Quezon City officials, representatives from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and the EDSA People Power Commission lead the wreath-laying ceremony at the EDSA People Power Monument on February 25, 2025.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Despite being a special working day, several groups flocked to the People Power Monument in Quezon City to remember the People Power Revolution that ousted the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1986.

Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte together with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines led the wreath laying ceremony on Tuesday morning.

This year, survivors of Martial Law as well as young student leaders actively participated in the activities, highlighting the role of the historic event not just in the past but also in shaping the minds of the youth.

EDSA uprising 'not a mistake': Groups vow to keep spirit of people power alive

Since the peaceful uprising, survivors of Martial Law said it's very important to hold such commemoration so the people "do not forget."

"Hindi pa tapos ang ating laban, tuluy-tuloy nating ipapalala sa ating kabataan na meron tayong walang katapusang pagbabago ng lipunan," said Regalado Trota Jose Jr., chairman of the NHCP.

(The fight is not yet over. We will always remind our youth that our society is always changing.)

"Whatever side you are from, alalahanin natin na may nangyaring ganito, hindi pwedeng kalimutan ito, part ito para inculcate sa mga kabataan na historical ang nangyari, hindi pa tapos ang laban kaya dapat ipagdiwang ang ganito," he added.

(Despite differing views, we have to remember that the People Power happened. We should not forget, so we need to inculcate these to the children. We have to keep on commemorating it.)

SCHOOLS, YOUTH LEAD COMMEMORATION

According to the database of the NGO Philippine Institute for Student Democracy, more than 400 schools nationwide either canceled classes or shifted to online mode today, February 25.

"For me, it represents a movement of students and school administrators who will not forget, who will choose to remember what happened in the People Power Revolution," said Isaiah Crisanto of the Philippine Institute for Student Democracy.

"School suspensions are so important, it is a choice. Students are calling their administrators; where do you stand in history, do you remember the fight?" he added.

'Tell the story of EDSA', Honasan urges People Power participants

Prior to the occasion, several universities announced the cancellation of classes as their act of defiance against historical revisionism.

"It now becomes a question of remembrance, hindi lang bakasyon, it is a question of do we remember the message and story behind EDSA and People Power," Crisanto said.

Historian Xiao Chua says the declaration of February 25 as a special working day even ignited more conversations about its importance.

"Hanggang ngayon, hot issue pa rin ang People Power. This is a good sign yung pag-declare ng working day, actually, turned out to be good kasi it made people talk about EDSA more," he said.

(Until now, People Power is still a hot issue. The declaration of it as a working day turned out good since it made people talk about EDSA more.)

The 22-year-old Karl Patrick Suyat was not yet born during the People Power revolution, but he is actively joining its commemoration annually.

Suyat is one of the founders of Project Gunita, which aims to preserve documents, videos, and news articles about the Marcos regime.

"Namamatay ang kasaysayan, namamatay ang kwento kapag hindi na naisasalin o naipapasa. 'Yun ang kahalagahan ng pagkilos, yung pagpapaalala," Suyat said.

(History dies when they do not get passed on to the next generation. This is the importance of movement, to remind people.)

"Anong uri ng bansa tayo kung wala tayong iisang kinikilalang kasaysayan. Hindi naman pwedeng move on na lang," he added.

(What country are we if we do not acknowledge one version of history? We cannot just move on.)

Xiao Chua believes despite celebrations getting smaller each year, the spirit of People Power will live on.

"The spirit of People Power is let us be involved, makialam ang mga Pilipino sa issue ng lipunan, at magkaroon ng pakikipagkapwa tao, yun ang pinakita natin sa kalsada na ito eh," he ended.

(The spirit of People Power is getting involved in social issues while being compassionate. That's what we have shown in EDSA.)

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