People’s calls have been imprinted on every corner of EDSA. Every year, Filipinos commemorate their victorious movement against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The calls painted in the street, the echoing voices, and the spirit of the EDSA are still living.
The commemoration of the victorious EDSA uprising against the dictatorship of Marcos Sr. has been imprinted on the hearts and minds of the people, especially the youth. The protest aims to keep the spirit of the EDSA alive and educate the people about the country’s situation under the new administration.
On February 25, various sectors gathered at EDSA to register their call for justice, land reform, accountability, sovereignty, freedom, peace, and especially democracy. Progressive groups and the religious sector also called for the conviction trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
They called for the Vice President to be held accountable for her crimes: the misuse of public funds and betrayal of public trust. They also highlighted the importance of public officials being held liable for no one should be above the law.
Gerry Serue of Kilusang Mayo Uno – NCR agreed with the public sentiment. “Ang kanyang nilustay ay ‘di niya pera kaya dapat siyang matulak,” he added.
(“She should be ousted for the basis of squandering public funds,”)
Aside from calls for VP Duterte’s conviction, protesters also explained that the commemoration program aimed to fight the distortion of EDSA People Power’s history. Marcos Jr.’s decision to declare the day a “Special Working Holiday” drew criticism. They thought of it as a way of distorting and removing the spirit of EDSA, trivializing it, especially to the younger generation.
Yet one must realize that the protest held in EDSA sought to deliver a message to the administration: the Filipino people vow to stand against the continued historical distortion.
The protest’s role in commemorating the bloodless uprising is important because it teaches the younger generation about EDSA’s history. The gathering imparts a crucial lesson to the youth. It serves as a reminder that when the government abuses its power and corruption becomes rampant, it is imperative to unite with tens and thousands, to take the calls to the streets, and to fight until justice is attained.
“Ang nangyaring people’s power ay katotohanan na don pinakita na pag ang taumbayan nagkaisa at lumabas para tuligsain ang rehimen… Yung pagsikil sa mga mamamayan [ang] syang nagtulak para sumama at lumabas,” Serue noted.
(“The People Power serves as a testament that proves that the people are united to fight against a dictatorial regime. The regime’s oppression served as the push for the people to join protests and take their calls to the streets,”)
EDSA Uprising remains to be an important tool in preserving the democracy of the people. Another victorious EDSA, the EDSA Dos, happened on January 20, 2001, when former President Joseph Estrada was impeached after being exposed for graft and corruption. The spirit of EDSA seeks to remind the government that the people have the power to remove a public official from power.
