EDSA People Power Anniversary will no longer be observed as a holiday next year
EDSA PEOPLE POWER ANNIVERSARY – The anniversary of the EDSA Revolution, traditionally celebrated on February 25th, will no longer be observed as a holiday in 2024, as per President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Proclamation No. 368, which was issued on Friday.
Proclamation No. 368, signed by Marcos on October 11, lists the official national holidays, non-working days, and special non-working days for the following year. These include Chinese New Year (February 10), Black Saturday (March 10), All Souls’ Day (November 2), Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8), Christmas Eve (December 24), and even the death anniversary of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. (August 21).
Notably absent from this list is the Edsa People Power Anniversary, which had been designated a “special non-working holiday” in previous years. Despite media inquiries, the Palace has not provided an explanation for this change.
Meanwhile, the EDSA People Power Revolution was a non-violent uprising that took place in the Philippines from February 22 to 25, 1986. It led to the overthrow of President Ferdinand Marcos, who had ruled the country for over two decades. Millions of Filipinos, representing various sectors of society, took to the streets, particularly along EDSA, to protest against the authoritarian regime, election fraud, and corruption. The movement gained international attention and prompted key defections from Marcos’s supporters, including military leaders.
The peaceful demonstrations eventually forced Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, into exile in Hawaii. Corazon “Cory” Aquino, the widow of the assassinated opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr., was inaugurated as the new President, marking the restoration of democracy. The EDSA People Power Revolution is celebrated as a symbol of people’s collective strength and their ability to effect political change without resorting to violence. It is a pivotal event in Philippine history, commemorated annually as a national holiday.
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