Written by RJ Sangcap, AHRC Communications Officer

The Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC), in partnership with the Ateneo Law School (ALS), ALS Student Council (ALS SC), Ateneo School of Government Student Council (ASGSC), Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH), and Ateneo Graduate School of Business Student Council (AGSB SC) commemorated the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution through series of activities including historical and art exhibitions at the Ateneo Professional Schools, Rockwell Center, Makati campus from February 21-23, 2024.

This year’s commemoration centered on reclaiming the narrative of the EDSA People Power as the story of the Filipino people who bravely fought for our democracy by toppling the Marcos dictatorship. Veronica Millado, External Vice President of AHRC Council of Interns and head organizer of this year’s EDSA commemoration, shared that the initiative is supposed to remind that EDSA is the Filipino people’s narrative and not about any political figure. 

“Throughout time, the message of EDSA has been muddled through its association with the narrative of politician vs. politician. The narrative has forgotten that the People Power Revolution was made possible through the bravery of ordinary Filipinos, including the members of the Ateneo de Manila University community,” Millado said.

The commemoration commenced with a ribbon tying ceremony on February 21. Yellow and red ribbons were tied across the railings of the stairs in some areas of the Rockwell campus. The organizers used yellow and red ribbons to twist the narrative of colors of EDSA. They sought to strip the colors of their association with politicians, stating that red is the color of political struggle, and that yellow was the color of the people’s power. 

Also on the same day, placards that contain various political stances were installed in different areas of the Ateneo Professional School campus. This signifies the united stance of the community to uphold the constitution and to combat any efforts that disregard the interests of the people.  

A historical exhibit at the ground floor also showcased narratives of the events that transpired in the entire EDSA People Power Revolution. Different artworks and posters were put up to physically remind people of the revolution that transpired 38 years ago, reclaiming our democracy from the horrors of Martial Law.

Testimonial posters from Ateneo Law School professors who lived through the EDSA People Power Revolution were made visible for the ALS community. Among those who shared their EDSA people power narratives were former ALS deans Atty. Sedfrey Candelaria and Atty. Cynthia Del Castillo; Graduate Legal Studies Institute Director, Atty. Amparita Sta. Maria; and AHRC Executive Director, Atty. Arpee Santiago. 

On the evening of February 23, the ALS community gathered for a culminating program filled with music and chanting to remind everyone the value of remembering the historic People Power Revolution. AHRC Internship Director, Atty. Nicolene Arcaina, graced the occasion and emphasized that there is a larger battle outside the four corners of the ALS classrooms.

“Nakalimutan natin ang mas malaking gulo sa labas ng Rockwell. Nakalimutan natin ang mga isinantabi. Ngayong linggong ito, the challenge for us is to remember–to do–to act,” Arcaina exclaimed.

The organizing committee distributed dozens of white roses as a symbolic gesture alluding to how the people of the EDSA revolution handed flowers to the members of the military in 1986.

Atty. Jose Maria Hofileña, Dean of the Ateneo Law School, concluded the event by urging the legal community, especially law students, to remember the very reason for the people’s revolution.

“As students of the law, I urge you to remember EDSA not only as an event that saw thousands of people go out in the streets to be heard on that day, not only that it was a show of force and courage…but also think about, learn, and remember what caused it–years of abuse, years of ignoring the most basic of rights, years where many people suffered including lost of lives,” Atty. Hofileña stressed.

The Ateneo Human Rights Center annually stages EDSA People Power commemorative activities to honor and remember those who courageously fought for Philippine democracy.