On the morning of February 25, 2026, the Saint Joseph Garden of Saint Joseph College was a quiet sanctuary of memory and meaning as the Josephinian community commemorated the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. The program opened in solemn reverence with the singing of the St. Francis Prayer, โMake Me a Channel of Your Peace,โ followed by the Philippine National Anthem and the Saint Joseph College Hymn rendered by the SJC Chorale. The atmosphere was reflective yet resolute, less a ritual of remembrance and more a collective rediscovery of what EDSA continues to demand from each generation.
The event featured two important talks that imparted knowledge to the students, especially the remembrance of what happened over the past 40 years. As the event progressed, the first talk by Dr. Jerome Paler began. Dr. Jerome Paler guided the audience on a journey through the turbulent years leading up to 1986. He spoke of how the color yellow came to symbolize the Lakas ng Bayan movement, while the color red came to represent the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, colors that came to represent a people divided in a nation divided. โMartial Law was declared terminated in 1981, but curfews, restrictions, and control over the media still lingered, stifling the freedom many yearned for.โ He went on to say, โIt was in 1983 when the assassination of oppositionist Benigno Aquino Jr. awakened our collective national conscience.โ From February 22โ25, 1986, millions gathered along EDSA in what Dr. Paler described not merely as โPeople Power,โ but as โPrayer Power,โ in a nod to the powerful role played by the Catholic Church and the quiet heroism of ordinary people confronting the might of the Armed Forces with nothing but flowers, food, water, and rosaries in hand.
He stressed the significance of the revolution: a historic event in which nearly two million Filipinos converged in a bloodless revolution, in which people peacefully fought to protect democracy, and in which a revolution that would spark democracy worldwide took place. This revolution paved the way for a new president in Philippine history: Corazon Aquino, the first woman president in Asia. This marked a historic event not only in politics but also in the hopes and dreams of the people. However, he added that the revolution was not a simple event in the countryโs history. In fact, a revolutionary government was put in place, President Aquino survived six coup attempts, and political divisions tested the unity of the country. From his personal experiences in which his family suffered persecution and displacement, he narrated not only as a historian but as a witness to the revolution. From his experiences, he derived several truths: true power lies in the hands of the people, democracy needs active participation from the people, the youth are the pillars of change in society, unity knows no class differences, faith is a driving force in public service, and sacrifice is the glue that holds a nation together. He ended his speech with a question: โKung ang lahat ng Pilipino ay tulad ko, gaganda ba ang Pilipinas? โ, which the audience reflected as the event went on.
The second speaker was Rev. Fr. Johnrey B. Sibi, whose talk moved from history to the present heart. Just as Dr. Paler reflected on the courage of a generation in the past, Rev. Fr. Sibi invited the present generation to live out the courage of that generation in the present. In his talk, he invited everyone to โStewardship in Good Citizenship,” which urged everyone to talk about the problems that plague our country, give space to the feelings and hopes of our people, and move toward collective action that will steer us towards truth, accountability, and justice. He highlighted the problems that our nation was facing: the 5K’s, which stand for Korapsyon, Kahirapan, Kasinungalingan, Kriminalidad, and Kataksilan, which we can address using the paradigms for change, which are prayer, protest, pressure, pruning, and planting hope. His talk was a call to action and concluded with a powerful statement: โI AM THE CHANGE I DREAM OF! “
The commemoration was capped by a message from Crisante Resos, Governor of Liberal Arts and Vice President of FCSO, addressed to the youth. He emphasized how EDSA is not just a landmark in history but also a continuing call for the defense of freedom, truth, and accountability from those in power. The program ended with a community rendition of โHandog ng Pilipino sa Mundo,โ the anthem that used to echo on EDSA forty years ago. As the voices joined in unison, the Josephinian community was reminded how the spirit of 1986 lives on beyond memory, in each act of faith, courage, and service expressed for God and country.
#40thAnniversaryoftheEDSAPeoplePowerRevolution
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Words: Ma. Antonnette Gilos | The Josephinian
