MANILA, Philippines – Democracy advocates are gearing up for a series of events to commemorate the 38th EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary.
Organizers acknowledged that there is a deliberate effort to make this year’s celebration bigger and more felt, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to remove the anniversary from the list of holidays in 2024.
Here are some of the events you can attend to mark the day that the Filipino people ousted the President’s late father and namesake, the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, from office in 1986.
February 22
- Manila | The University of Santo Tomas Artlets Student Council invites students to “Supling Binhi ng EDSA: People Power Commemoration-Film Viewing” at the Central Laboratory Auditorium from 1 pm to 5 pm. Register here.
February 23
- Cebu | The group DAKILA will mount a screening of 11,103, a documentary about Martial Law survivors, at 1 pm at the Southwestern University PHINMA.
- Manila | A film screening will be held at 9 am and 2 pm at the Benilde Center for Social Action, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
- Manila | A mass will be held at 9 am at Plaza Roma in Intramuros. The event is a prayer “against lies, corruption, and abuses.”
- Marikina | A Liberal Party chapter in the city will conduct a tree planting event and tying of yellow ribbons along Marikina Riverbank.
- Quezon City | The League of Filipino Students-Katipunan along with progressive youth organizations are organizing a protest in Gate 3 of Ateneo de Manila University, at 5 pm. The protest aims to ramp up demands on education, rights, livelihood, and land amidst the push for charter change under the Marcos administration.
- Quezon City | Jesuit priests Manoling Francisco and Nono Alfonso will preside over a Mass at 9 am at the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace in EDSA. The event is dubbed a national day of prayer and action to commemorate the 38th year since the uprising, and to oppose the charter change initiative under the Marcos administration.
- Zamboanga City | Fundacion Climaco, in partnership with The Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago and the Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts, holds “Telegrammed Truths: The Valiant Correspondence of Cesar Cortes Climaco,” an educational exhibit showcasing the “never-before released telegrams and letters of the late mayor of Zamboanga City Cesar Climaco” during the Martial Law years. The launch is set to happen at The Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago, 5 pm. The exhibit runs until March 16.
- Zamboanga City | USAD Ateneo de Zamboanga invites students to a series of educational discussions themed, “Defend our Democracy: Commemorating EDSA People Power and Response to Charter Change,” from 3 to 5 pm at the Bellarmine-Campion Quadrangle and Lobby.
- Online | Rappler civic engagement arm MovePH, in partnership with ABKD Network, Tanggol Kasaysayan, and Project Gunita, is holding a chat discussion themed, “Paano isusulong ang diwa ng EDSA People Power sa kasalukuyang panahon?” at 6 pm via the Rappler Communities app. Join the discussion here.
February 24
- Iloilo | Ateneo de Iloilo-Santa Maria Catholic School organizes an installation art exhibit themed,
“Alab ng Puso: Pagpupugay sa Tapang ng 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution,” inside the school campus. A separate flag rites ceremony is also set to happen from February 26 to 28. - Laguna | The Liberal Party chapter in the province will distribute yellow ribbon pins, and offer free taho.
- La Union | La Union-based library Alfredo F. Tadiar Library, in collaboration with La Union Peace and Justice Advocates and Pelicula Union, is holding a series of film screenings and community dialogues themed, “Pag-alala sa EDSA, paglaban sa China,” at the Alfredo F. Tadiar Library from 1 to 5 pm. Register here to join.
- Pampanga | The National Historical Commission of the Philippines in collaboration with Makiramdam will host a workshop and lecture titled “The EDSA Legacy,” at Museo ni Jose B. Lingad from 10 am to 3 pm.
- Quezon City | Various groups will convene at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani for numerous commemorative events: tying of yellow ribbons at 8;30 am, a public discussion to be led by veterans of the August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) at 9:30 am, and a public theater performance from 1 pm to 4 pm.
- Quezon City | DAKILA will screen the film 11,103 at the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission along Panay Avenue at 1:30 pm.
- Quezon City | The group Every Woman will have a discussion on experiences of women during the EDSA People Power Revolution at 2 pm at the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Social Work and Community Development.
February 25
- Bacolod | DAKILA said there will be a public exhibit on democracy and human rights.
- Bulacan | There will be a storytelling session for the youth in Malolos. Two churches will also ring their bells at 9 am in Meycauayan.
- Cavite | The Liberal Party chapter in the province will hold a musical event at the Naic Church Plaza beginning 5 pm.
- Cebu | The University of the Philippines Cebu Student Council invites everyone to their on-ground protest happening at 9 am at the Department of Health (DOH) Fuente Circle.
- Davao City | A public forum on the EDSA uprising will be held at Cursillo House at 1 pm.
- Iloilo | The Liberal Party chapter in the province will commemorate the anniversary of the revolution in front of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
- Laguna | The Liberal Party chapter in Laguna will mount a story telling event with high school and college students, as well as a forum and an art exhibit.
- Makati City | Mamamayang Liberal’s weeks-long event themed, “Buhay ang EDSA! Cancel Cha-Cha,” culminates on February 25. This will showcase the Edsa Freedom Ride at Ayala Avenue, Makati City, at 7:30 am.
- Metro Manila | Organizers will begin the day with a motorcade against charter change along Ayala Avenue in Makati City at 8 am, to be followed by an event at Club Filipino in San Juan at 10 am. A concert will be held at the People Power Monument in Quezon City at 7 pm.
- Pasig City | Various groups under the No to ChaCha Network invites everyone to join their protest themed, “Tuloy ang laban ng EDSA! Biguin ang Chacha!” at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue at 3:30 pm. This will be followed by a mass at the EDSA Shrine.
- Rizal | The Liberal Party chapter in Angono will hold a forum on the day that Marcos Sr. was ousted 38 years ago.
- Quezon | In Lucena, a Mass will be celebrated at the Saint Ferdinand Cathedral at 8 pm, to be followed by a march at the Quezon Perez Park at 9:15 am.
- Quezon City | A free concert themed, “#EDSAKahitSaan” will be held at the People Power Monument in White Plains Avenue at 7 pm.
- Zamboanga | Interested participants can join a caravan from KCC Mall to Pasonanca Butterfly Park at 2 pm, to be followed by a public picnic at Climaco Freedom Park.
- Caraga | The People Power Volunteers for Reform in Caraga is set to hold a film viewing event in various parts of the region in the afternoon.
- Hong Kong | Numerous groups will hand out yellow ribbons and turon along Chater Road.
February 26
- Cavite | De La Salle University Dasmariñas invites students to “Remembering EDSA: Upholding Democracy,” a democracy march and mass program from 3 pm to 5 pm. Students are requested to wear yellow.
Do you know of other events and activities in commemoration of the 38th EDSA People Power anniversary? Email them to move.ph@rappler.com.
– with reports from Dwight de Leon/ Rappler.com