NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Hinigaran came to a standstill Tuesday, February 25, as local officials led the town in marking the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution – the bloodless uprising that ended Ferdinand E. Marcos’ dictatorship in 1986.
Going against the Marcos Jr. administration’s decision to downgrade EDSA’s status, Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo suspended government work and classes, making Hinigaran the only town in Negros Occidental to do so. While Malacañang kept it a special working holiday, Arceo cast the local shutdown as a stand for democracy.
Essential services remained open, but local government offices operated with skeleton staffing. Private institutions were encouraged to take part in the observance.
Across Negros Island, major Catholic institutions aligned with the call to honor the revolution that took place four decades ago.
The University of Saint La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod, along with its sister school, Saint Joseph High School (SJHS), suspended classes in solidarity with the broader La Salle community, a move seen as a form of protest against Marcos Jr.’ proclamation.
“Let us resist all attempts to erase from our collective memory what our nation achieved in February 1986,” the La Salle community said in a statement. “Let us, in the spirit of EDSA, become engaged citizens and demand accountability from those who govern us.”
Other Bacolod-based institutions, including the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), La Consolacion College, Riverside College, and Saint Scholastica’s Academy, followed suit.
In EB Magalona town, Saint Joseph Academy marked the occasion with a morning program before suspending classes for the remainder of the day.
Ten other schools under the Catholic Diocese of San Carlos canceled classes for the day. The Diocese of San Carlos Association of Catholic Schools (DSCACS) declared the move a reaffirmation of their commitment to democracy. The schools are the following:
- Saint Roch Academy in Manapla, Negros Occidental
- Holy Infant Academy in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental
- Saint Joseph Catholic School in Sagay City, Negros Occidental
- Saint Therese Learning School in Sagay City, Negros Occidental
- East Negros Academy in Toboso, Negros Occidental
- Saint Mary of the Lake in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental
- Our Lady of Peace Mission School in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
- Our Lady of the Mountains Mission School in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
- Saint Joseph College in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental
- Saint Francis High School in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental
“In recognition of this pivotal event – a testament to the power of unity and democracy – we have collectively resolved to observe this date as a special non-working holiday,” DSCACS stated. “As Catholic educational institutions, we are steadfast in our commitment to preserving the legacy of the EDSA People Power Revolution.”
However, former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, 1Sambayan convenor, struck a somber tone. Asked about commemorations for the anniversary, he told Rappler, “There’s nothing to celebrate. The EDSA miracle was a golden opportunity that we wasted.”
Decades after the revolution, he lamented, the country remained trapped in “self-serving politics dominated by corruption, misgovernance, and underdevelopment.”
For Coscolluela, change hinges on rekindling the spirit of the people’s movement. “The power of the people needs to be rekindled, but it won’t happen without a spark, without leadership, and without an organization,” he said.
He pointed to the escalating tensions between the Marcos Jr. and Duterte factions as a potential opening for a “people’s third force.”
“I hope to see it happen in my lifetime,” he said. – Rappler.com