How to commemorate EDSA

The Marcos Jr. administration tried to downgrade the significance of the EDSA People Power Revolution from a national holiday to a simple working holiday. The effect on the public seems to have a contrary reaction. Major educational institutions led by De La Salle and UST and other schools have declared it a holiday for their students and faculty. These schools have also organized activities that will commemorate this day.

I strongly urge other groups to follow their example. I am referring to associations, civic clubs, homeowners’ associations, NGOs, religious groups and even families to organize their own activities for that day. Here are a few suggestions.

The easiest and most obvious activity is to encourage people to wear yellow ribbons on their shirts and dresses and hang them even on their vehicles. Yellow is the symbol of the People Power Revolution.

When the news spread on that week of August 1983, there was a consensus that yellow ribbons should be displayed along the route that the returning Ninoy Aquino would travel from the airport to his home. The color yellow was inspired by the lyrics of the song, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” which tells the story of a newly released prisoner who was traveling from his prison cell to his home. He had sent a message to his family and friends that if they wanted him home, they should tie a yellow ribbon around the oak tree fronting his home.

Another activity would be to show documentary films re: the People Power movement. Perhaps this can be sourced from the archives of ABS CBN and One News Asia, the news channel of Cignal.

The third suggestion is that mini-concerts can be organized and even amateur choirs can be recruited to sing again the songs popular during the rallies of that period. Some of the songs are “Bayan Ko,” “Tie a Yellow Ribbon,” “Magkaisa Tayong Lahat” and “The Impossible Dream,” Ninoy’s favorite song.

A fourth suggestion is to organize forums and invite speakers to discuss the value of the historic four-day event on EDSA which restored democracy to our people. The ideal speaker would be someone who participated during those revolutionary days.

Finally, people should be encouraged to attend the rallies and marches scheduled on that day.

During these turbulent times, remembering the EDSA People Power Revolution will remind us that the Filipino people can be capable of courageous acts.

Schools declare EDSA holiday

Ramon del Rosario Jr. messaged to say that all PHINMA schools are actively commemorating EDSA via weeklong activities organized by the Ninoy & Cory Aquino Foundation and the Buhay ang People Power Campaign Network (https://www.facebook.com/BuhayAngPeoplePower), something done every year.

Other schools like the EDSOR Consortium made up of Immaculate Conception Academy, La Salle Green Hills, Saint Pedro Poveda College and Xavier School have announced that it “reaffirms the continuing significance of Feb. 25 as the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. Our schools have agreed to celebrate this date as a special non-working holiday despite Malacanang’s exclusion of this historic event.”

“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.”

The University of Santo Tomas, one of the country’s leading universities, issued a memo on Friday, Feb. 14, stating that there will be no classes and work on Feb. 25 (Tuesday).

“Let us stand united and never forget that true power lies in the collective will of the people, and it is our responsibility to uphold the values of integrity, justice and freedom for generations to come,” said UST secretary-general Father Louie Coronel in a memo addressed to the UST community.

De La Salle Philippines, the network of 16 La Salle schools in the Philippines, was the first institution to declare Feb. 25 as a school holiday. “Despite the current administration’s declaration to downgrade Feb. 25 to a special working holiday – diminishing the significance of this historic event that toppled the Marcos Sr. dictatorship – we, in the Lasallian Family, remain steadfast in upholding the Filipino people’s victory in reclaiming their rights and liberties. Let us resist all attempts to erase from our collective memory what our nation achieved in February 1986.”

Meanwhile at the University of the Philippines, the Offices of the Sectoral Regents (Faculty, Student and Staff Regent) have formally requested university president Atty. Angelo Jimenez to declare Feb. 25 as a nonworking holiday and alternative learning day in the university. They wrote, “We remember the crucial role UP has played in resistance against the tyrannical rule of Marcos Sr., from the First Quarter Storm and the Diliman Commune to the countless Martial Law martyrs our very own University has produced.”

On Feb. 25, the Aquino Center and Museum in Tarlac will be fully reopening to the public after a two-year renovation. The museum has been expanded to include the memorabilia of president Benigno Aquino III. Guided tours are available at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

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Email: elfrencruz@gmail.com