In celebration of the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution and in light of the upcoming May elections, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas urged students to speak out on political matters, stressing the importance of engagement in shaping the nation’s future.

“Do not believe those who say the Church should keep quiet about political matters. Politics without God, politicians disregarding the Ten Commandments, politicians stealing our government funds, politicians exempting themselves from the law—these are evil. We must remove that kind of politics from the nation,” Villegas said on Tuesday.

He encouraged students to be active in matters that affect the nation, reminding them that for Christians, “it is a sin to live only for yourself. Be men and women for others.”

As the first rector of the EDSA Shrine, which was constructed in 1989, the senior prelate reflected on the importance of remembering the revolution’s roots in the Catholic faith, which was to seek justice for human rights victims.

“It was the Catholic faith proclaiming Veritas (truth) because dissent was being suppressed and the truth was being hidden then,” he said.

Villegas also called on students to research the controversial legacy of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., especially his declaration of martial law on 21 September 1972, which began 14 years of human rights abuses and political oppression in the country.

Amnesty International estimated there were 3,257 extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented tortures, 737 disappearances, and 70,000 incarcerations during the period.

The EDSA People Power Revolution culminated in the peaceful ousting of Marcos Sr. on 25 February 1986, following the mass uprising by at least two million Filipinos who marched on EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) to demand the restoration of democracy.

Villegas, who was then 25 years old and an aide to Cardinal Jaime Sin, recalled standing on EDSA, praying the rosary, feeding the soldiers, and singing the national anthem.

“On 25 February 1986, the dictator and thief Ferdinand Marcos fled to Hawaii in exile. We ousted the dictator without violence and bloodshed,” he said.

The archbishop stressed that EDSA was not merely a political struggle but a “Catholic faith of peace and love that brought about a social revolution without bloodshed.”

He noted that it was a moment of glory for the Filipino people, with the world admiring their peaceful fight for justice and democracy.

Meanwhile, various schools in Metro Manila held their own commemorations of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Tuesday.

Adamson University displayed yellow ribbons and held a solidarity walk and candle-lighting ceremony to honor the spirit of unity, democracy and freedom.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran hosted academic discussions and a seminar on combating disinformation, while De La Salle University highlighted the events that led to the uprising through a video projection.

Students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila held mass walkouts after their schools chose not to suspend classes, unlike most other schools.

Malacañang had earlier announced in Proclamation No. 727 that the EDSA anniversary would be included in the 2025 holiday list, but with a change of its status to a special working day.