Top Schools Declare EDSA People Power as a Holiday
"We will keep the spirit of EDSA alive despite active efforts to undermine it."
(SPOT.ph) The EDSA People Power anniversary may no longer show up in the government’s list of official non-working holidays, but several top schools in the country are taking it upon themselves to make sure the historic event is not forgotten by declaring February 25, 2025 as a special non-working holiday within their institutions.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) and De La Salle Philippines (DLSP)—the network of 16 La Salle schools—announced that they would suspend classes and office work across all levels on Tuesday, February 25 to allow students, faculty, and staff to reflect on the significance of the peaceful uprising that ended the Ferdinand Marcos Sr. dictatorship in 1986.
“Despite the current administration’s declaration to downgrade February 25 to a special working holiday... we, in the Lasallian Family, remain steadfast in upholding the Filipino people’s victory in reclaiming their rights and liberties. We will continue to commemorate this shining moment in history, when the collective power of the people prevailed over corruption, abuse, lack of accountability among public officials, and social injustice,” DLSP said.
Revolution anniversary hasn’t been seen in Malacañang’s official list of non-working holidays for the past two years. In 2024, it was removed entirely, with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. saying it wasn’t declared a holiday since February 25 “falls on a Sunday.”
It was once again recognized in 2025 but only as a special working day.
Also read: LIST: 2025 Holidays and Long Weekends in the Philippines
Other schools declare EDSA People Power Revolution as a holiday
DLSP and UST aren’t alone in the pushback. The first to formally recognize February 25 as a special non-working holiday was the EDSOR Consortium, which includes Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA), La Salle Green Hills (LSGH), Saint Pedro Poveda College, and Xavier School.
“Recognizing our responsibility as educational institutions, we remain committed to preserving the relevance of the EDSA People Power Revolution, particularly for our current and future generations of students. We will continue to keep the spirit of EDSA alive despite active efforts to undermine it,” the EDSOR Consortium said. “May we invite everyone to join us in remembering that the freedoms we enjoy today were hard-won, and we owe it to the next generation that we protect and safeguard the same.”
Outside of Metro Manila, General de Jesus College in Nueva Ecija has also suspended classes and office work on February 25, urging its community to “reflect on the ideals of democracy and social justice.”
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University is commemorating the EDSA People Power Revolution with a University Mass at the Church of the Gesu on February 25 at 12:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear yellow, white, or blue.
Also read: How Can EDSA People Power Turn Into a Philippine Holiday Again?