In the middle of the day, when the sun is at its peak, it glares over the heads of people as they march—toward a place where their minds answer questions surrounding their adverse. Carrying a bag of blue, red, and yellow, a girl is making her way, following a trail of cluttered things and broken lights. Screeching past a room where knobs and flasks are missing and another where pages are lost in wrecked shelves. Taking out a seat with a table shared, she mumbles in disinterest for another lesson that requires a memorization toll with years and names to be taught.

The bells ring, signaling the end of the day. Groups gather along with their microphones, and together they prepare. “There’s one of my friends,” the girl saw. Curious and naive, she asked, while her friend answered accountability and crusades. Unable to fully understand, she observes and waits. And on another sight of the sun, she walks the halls free of clutter and lights installed. The rooms are filled with students in their coats and books. Alas, she makes it to her class, twisting the shining knob in her hand. The previous topic had finished, and a new lesson awaits to be learned.

She opened the door and heard her teacher discuss the veterans of the 1986 EDSA People’s Power Revolution who still recall the cheers and songs on the street after they accomplished what they call their generation’s mission. Bought by faith and awareness, nearly two million Filipinos gathered at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in a peaceful revolt over the decade-long cut of democracy in the nation. The Martial Law rule lasted from 1972 to 1981, it was not until 1986 when the four-day protest took place after the continued oppression with unjustified snap elections followed by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin’s call for action. This movement proceeded as one of the greatest acts of activism conducted which was even applauded globally.

Deep in her mind, she thought: Despite such praise, how come we allowed it to slip over our fingers after 39 years? The 2022 elections did not only return a dark past but also ignited propaganda that instilled false information regarding what happened during the Martial Law period. February 25th was understood as a day to commemorate the people’s power in reclaiming democracy, but this year, the Malacañang Palace declared the remembrance a working holiday. But there was resistance to that as numerous school institutions nationwide decided for their own — they suspended classes on February 25 in their respective campuses. Though the majority of Philippine schools did not declare cancellation, the spirit of this day shall continue to be remembered. Whether working or in classes, our topmost priority is to never forget especially now, when disinformation and misinformation progress through revisionism. 

Resistance is the first step to fighting the lies that coat our history. In their official statement on class suspension on February 25, 2025, De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) encouraged Lasallians in a “Pwersa ng Tunay na Pagkakaisa” that we, Filipinos, have the right to receive accountable governance. In the same statement, they call on to “resist all attempts to erase from our collective memory what our nation achieved in February 1986.” The nation does not need a bandage apology, but accountability for the name one carries.

That strong statement from DLSP emphasizes the vital role of educational institutions in preserving the legacy of EDSA 39. This also relates to Jose Rizal’s own words with the excessively used quote about the youth as the nation’s hope. Returning during the Martial Law era, we retell the stories of student activists, journalists, and leaders who took a stand. Some of them are known to be Leandro Alejandro, who announced a strike against the military, Liliosa Hilao, a student journalist whose articles brought light on the military rule oppression, Archimedes Trajano, whose question on political nepotism led to his untimely death, and many more who also contributed to the nation’s fight during the bloody era.

Contrary to the shared conversations the young girl would hear of how EDSA is a Luzon-centered issue, Metro Manila was not a lone fight in 1986. Miles away, Bacolod City residents gathered in the streets rejoicing the successful people power revolt as mentioned by priest Felix Pasquin in a Rappler episode. Meanwhile, Harold Mercurio, a writer from Samar, recounted the pro-EDSA rally at Catbalogan City. Several cities also feasted such as Iloilo and Zamboanga — signifying how this is a nationwide movement. All of these are sourced from Antonio J. Montalvan II’s Rappler article in which he explains that no act of obliteration will make us forget EDSA “They will be waging a war against a natural enemy that Shae Lifson of New York University (Collective Memory of Atrocity and Crisis) calls — humans who are historical creatures.”

The February sun confidently rose yet purged by a gloom of clouds. Book pages flip closed and armchairs are adjusted. Steps reached the streets — locking their arms together. The bells ring while they hold their rosaries tight. Fluttering freely above, held by people below, the flag in blue, red, and yellow had the sun shine over it. While the men in guns stand fiercely, flowers of hope approach them gently. Then there it happened, a peaceful revolt, yet it echoes through our nation to others. The once deafening march for peace is now slowly being silenced in the lenses of our lives.

Whether you’re bored with that history lesson, you can never deny that a revolution is the reason we were able to reclaim our democracy. And that democracy is what we need to empower today. Whenever we raise the flags and stories on this day, distortion continues to take place. Just like the millions of Filipinos who bravely marched 39 years ago, remember: di ka nag-iisa sa labang ito.