1986 elections. “We did it peacefully. Be proud of this. The world admired us,” he said.
Villegas reiterated that EDSA People Power was the “answer of our God-loving people to evil men and evil deeds.”
He urged Filipinos, especially the youth, to “not forget” and to “celebrate” the event, calling it “the holiday of the nameless millions of Filipino heroes of 1986.”
What can students do?
To keep the spirit of the EDSA People Power Revolution alive, Villegas called on students to stay engaged and uphold its core values.
He encouraged them to “believe in the power of God to bring about positive change” because “a world at prayer is a world at peace.”
Students were also urged to “be involved and engaged” in issues affecting the nation and the world. “For us Christians, it is a sin to live only for yourself. Be men and women for others,” Villegas said.
Additionally, he advised students not to “tolerate wrongdoing” and to “resist what is wrong,” saying: “Choose what is right, even when no one is watching. That is integrity.”
He also addressed those who argue that the Church should remain silent on political matters: “Do not believe those who say the Church should keep quiet about political issues.”
Villegas added: “Politics without God; politicians disregarding the Ten Commandments; politicians stealing public funds; and politicians exempting themselves from the law—they are evil. We must remove that kind of politics from the nation.”
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