Filipinos continued to celebrate the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution for the 39th year in a row amid efforts to diminish its significance in the country’s history. The scorching sun and non-declaration of a nonworking holiday did not deter members of multisectoral groups from marching from EDSA-Ortigas to the People Power Monument to keep the spirit of the revolution alive.
Among them was the official Lasallian contingent from the Manila Campus who marched fronting the special banner of One Taft Against Fascism and Tyranny (One TAFT), a group composed of educational institutions along Taft Ave.
The revival of activism
Unlike previous People Power anniversary commemorations, which reached tens of thousands of participants, this year’s mobilization only saw 6,000 participants at the start of the program and dwindled down to 3,500 as the program ended, according to Quezon City Police District PEMS Helen Bumolo.
Nonetheless, the spirit of activism was still palpable as different groups ranging from religious to left-leaning converged at EDSA-Ortigas, taking their concerns to the streets. Among the usual concerns raised were the erasure of the Revolution’s significance and the corruption in the government.
Familiar personalities were also present in the evente. Sister Mary Mananzan looked back on the development of the country after the People Power Revolution as she urged the attendees to keep on fighting for what the revolution fought for. “EDSA did not fail us. We failed EDSA. Pinabayaan natin sila. Lahat tayo ngayong araw na ito, ipaglaban natin ang katotohanan. Ipaglaban natin ang ating bayan.”
(We neglected them. All of us here today, let us fight for the truth. Let us fight for our nation.)
Labor leader and 2025 senatorial aspirant Atty. Luke Espiritu, on the other hand, called on the crowd to take an active part in changing Philippine society. “Noong 1986, napatalsik natin si Marcos. Ilalagay natin sa isip natin ngayon, ‘di maaaring walang tahasang pagbabago ng buong lipunan.”
(In 1986, we ousted Marcos. Let’s keep in mind that we cannot just forgo having outright changes in our whole society.)
Undeterred by the heat, the crowd’s energy remained high throughout the two-part program, and the cheers of the demonstrators echoed throughout the venue. The program saw performances and speeches from delegates who represented each Taft-based institution. Notable speakers included Espiritu and Dr. David Michael San Juan, the president of the Association of Faculty and Educators of DLSU Inc. Victims of the Marcos dictatorship, such as Bonifacio “Boni” Macaranas, president and chairperson of the People’s Choice Movement, were also present to share their firsthand experience of the persecution against journalists.
“Ako po ay nag-umpisa na lumaban noong 1972. Nagtayo kami ng isang newspaper na patago-tago, at pagdating ng 1976, may pumunta sa amin tapos hinuli ako… at dinala sa Fort Bonifacio,” Macaranas reminisced about the events that led to him being held captive.
(I started fighting back in 1972. We secretly started a newspaper publication, and by 1976, someone came by to arrest me… and took me to Fort Bonifacio.)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to proclaim the anniversary as a “special working holiday” was seen by some as an attempt to downplay the revolution’s legacy. Labor rights activist and Partido Lakas ng Masa senatorial candidate Leody de Guzman pointed out to The LaSallian that this might be a response to the growing discontent among the masses. “Yung kaniyang aksyon ngayon ay resulta ng malakas na pagtutol at pagkundina ng mga tao doon sa kaniyang pamumuno.”
(His actions are a result of the masses’ strong condemnation and opposition towards his leadership.)
Lasallian participation
The gloomy weather did not discourage the Lasallian community from celebrating the event at the Manila Campus. Lasallian brothers, faculty, and students gathered at the Pearl of Great Price Chapel before proceeding to EDSA-Ortigas as they were then reminded by University President Br. Bernard Oca FSC to “live the values of EDSA.”
“By using social media and all the power that you have in terms of information, use that to fight fake news, to fight false truths that are being passed [around], use it to always find out what is true…You, young people, have the power to find the truth, to work for the truth, and to live and witness that truth,” Oca lamented.
University Student Government (USG) Vice President for External Affairs Xymoun Rivera also revealed that the USG took on a more active role this year by strengthening One TAFT, a coalition of student councils from academic institutions along Taft Ave.
“More than just remembering history, we responded to urgent national realities like Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case, the broader fight against historical distortion, and EDSA’s democratic backsliding as it was reduced to a special working holiday. The call to action this year was clear: EDSA is not just about the past, but it is about how we move forward,” Rivera said.
He also reassured the Lasallian community that the USG will remain steadfast in advocating for student participation and representation in national affairs, offering avenues for engagement through mobilizations and institutional dialogues.
San Juan also gave a speech during the event, wherein he emphasized the crucial role of the youth in shaping the future of the nation, and in turn, recognizing the efforts made by the students who attended the rally. “Sa gitna ng lahat ng kahirapan na dinaranas ng bansa, kabataan pa rin ang siyang pag-asa ng bayan.”
(Amid all the hardships the country is experiencing, the youth is still the nation’s hope.)
He also urged Senate President Chiz Escudero to start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. “Sobrang garapal na ng paglustay ni Sara sa pera ng bayan. P125 million sa 11 [na] araw lang. Sen. Chiz Escudero, do your job: start the trial forthwith.”
(Sara’s squandering has been gross. P125 million in 11 days only.)
While the University’s initiative for EDSA was acknowledged, criticisms remained with *Tomas, a representative from Anakbayan Vito Cruz also stating that, “Habang ang La Salle ay mas progresibo, dahil nga meron tayong inisiyatibang dalhin ‘yung mga estudyante mula La Salle papunta sa EDSA Shrine, nakikita natin ang pagtigil nila sa progresibong edukasyon na dapat talaga[ng] gawin.”
(Although La Salle is more progressive than others because we have an initiative to bring the students from La Salle to the EDSA Shrine, we still see that there is a prevention of progressive education that should truly be done.)
*Names with asterisks (*) are pseudonyms.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s March 2025 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSMarch2025.
