The EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary occurs every 25 February in
the Philippines. It commemorates the peaceful demonstrations that
occurred in 1986 and led to the overthrow of the corrupt rule of
President Ferdinand Marcos. In 2018, the anniversary falls on a Sunday.
Note: Since 2010,The EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary has
been a school holiday in the Philippines. This means that both public
and private schools close down, while businesses remain open. In
previous years, 25 February was a work holiday, but today, the Monday
nearest that date is a holiday only for schools.
The revolution is also known as the “Yellow Revolution” and the “EDSA
Revolution” due to the colour worn by the original protesters and the
street, Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue, where the protests took place. The
demonstrations celebrated by this day were the culmination of unrest
that began years earlier in 1983 and were immediately triggered by the
assassination of opposition senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., and the
widespread belief that elections had been rigged to keep Marcos in
power. At the time, these were the largest non-violent demonstrations in
the world, and they succeeded in toppling an oppressive autocrat
without shedding a drop of blood.
Today, the EDSA People Power Revolution Annversary is celebrated to
remember when democracy was restored in the Philippines and as “the
revolution that surprised the world”. The name of Marcos has remained
synonymous with corruption to the present time, though there have been
some efforts at historical revisionism.
There are also those who decry the revolution as an example of
“Imperial Manila” at work because few from outside the capital took part
in the overthrow of Marcos. It is true that most People Power
Revolution celebrations take place in and around Manila, but there are
also celebrations throughout the country, showing that the Imperial
Manila criticism is not held by all who live outside the capital.
Many celebrate People Power Revolution by gathering in EDSA, wearing
yellow, and attend concerts and church services in the vicinity to
commemorate the 1986 events. The political party that led the revolution
is known as “LABAN,” which means “fight,” and the crowds hold their
hands up in an L-shape while gathered in EDSA to show support.
Television and other media cover the event profusely each year, and
documentaries on 1986 and general patriotic programming abound.
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Philippine Holidays
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