By Glaiza Salanio

On Tuesday, February 25, various groups and organizations commemorated the 39th anniversary of the EDSA (Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue) People Power Revolution with the theme “EDSA 39: Di ka nag-iisa,” through different ceremonies and programs.

Despite being a working holiday, Filipinos flocked to the People Power Monument in Quezon City to honor the history of the EDSA revolution.

The rites were spearheaded by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), leading the wreath-laying and flag-raising ceremonies.

“Kailangan ituloy ang laban. It starts with me. It starts with all of us. Para ituloy ang laban, I have to be here,” Gabriel Maramba, a student who joined an event in the People Power Monument, shared.

Meanwhile, the whole Ateneo community also gathered at the Church of the Gesu to attend the University Mass, which was presided over by Fr. Roberto Exequiel N. Rivera, SJ, to remember the revolution.

ED39: Pag-alala, Pagkakaisa, Pakikibaka

In the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS), the Kamalayan at Tinig ng Atenista (KaTA) organized “ED39: Pag-alala, Pagkakaisa, Pakikibaka,” a series of activities from February 26 to March 7 to commemorate the historic event.

On Wednesday, February 26, the organization had an educational talk at the Music Room, 2nd Floor Formation and Learning Center, with Patrick Claudio, the Chief of the Research and Education Division of the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission. 

Claudio talked about the significance of remembering the EDSA People Power Revolution in shaping our democracy.

In an interview, he shared his agency’s role in memorializing martial law victims and its advocacy to fight historical distortion, emphasizing the importance of educating the younger generation to ensure this critical phase of history is not forgotten.

“I want the students to have a greater understanding and awareness of what history is and to avoid mistakes, to ensure that there will be no past violations that ever happen in the future,” he stated.

Never Forget

The forum was attended by the ASHS students, who actively listened to the discussion, gaining valuable insights about the importance of the EDSA People Power Revolution in the context of democracy and human rights.

One of the attendees, Gavy Suyao from 12-Geronimo, shared that the phrase “Never Forget,” goes beyond remembering the EDSA People Power Revolution, urging people to embody its spirit of fighting for justice, democracy, and the common good in the face of ongoing injustices.

“Ang spirit ng EDSA na kailangan nating ipagpatuloy na ipaglaban, ‘yung mga karapatan ng mga tao, and the fight against tyranny and do what’s good lives on. We need to keep embodying that every day. We need to keep choosing, just as ’yung mga tao noong EDSA did, to come together to fight for the common good,” Suyao said.

As part of this initiative, KaTA partnered with Dulaang Sibol for a performance and with ASHS Zoom for a photo gallery. They also set up an EDSA Wall and a Black Ribbon Solidarity Booth on the Red Brick Road to promote awareness about the EDSA People Power Revolution.