02/25/2025
[๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ก] EDSA is more than โwalang pasokโ; itโs an avenue of awakening
For many students, February 25 is just another date on the calendar or written on a post, marked with two words: โWalang Pasok.โ A sigh of relief for those drowning in academic deadlines. A chance to rest, catch up on sleep, or โ letโs be honest โ binge-watch a new series or mindlessly scroll through social media. But beyond this temporary pause in schoolwork is a commemoration of a nationโs freedom โ the EDSA People Power Revolution.
It is a day that calls us to remember our right to speak, learn, and aspire without fear. This lesson isnโt just found in textbooks but in the very streets where millions once stood, marched, and defied a dictator. EDSA is more than a crowded highway โ it is a path shaped not just by asphalt but by the struggles, sacrifices, and unwavering courage of a people who refused to be silenced.
The Road to Revolution
For four days โ from February 22 to 25 of 1986 โ millions of Filipinos stood against Ferdinand Marcos Sr., a dictator who had ruled with an iron fist for over two decades, suffocating his nation through graft, corruption, and human rights violations. As the economy collapsed and the powerful grew wealthier, ordinary citizens yearning for justice were left to suffer in fear and silence.
The people who gathered โ young and old, rich and poor, priests and soldiers โ united by one cause: to reclaim democracy from the hands of those in power. Armed not with bullets, but with anger-turned-collective action, they proved that a nation's strength lies not in its leaders, but in the unwavering will of its people.
Freedom is Never Free
Now, nearly four decades later, the spirit of EDSA has become a distant memory, often swept under the bus and overshadowed by time, misinformation, and ignorance. Many dismiss it as a mere historical event, whilst some dare to call it a disruption of a โgolden age.โ Especially to the younger generations, who treat it as a requirement in school or another holiday. The gravity of what happened risks being reduced to a mere footnote in history books or, worse, an excuse for a day off.
But to say that EDSA was meaningless is to disrespect the millions who risked everything for the rights we enjoy today. The very fact that we can criticize our leaders, vote in elections, and express our thoughts without fear of being arrestedโall privileges secured by those who marched in 1986. But history has a way of repeating itself when forgotten, and when we treat EDSA as nothing more than a day off, we allow the sacrifices of the past to be eroded until no memory of it is left.
Turn Awareness into Action
Commemorating EDSA is more than just gazing back in time; it is also about implementing its lessons to the present. The same threats that existed then โ misinformation, political greed, and disdain for human rights โ still remain now, albeit in new ways. The best we, as a nation, can honor its legacy is by using our rights to demand the truth under distorted narratives and ensure that those in power remain accountable to the people.
Even so, how you choose to spend the day is entirely up to you. As February 25 rolls around, you can rest, catch up on schoolwork, or enjoy the break in whatever way you wish. After all, having the freedom to decide is a privilege in itself โ one that many before us fought hard to secure.
But as you do, do not forget the people who braved the streets of EDSA, unarmed yet unwavering, to fight for the liberties we celebrate today. Their struggle was not for a mere holiday โ it was for a nation that would never again be silenced. Let this day be more than just a break; let it be a reminder that the democracy they fought for is ours to protect as they marched the avenue 39 years ago.
| Written by Nina Pedrezuela
| Layout by Nicole Flores
