Schools Suspend Classes On February 25 To Commemorate EDSA

Classes were suspended on February 25, 2025 in several Catholic private schools across the country to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

The EDSOR Consortium (EDSA Ortigas Consortium of Schools), which includes the Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA), La Salle Green Hills, Saint Pedro Poveda College, and Xavier School, issued a joint statement on their respective Facebook pages reaffirming the “continuing significance of February 25 as the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.” They stated, “Our schools have agreed to celebrate this date as a special non-working holiday despite Malacañang’s exclusion of this historical event.”

“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,” the statement continued. “We will continue to keep the spirit of EDSA alive despite active efforts to undermine it.”

Additionally, the schools invited everyone to recognize the importance of the date in history, saying, “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.”

Other Schools’ EDSA Celebrations

Other schools have also announced their plans for EDSA celebrations. De La Salle Philippines declared that all of its schools will suspend classes and work on February 25. A statement posted on their Facebook page reads:

“To honor the resistance and martyrdom of many Filipinos during Martial Law imposed by Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., all De La Salle Philippines schools are declaring a suspension of classes and work on February 25, 2025. This declaration also reaffirms our commitment to the enduring values of freedom and justice. It celebrates the power of an awakened and united people in uplifting Philippine society to its better and nobler self.”

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila also announced the suspension of classes on this date. In a memo addressed to the UST community, Secretary-General Father Louie Coronel stated, “Let us stand united and never forget that true power lies in the collective will of the people, and it is our responsibility to uphold the values of integrity, justice, and freedom for generations to come.”

St. Scholastica’s Academy San Fernando (Pampanga), joined other Metro Manila schools in declaring no classes or work on that day. Their statement emphasized: “It shall be a day of remembering the voice of the people in fighting authoritarian regime.”

February 25 falls on a Tuesday this year, with Malacañang declaring the day as a special working day. Last year, the date was also not included in the list of special non-working days since it fell on a Sunday.

The EDSA People Power Revolution, which took place from February 22 to 25, 1986, involved hundreds of Filipinos protesting at EDSA to overthrow then-President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. It marked the end of Marcos’ 20-year regime and the departure of him and his family, including a then 28-year old Ferdinand Marcos Jr., from the country. It is regarded as one of the first “bloodless” revolutions in Asia.

In addition to schools, other groups are also calling for the commemoration of the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. In an interview, Sister Mary John Mananzan, activist and directress of St. Scholastica’s Academy in Pampanga, emphasized that the schools chose to suspend their classes to “keep the EDSA spirit alive.” She further highlighted, “Nakikita namin na ‘yung Presidente gustong bawiin yung memory of EDSA dahil yang EDSA ang nagpatalsik ng kanyang ama. Kaya pinapalit-palitan yung date. Gusto namin na February 25 maukit sa memory natin kasi pinatalsik natin ang diktador.”

Read here about the lessons parents want their kids to learn from EDSA.