Philippines: EDSA, Marcos Jr And The Risk Of Forgetting

(MENAFN- Asia Times) Every February 25, the Philippines commemorates the EDSA People Power Revolution -an event that toppled a dictatorship, restored democracy and became a global symbol of peaceful resistance.

In 1986, millions of Filipinos from all walks of life took to the streets, driven by a shared demand for change. They came armed not with weapons but with courage, prayer and determination.

Clad in yellow ribbons and carrying rosaries, they faced down tanks and soldiers, their chants echoing through the capital. The movement was a testament to the power of ordinary citizens to reclaim their nation from authoritarian rule.

This revolution did not just remove a dictator; it reestablished democratic institutions, reinstated free elections and promised a government accountable to the people.

It sent a powerful message beyond the Philippines, inspiring other nations in their struggles against tyranny. The bloodless nature of the uprising cemented its place in history, proving that change could be won without violence.

Yet, as the years passed, the bold energy that once filled EDSA has waned . The streets that had been packed with protesters have grown quieter. The annual commemorations persist, but with a noticeable decline in participation.

The People Power Monument still stands, but the people who once rallied around it have become fewer and less vocal. The remembrance continues, but it has lost much of the urgency and passion that defined it in the years immediately following the revolution.

In recent years, the irony of the EDSA commemoration has become impossible to ignore: the very government that officially recognizes EDSA is now led by the family it overthrew.

President Ferdinand“Bongbong” Marcos Jr, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr, stands at the helm of a nation that once rejected his father's rule through an unprecedented display of collective power.

Since Marcos Jr took office in 2022, his administration has carefully tiptoed around the EDSA commemoration. Unlike previous administrations that held large events, issued strong statements or even led wreath-laying ceremonies at the People Power Monument, the current government has opted for a more subdued approach.

Official statements acknowledge the date, but they lean on themes of“unity” and“moving forward,” avoiding direct references to the revolution's significance.

In fact, in 2023, Marcos Jr took an even bolder step by officially removing February 25 from the list of regular holidays in the country.

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