40th Year Commemoration of EDSA People Power Revolution (1986-2026)
by Frank J. Hernando
Today, the 25th of February 2026, we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. This is an historical occasion that is accompanied with various activities and programs primarily on EDSA itself and places like EDSA Shrine and EDSA Monument. Also, there are commemorative programs in many parts of the country in the spirit of freedom, justice and peace. Youth and student organizations have mobilized themselves and flocked on the streets for a series of protest actions against the massive corruption committed by contractors in collusion by government officials as unveiled in the MPWH flood control projects. Church people also made their way to EDSA protest actions to support people’s struggle to stop corruption in government and for systemic change in society.
There are some salient points that I would like to mention in this reflection. First, I ask the question, what was the temper of the times in 1986? It can be recalled that in the declining years of Marcos dictatorship, he called for snap presidential elections in which he was the front runner and the opposition political groups, mostly from the Liberal Party with the backing of the Catholic Church, led by Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop of Manila, convinced Corazon Aquino to run as president.
Second, the more than three decades of people’s struggle both legal and underground gained traction in the countryside and even in the urban areas, where it was heard that the underground forces have organized battalion size army fighting for national liberation, and the situation of the basic masses worsen in the more than 20 years of Marcos Dictatorship.
The critical level of people’s resistance was reached during the snap elections in February 1986 when the counting of ballots were tainted with fraud and as a result hundreds of thousands of people flocked to EDSA to protest, this triggered some generals of the AFP to defect from Marcos, like Fidel Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile. They prepared their troops to overtake Malacang through a military take over.
On the other hand, generals loyal to Marcos massed up their tanks and troops to quell the protest action of thousands of people on EDSA. Because of this, Cardinal Sin, called on Radio Veritas for people to flock to EDSA to stop the tanks from annihilating the people, and protect the generals and troops who defected from Marcos. For several days, from February 22-25 the number of people on EDSA increased and among them were students and youth, religious people, ordinary citizens who wanted to participate in social change.
Third, after several days of protest actions, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. together with wife Imelda and their kids were forcibly deposed from power and were assisted by the US forces fled to Hawaii. During the critical hours of stand off between Marcos Sr. loyal troops, and the defected generals, the general public on EDSA and around the country failed to get timely reports on what was going on, and were not informed what transpired in Malacanang, even the circumstances that compelled Marcos Sr. to finally left Malacanang.
The situation in EDSA on the final day, prevented a violent confrontation between military troops. The people power protest actions overwhelmed the militaristic approach to people’s uprising, that consequently led to the decision of Marcos Sr. to leave Malacanang Palace and be deposed from power. We were informed later that a phone call from the US State Department told Marcos Sr. to “make a clean cut-off-” meaning it was time to step down and leave. This was a manifestation of modern day imperialist control.
Fourth, the EDSA People Power Revolution was considered a victory, but with an added nuance to it like “non-violent or peaceful revolution”. With this rhetoric the three decades of people’s struggle (1960s-1980s) characterized by violent dispersal of rallies, killings and bombings, illegal arrests and detention, and hamletting of rural communities, were overshadowed by the “EDSA People Power Non-violent Revolution.”
Moreover, the quality of life in the 1970s-1980s was such that the basic problems of the country was felt, such as landlessness, massive rural and urban poverty, bureaucrat capitalism was starkly manifested in the widening economic gap between social classes of society, foreign indebtedness of the country was huge, corruption in government, education was colonial and expensive.
Fifth, I ask several questions like, Did the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986 brought substantial changes in Philippine society, especially in the quality of life of Filipinos? What have we achieved in EDSA? What does it mean when we have Corazon Aquino as the new president? I recalled that immediately after it, in June 1986, I entered the seminary at the Divinity School of Silliman University, that in instances during our theological reflection, analyzing the impact of the EDSA People Power Revolution, we observed that there were some changes in society, like a new president in power, new cabinet members, a Constitutional Convention was convened but on the whole what was created was a ”democratic space” manifested in the release of some political prisoners, leniency in expressing press freedom and some civil and political rights were restored, but all these were only short lived. We anticipated that sooner or later, without dismantling the systemic problems, the new government would regress and behave like the previous government. We were right then, a massacre of protesting peasants happened in the first year of Corazon Aquino government.
Finally, I would like to share the Statement of UCCP Council of Bishops on this 40th Anniversary commemoration of EDSA People Power Revolution, that will serve as Church people’s response and continuing commitment for radical and systemic social, political and economic change in our our country:
BEARING THE LIGHT OF EDSA IN DARKENING TIMES
(A Pastoral Statement of the UCCP COUNCIL OF BISHOPS)
“You are the light of the world… let your light so shine before others…” – Matthew 5:14–16 (RSV)
As we mark the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power uprising, we recall that history is a living call to faithfulness, courage, and shared responsibility. The peaceful awakening of our people in 1986 proved that when ordinary citizens unite in truth and hope, injustice can be confronted without fear.
Today we face new trials—deepening inequality, the erosion of truth, pressure on democratic institutions, and the persistent cries of the poor. The spirit of People Power must not remain a memory; it must be rekindled in the daily witness of Christ’s followers.
We therefore call on churches, ecumenical partners, and all people of goodwill:
- Remember with honesty. Guard historical truth against distortion and denial.
- Stand with prophetic courage. Walk with the oppressed and speak boldly against abuse, corruption, and violence.
- Act with compassion. Let love be concrete—feed the hungry, defend human dignity, and care for creation.
- Hope with courage. Christian hope is active trust that God still works through communities committed to justice and peace.
- We urge the youth to embrace their role as stewards of the nation’s future, public servants to lead with integrity, and the faithful to pray in ways that move us to action.
The God of justice still walks with the Filipino people, just as Jesus walked with the marginalized. The same Spirit that stirred EDSA 40 years ago continues to summon us to unity, vigilance, and moral courage.
May we never tire of doing what is right.
May we never abandon the dream of a just and humane society.
May the Church remain a fearless witness to truth.
As the Prophet Micah declares:
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
In faith and solidarity,
The Council of Bishops
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
EDSA People Power Anniversary
February 2026
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