Forty Years of EDSA People Power: Why We Must Not Forget

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Before dawn broke on February 22, 1986, the streets were already filling and soon growing into a sea of Filipinos clutching their rosaries and yellow ribbons in their hands as military tanks stood only meters away. Some knelt in prayer, others raised placards or flashed the ‘laban’ sign.

All shared  one desire: freedom.

For four days—from February 22 to 25, 1986—more than two million citizens lined up along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, better known as EDSA. Students, workers, families, religious leaders, and even some military personnel stood side by side. Their courage became known as the People Power Revolution, a largely peaceful uprising that ended more than two decades of authoritarian rule under Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of that turning point—when Filipinos chose hope over fear. Four decades later, EDSA reminds us not only to remember what happened, but to understand why we must never forget it.

The Voices Shaped by Repression

Countless stories remain untold—stories of people who endured the years of dictatorship firsthand. A nun imprisoned for openly opposing Martial Law. A student tortured in silence. A farmer who continues to speak the truth despite the risks. 

Archived interviews preserved by institutions such as the Martial Law Museum and Library capture survivors’ experiences of arrest, torture, and imprisonment during the Marcos regime. Yet when younger generations are asked what they think of Martial Law today, some respond, “It was good for the country.” For victims, such claims sharply contradict their lived realities of fear, violence, and enforced silence.

“I was playing basketball when they took us. They told me I threw a grenade in a rally in Manila. A drunken soldier entered and told us to strip. He got a bench and started to hit us. We couldn’t protect ourselves. If you tried to dodge it, they’d hit you even more.” — Rodel Briones, Martial Law victim (translated, Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law)

For many young Filipinos, the revolution is known only through family stories, documentaries, or classroom discussions. When historical education is incomplete, misinformation finds space to grow. Remembering EDSA must therefore include listening to those who suffered and resisted truthfully.

When Fear Was Met with Faith

How do we imagine a nation, once silenced and divided, coming together to reclaim its freedom? Yes, it happened. Today, many might see these moments as just yearly commemorations, but it was the defiance of those who stood up and fought for our rights we have now.

What happened along EDSA was not only a historical event but also a warning against placing the wrong leaders in power again. The People Power Revolution once proved that people can hold governance accountable.

The Future Speaks Through Us

As students entrusted to pass history forward for future generations, we have a responsibility to seek and uphold the truth. These lessons remain still today, as Filipinos continue to face political challenges. EDSA teaches that the power of the people is strongest when they act together with conviction. [F]

via Johan Taganas, Staff Writer