EDSA35, away from Manila: Filipinos all over PH take part in People Power commemoration

By Joshua Tristan Montecillo

---

The anniversary of the 35th of the EDSA People Power Revolution lets us remember a great moment in our democratic history—the moment late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown.

Though the revolution took place mostly around Metro Manila, people around the country from different regions pushed and took part in the calls of the masses that transpired on Feb. 25, 1986.

And the results of these efforts are shown to this day as Filipinos brought to the streets the celebration of People Power even amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Happenings in Luzon (outside Metro Manila)

In Baguio, professionals, students, along other organizations gathered at the Igorot Park in Baguio City for a public forum to memorialize the anniversary of the event, where Bishop Reuel Marigza gave a talk about the importance of recounting history and learning from it.

"Kung hindi tayo mag-iingat at mag-aral sa kasaysayan ay hahayaan nating mauulit ang mapapait na karanasan sa nakaraan," Marigza said during the gathering.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Secretary General Sarah Dekdeken also went on to talk about the state’s "criminalization of dissent and its implications on human rights." In an article of Inquirer last January, CPA Chairperson Windel Bolinget had “surrendered” to the National Bureau of Investigation as he faced a “trumped-up” murder charge.

"There is no honor and respect in red-tagging, vilifying, and arresting activists. Activism is a noble cause that we must all be proud of," wife Elivara Bolinget spoke out against the human rights violations and other incidents towards her husband.

On the other hand, some youth organizations in South Luzon also staged their activities at C-Park, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), where they raised their unified calls for health, education, among others, as covered by the UPLB Perspective on Twitter.

Also, various groups from progressive organizations in Naga City marched along Panganiban Drive in an effort to put an end to state fascism to remember the uprising.

Karapatan and BAYAN Camarines Sur were quoted by MovePH of Rappler talking about opposing “unfair” policies of the Duterte administration, along with the latter’s remark on the President’s budget on National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Happenings in Visayas and Mindanao

Inquirer Visayas also reported in Negros Occidental the gathering of members of the Federation of Urban Poor (FedUP) at the statue of Ninoy Aquino Jr. at Araneta Street in Bacolod City, where the group offered their prayers and flowers at the statue’s foot.

“We refuse to let EDSA People Power die, so we will insist on celebrating it,” FedUP Provincial Coordinator Joy Jarabelo said as quoted by Inquirer.

Martial Law protest songs were also broadcasted through the provincial government radio station in Dinagat Islands.

In Davao, Ateneo de Davao University held a webinar titled, "EDSA@35: Memories, Legacies and Uncertainties,” through Facebook Live, along with other Ateneo schools. They tackled topics such as challenges of democratization and seeing EDSA from the eyes of Mindanao.

Days before this event, Visayas and Mindanao experienced the onslaught of typhoon ‘“Auring,” the first tropical storm to hit the Philippines this year. With heavy rains and strong winds, Auring damaged crops, livestock, and fisheries, especially in the Caraga region.

Contrary to historical revisionists, the 1986 People Power wasn't just limited to a gathering of people in EDSA. It was an uprising that the whole nation took part in.

There were people all over the country that protested in places like Davao, Baguio, Iloilo, to name just a few areas that took part in the overthrow of Marcos.