By: Jetaime Kaina Cerbito
Rep. Lagman of the House of Representatives proposes a new bill to make the commemoration of the EDSA Anniversary, a permanent holiday. Photo courtesy of Abante TNT.
Albay Representative and Liberal Party president Edcel Lagman on Monday filed a bill declaring the permanence of February 25 as a regular, national and non-working holiday every year, in celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution which ended the Marcos dictatorship in 1986.
Rep. Lagman filed House Bill 9405 preceding the release of Philippine holidays for 2024, which did not include the anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution celebrated on February 25.
Currently, there is no law that designates EDSA People Power as a national holiday and it has mostly been to the discretion of current and former presidents unlike Ninoy Aquino Day which is mandated by Republic Act 9256.
In 2023, president Marcos Jr. moved the EDSA People Power anniversary to a Friday, February 24 in practice of promoting holiday economics as it would create a long weekend.
For 2024, the event was excluded from the list of holidays because it had minimal socioeconomic impact as February 25 falls on a Sunday and “coincides with the rest day for most workers/laborers” according to Malacañang.
However, past presidents have annually declared February 25 as a national holiday in commemoration of EDSA People Power regardless of whether or not it falls on a Sunday.
“We forgot that Filipinos are forgetful and sitting presidents would treat in varying degrees the celebration of the peaceful EDSA People Power Revolution,” Lagman said.
“There has to be a law memorializing the Filipino people’s relentless crusade for freedom and democracy which culminated in the ouster of Marcos, Sr.,” the representative added.
House Bill 9405’s explanatory note also emphasized the significance of recognizing events as national holidays in order to preserve the collective memory of a nation’s past.
The EDSA People Power Revolution is a significant mark in Philippine history as it showcased the Filipino people’s persistent fight for independence and democracy by a peaceful mass revolution which ousted former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.