MANILA (UPDATED) — Some Catholic schools in the Philippines have announced class suspensions on Feb. 25, 2025, to commemorate the 39th EDSA People Power anniversary.

EDSOR, a consortium of schools in the EDSA-Ortigas area, said in a statement that its institutions agreed to observe the 1986 uprising that led to the fall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. as a special non-working holiday "despite Malacañang's exclusion of this historical event."

Members of EDSOR include La Salle Green Hills, Saint Pedro Poveda College, Xavier School, and Immaculate Conception Academy.

Catholic schools suspend classes on Feb. 25, 2024, for EDSA People Power anniversary. Photo from EDSOR

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s office declared the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary on Feb. 25, 2025, as a special working day. Last year, Malacañang said it did not include February 25, 2024 in the list of special non-working days because the date fell on a Sunday.

"Recognizing our responsibility as educational institutions, we remain committed to preserving the relevance of the EDSA People Power Revolution, particularly for our current and future generations of students. We will continue to keep the spirit of EDSA alive despite active efforts to undermine it," EDSOR said.

It added that "the freedoms we enjoy today were hard-won, and we owe it to the next generation that we protect and safeguard the same."

De La Salle Philippines, a network of 16 schools in the country, announced in a separate statement the cancellation of their Feb. 25, 2025 classes "to commemorate this shining moment in history, when the collective power of the people prevailed over corruption, abuse, lack of accountability among public officials, and social injustice."

The University of Santo Tomas also joined the Catholic schools in suspending classes on February 25, urging students to join religious and academic activities that commemorate the EDSA People Power revolt.

Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines' sectors regents urged UP President Angelo Jimenez to declare February 25 as a non-working holiday and alternative learning day. 

The EDSA People Power Revolution — known internationally as one of the first "bloodless" revolutions in Asia — saw hundreds of thousands of Filipinos protesting in the Philippine capital’s main thoroughfare and calling for Marcos Sr. to step down from power.

The movement forced the dictator’s family — including a then 28-year old Marcos Jr. — to leave Malacañang and flee to the United States.

ABS-CBN News has sought Malacañang’s comment on the indignation of several education institutions over the issue, but they have yet to respond.

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