Martial Law survivors and labor unions led protests commemorating the 37th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution along with various progressive groups and school organizations from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on February 25, Saturday.
Led by the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) convenors, different militant groups and campaigners held a protest action remembering the uprising of Filipinos from the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1986.
Surrounded by numbers of police forces guarding the area, the program mobilized a series of protests addressing national challenges being faced by the country from different marginalized sectors including peasants, campus organizations, laborers, gender movements, and human rights violation victims of the Marcos regime.
"Ang paniningil ay itinatakda mismo na pananagutan ng Presidente at iba pang mga opisyal ng bayan na gawin ang kanilang tungkuling paglingkuran ang kapakanan, kalayaan, at karapatan ng mamamayan—iyan ay nilabag sa panahon ng diktadurang Marcos," said CARMMA convenor Satur Ocampo.
Several representatives from the labor sector also delivered their speeches condemning the marginalization of farmers and labor workers amid the country's economic problems including 2022 senatorial candidate Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chair Danilo Ramos.
"Ang pag-unlad ng mga magsasaka at agrikultura ay pag-unlad ng taumbayan; magsasaka kami hindi kami mga terorista," said Ramos.
Together with other campus organizations, PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral (SKM) also participated in the protests with calls of condemnation against campus militarization, budget cuts, and "Ligtas na Balik-Eskwela" initiative for the university.
"Sa hanay ng mga kabataan, 'yung pagpapanawagan natin sa ligtas na balik-eskwela, sa pagtutol sa mandatory ROTC; nakikita natin na 'yung mga mamamayan na nandito sa lansangan ngayon—nasa tapat ng EDSA monument—ito 'yong patunay na kumakaharap tayo ng matinding krisis sa kasalukuyan na kinakailangan tugunan ng estado," said PUP SKM President Kirchoff Angala.
PUP College of Communication Student Council (COC SC), along with a number of student publications, launched its campaign in defending press freedom and other grievances faced by the Philippine media, behind the 71 Filipino journalists executed and tortured during Martial Law.
"Hindi matatapos 'yong diwa ng EDSA People Power hangga't mayroong naghahari-harian sa Malacañang, partikular na ang pamilya Marcos. Ngayon na nakabalik na sila, mas krusyal 'yong paggunita natin sa EDSA People Power dahil mas hinahanamon tayo ng panahon ngayon," said COC SC President Ronjay Mendiola.
Together with the cast of the historical fiction film "Ako si Ninoy," award-winning director Vince Tañada also took the stage with a theatrical performance of Filipino historical anthems along with statements about fighting disinformation through arts and theater.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte headed the wreath-laying ceremony with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) commemoration at the monument.
Being the first People Power anniversary celebration under his term, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also sent his wreath to the monument after declaring the preceding day, February 24, as a special non-working holiday to commemorate the historical revolt.
"As we look back to a time in our history that divided the Filipino people, I am one with the nation in remembering those times of tribulation and how we came out of them united and stronger as a nation," said Marcos Jr.
The 1986 People Power Revolution gave freedom to the Filipinos after the Martial Law executed almost 3,300 individuals along with 70,000 imprisoned and 34,000 tortured ruthlessly with no proper justice until today.
Graphics: Rhea Dianne Macasieb
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