Ilonggos March to Commemorate EDSA

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Despite the absence of official commemorations from the provincial and city governments, Ilonggos took to the streets to mark the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, vowing to “never forget” the atrocities of the Martial Law era.

Students from various universities in Iloilo City gathered in front of West Visayas State University on Feb. 25 in a show of solidarity.

The mobilization served as their expression of resistance and remembrance of the historic uprising that led to the ouster of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who ruled the country for over two decades.

The youth-led protest continued with a march toward the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, where a program was held to honor the revolution’s legacy.

This year marks the third consecutive time the Iloilo provincial government has not organized an official event to commemorate the EDSA Revolution.

In 2022, the provincial government held a freedom rally at the Provincial Capitol at 8 p.m., followed by a “Freedom Countdown” leading to 9:25 p.m.—the time Marcos Sr. left the country—and a noise barrage involving government agencies, establishments, and churches.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., as quoted by the Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo, said the commemoration was “meant to safeguard the truth of history during the Martial Law years and remember the struggle for freedom and democracy during those times”.

“We want it to be remembered that People Power did not only happen in EDSA but all over the country and also in Iloilo,” he added.

In 2023, however, the significant historical milestone fell into deaf ears in the Capitol.

It can be noted that Defensor, who rallied for opposition candidates, joined the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s political party on August 2023.

On October 30, 2024, the president, through Proclamation No. 727 declared February 25, 2025, as a “special working day.” This decision follows previous proclamations that removed the EDSA anniversary from the list of regular holidays, which had been traditionally observed as a non-working holiday.

This year, Defensor has not issued any personal statement on the revolution. Instead, the official provincial government page, Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo, simply posted a message affirming Iloilo’s solidarity with the nation in remembering the event.

“The Province of Iloilo stands with the nation in commemorating the EDSA People Power Revolution – a testament to the Filipino spirit of unity, democracy, and freedom,” the post read.

Similarly, the Iloilo City government has also refrained from organizing any official events for the EDSA anniversary.

Despite this, Mayor Jerry Treñas has been vocal in past years about the importance of remembering the revolution and his experience as a detainee during the regime.

In 2021, he recalled his firsthand experience during the Martial Law years. In 2021, he shared his journey as a student activist at Ateneo de Manila University, where he was involved in the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas.

In 2022, Treñas reflected on the events of February 22-25, 1986, as he recalled how hundreds of thousands of Filipinos took to EDSA  to protest against the Marcos dictatorship, which had resulted in the arrest, torture, and disappearance of thousands of Filipinos.

By 2023, as the national government downgraded the EDSA anniversary from a regular holiday to a special working day, Treñas insisted that Iloilo’s role in the revolution remained significant. He emphasized that EDSA was not just a Manila event but a nationwide movement that included Iloilo.

In a press conference on Monday, February 24, Treñas defended the Marcos Jr. administration’s decision to downgrade the EDSA anniversary to a special working holiday, saying it was within the president’s prerogative.

He also refused to declare a holiday in Iloilo City, citing legal concerns and a “no work, no pay” policy.

Some local governments, like Baco in Oriental Mindoro and Hinigaran in Negros Occidental, declared holidays to commemorate the EDSA Revolution, unlike Iloilo City.

Ilonggos criticized Treñas for his shifting stance on the EDSA Revolution, resurfacing past statements where he strongly condemned Martial Law.

Despite the apparent change in his views, the city mayor urged Filipinos to honor the peaceful revolution, saying “democracy is worth fighting for.”

On the day of the commemoration, he also called on the public to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who stood for freedom and continued to uphold the values of justice and peace for the country.

While the main events of the revolution occurred in Metro Manila, Iloilo also participated in the nationwide movement against the Marcos regime.