MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, educational institutions are being encouraged to declare February 25, 2026, an “academic holiday.” The call, reported on Monday, February 9, comes from prominent Church-led educational organizations seeking to preserve the historical significance of the 1986 bloodless uprising that toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
The “Academic Holiday” Push The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and the CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education (CBCP-ECCE) issued a joint statement urging their more than 1,500 member-schools to suspend regular classes on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
- Purpose: The groups proposed that the day be used for “reflection, commemoration, and civic formation” rather than traditional lectures.
- Combating Revisionism: The statement emphasized that honoring EDSA authentically is a way to “combat revisionism” and defend democratic principles.
- Institutional Support: Major universities like Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle have already announced various class suspensions between February 23 and 25 to allow students to participate in commemorative activities.
Government Stance The push for an academic holiday stands in contrast to the official designation from Malacañang.
- Special Working Day: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared February 25 a “special working day.” This continues his administration’s trend since 2023 of not declaring the anniversary a national non-working holiday.
- Business as Usual: Under this designation, government offices, work, and classes in public schools are expected to proceed as usual, though the Palace has previously stated that the public remains free to commemorate the event.
Historical Context The year 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the four-day revolution (Feb. 22–25, 1986). Church groups argue that the event is an “unfinished movement” that requires the active participation of the youth to ensure that the values of justice, dignity, and peace remain central to the national identity.
As February 25 approaches, the divide between the government’s official schedule and the academe’s commemorative plans highlights the ongoing national conversation regarding the legacy of the People Power Revolution in modern Philippine society.