LIST: Universities, colleges suspend classes on Feb. 25 for 40th EDSA People Power anniversary
To mark the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, several Philippine schools have suspended classes on Feb. 25.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education (CBCP-ECCE) and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines issued a joint statement urging their 1,500 member Catholic schools nationwide to suspend regular classes on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and instead organize activities that help students gain a deeper understanding of the historic event.
“Students and the youth, as heirs of democratic space, must cultivate the knowledge, values and resolve to challenge injustice, misinformation and authoritarian tendencies,” they said.
“(EDSA) reminds us that the great power of the people surpasses any force of oppression,” the statement read. Catholic schools were urged to conduct masses, youth forums, and programs that "promote ethical discernment, critical thinking and active citizenship rooted in democratic values."
“To forget the lessons of Martial Law, tolerate corruption, or allow historical distortion and disinformation to prevail jeopardize the very freedoms that were peacefully won,” they said.
They also called on civil society, the media, and public institutions to uphold human rights, press freedom, and accountable governance.
The National Union of Students of the Philippines has likewise urged universities to declare Feb. 25 as "Day of Remembrance and Action."
"The spirit of EDSA, in the end, is not defined by institutional declarations, but by the collective will of the people. We are all called to be proactive in forwarding genuine social change, from our schools to our communities and towards the streets," it said in its statement.
As of this writing, the following schools have announced class suspensions for Feb. 25:
- Ateneo de Manila University
- De La Salle Philippines schools (including Benilde Manila, Benilde Antipolo, Benilde Senior High School, and Benilde Deaf School)
- University of Sto. Tomas
The National Capital Region Police Office previously said that it will focus on key areas along the EDSA corridor, including key gathering and assembly points such as SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City and White Plains Avenue in Quezon City, for the expected anti-corruption protests on Feb. 25. Approximately 13,000 to 14,000 police personnel are set to be deployed to maintain security and order.
It added that intelligence monitoring and threat assessments are currently underway as part of their preparations.
The EDSA People Power was a series of bloodless demonstrations from Feb. 22 to 25, 1986, that toppled Ferdinand E. Marcos's 20-year dictatorship.
For the third consecutive year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared Feb. 25 as a special working day rather than a public holiday. The Palace noted that it wasn't a way for the president to "erase" history.
“Mayroon po bang pinahinto ang pangulo na anumang activity na patungkol sa commemoration ng EDSA [People Power Revolution]? Since the time na siya ay naging pangulo, wala tayong narinig na anumang pagpapahinto ng anumang events, any activities na maaaring mag commemorate ng nasabing event,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing last year.
