In a move that has ignited nationwide controversy, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared February 25, 2025, the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, a special working holiday.

The announcement was met with backlash from numerous universities and student organizations across the country, who argue that the move undermines the historical significance of the event that led to the ousting of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986.

De La Salle Philippines (DLSP), representing a network of 16 La Salle schools, was among the first institutions that announced the suspension of classes and work on February 25, highlighting the weakening of democratic institutions, particularly under the Duterte and Marcos administrations.

“Let us resist all attempts to erase from our collective memory what our nation achieved in February 1986,” the DLSP statement read.

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) staged a mass student walkout to mark the anniversary as well as protest against the decision of the PUP administration to not suspend classes.

In a Facebook post, PUP Student Regent Kim Modelo emphasized the symbolic nature of the EDSA anniversary and the importance of active protest against historical distortion and current injustices.

“Protesta ang EDSA, at may klase man o wala, lalabas ang mga estudyante upang singilin si Marcos Jr. sa patuloy na paghihirap ng mga Pilipino,” Modelo said.

In Mindanao, various sectoral groups, human rights advocates, and student organizations from Central Mindanao University (CMU) assembled and marched to honor the historic event.

The eight autonomous campuses of Mindanao State University (MSU), spearheaded by the Federation of Mindanao State University Supreme Student Councils (FEMSUSSCO), also participated in a solidarity pledge and reaffirmed their commitment to justice and democracy as student leaders to uphold freedom, ethical advocacy, and unity.

“Ang EDSA ay hindi simpleng kwento ng mga personalidad. Ito ay kwento ng isang bayang nagising at lumaban para sa katarungan,” the Office of the MSU Student Regent said in their joint statement.  

The Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) also marked the occasion through a series of activities to foster historical awareness and civic engagement. The activities included the students and faculty gathering on the University grounds for community prayer and a candle-lighting ceremony.

Students clamored to address broader social issues

Students from AdDU organized a silent protest inside the campus as a call to reclaim spaces for resistance and active engagement in mobilizations inside the university.

“Paulit-ulit na kasing nilapastangan ang ating sosyolidad ng administrasyong ito. And it’s only high time, given that most of those people who rallied during the 1986 People Power are actually non-government actors—one of which is the youth—at isa sa mga naging motibasyon ang buhayin ang ganiyang diwa dito sa Ateneo,” AB Development Studies student Algene Lago said.

Lago argued that the normalization of protests is essential in a democracy, rejecting the idea that dissent should be suppressed.

“Isa sa mga laban namin na gusto naming ipahiwatig doon sa pagtitipon ay ganitong uri ng pag-aaklas is not something we should terrorize. Normal ang ganitong pagdiyalogo. Ang pagdiyalogo comes in many forms. Ang aming diyalogo kanina, although pasigaw, we believe in the idea na kung hindi ka na naririnig, isigaw mo.”

Lago also noted a lack of deeper political consciousness among Ateneo students, pointing out that while some participate in political activities, engagement remains superficial.

“Medyo mahina ang political conscientization ng mga Atenista. May mga political agenda, may partisipasyon sa iba’t ibang aktibidad, pero kulang ng pagpapalalim… Hindi dapat ito pulitika ng ruling class kundi ng masa,” he stated.

He urged the student council and university administration to take a more active role in addressing student concerns, particularly economic struggles like tuition fee increases.

“We pressure the student council, we pressure the administration to understand the lived realities ng mga estudyante. Sana naman mas napaigting ng silent protest na may boses dapat at may agency ang mga estudyante sa anumang desisyong ginagawa ng Ateneo de Davao University.”

Among the issues they clamored for are the rising commodity prices, traffic congestion, and the 4% proposed tuition fee increase in the University for the next school year.

Lago drew parallels between the Marcos administration and the current government, citing unfulfilled promises of economic relief and food security.

“First of all, of all the promises they’ve made, na pabababain ang presyo ng bigas, parang parallel to what happened before. Also, food security, lahat daw di na magiging malnourished, pero marami pa ring tao na nasa laylayan, palaging sinusuplin at ginagago ng sistema, at hindi nakakaayon,” Lago said.

Malacañang defends decision

Malacañang, however, defended the President’s decision to declare February 25 as a special working holiday.

“I think it is the prerogative of the President. And when we say special working day, still there is encouragement to people to commemorate, to join any event and it will not hinder any activity to commemorate the EDSA People Power,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

Castro further emphasized that the administration has not halted any activities related to the commemoration. 

“If there is the intention to erase the memories of EDSA People Power, ibang klaseng pamamaraan ang gagawin. As a matter of fact, we declared it as special working day but it is considered just a regular working day,” Castro said. 

However, the widespread protests from educational institutions across the country suggest that many see this decision as an attempt to diminish the revolution’s significance.

“Ang pagdeklara na Special Working Holiday ay isang pagtatangka na palabnawin ang diwa ng People Power. Sa ideya pa lang nun, it could be akin to what happened before na may media blackout, hindi pinaglathala ang mga news outlets na anti-Marcos at that time. Kung ano ang nangyari noon, it comes in different forms [now],” Lago said.

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NOTE: This article was published in the April 2025 Tabloid Issue of Atenews. Grab a physical copy for free in the Atenews office.