Catholic leaders commemorate 'EDSA spirit'

Leaders from the Catholic church on Tuesday commemorated the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

In a statement signed by more than 100 Catholic church leaders, the One Faith One Nation One Voice stressed that the victory of EDSA "was not just a political triumph" but a "moral and spiritual awakening."

"It showed us that courage, compassion, and solidarity could break the chains of dictatorship. People from all walks of life — rich and poor, religious and secular, young and old — came together with a shared hope: to reclaim their dignity and restore democracy," the religious organization said.

"This was more than just an act of resistance; it was an expression of love for our country, fueled by faith in a God who sides with the oppressed," it added.

The church leaders added that "living out the spirit of EDSA means more than remembering history — it means embracing a continuing commitment to social transformation."

"The struggle for justice cannot be fought alone. Just as EDSA was a collective movement, we must build communities of resistance and hope, standing together in the fight against corruption, disinformation, and oppression," they said.

"The challenge is before us. Will we remain passive in the face of oppression, or will we rise as a prophetic voice for justice and righteousness? The spirit of EDSA is alive whenever we choose to act in faith, speak truth to power, and build a nation where justice and peace reign."

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP) paid tribute to nuns, priests, and lay people who formed basic Christian communities "to strengthen the links between faith and action further."

"Many suffered, and some paid their lives for their prophetic stand against human rights violations and injustice, against tyranny and repression," CMSP said.

"Today, we remember and pay tribute to the countless and often nameless martyrs and heroes of the anti-dictatorship struggle. Today, we remember their courage, sacrifice, and resistance so that we can be free of tyranny and dictatorship."

However, it decried the new challenges Filipinos now face, tyranny and plunder.

"We are confronted by continuing rights violations, massive corruption, and the lack of accountability. We are faced with an ever-increasing frequency of storms and typhoons as climate change ravages our land and seas," it continued.

"We are faced with red tagging and the violations of those who stand up for the poor, for the environment, for justice, accountability, and transparency."

In the year of Jubilee, the CMSP reminded the faithful that "change lies within us and with us."

"If we were able to topple a dictatorship, we could destroy patronage and corruption. We can build a social infrastructure reflective of God's commandments."