Aurora youth carry EDSA legacy through green initiatives

DINGALAN, Aurora -- As the nation marks 40 years since the EDSA People Power Revolution, students of Ibona National High School in Dingalan are breathing new life into the movement’s core values – not through protests, but through trees and murals built alongside military partners.

On 25 February, dozens of young learners teamed up with the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade, 7th Civil Military Operations Battalion, and 91st Infantry Battalion for a day of planting fruit-bearing seedlings and co-creating a public artwork at their school in Brgy. Ibona.

Brigadier General Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV emphasized that the initiative grows from the revolution’s legacy. “EDSA taught us that real change happens when everyone contributes. By working side-by-side with young people, we’re ensuring the spirit of people power takes root in ways that matter for their future.”

The tree-planting drive aims to boost the area’s climate resilience, while the mural – depicting scenes of unity and freedom – now greets students each day as a reminder that democratic values thrive through collective effort, said Osias.

“EDSA taught us that real change happens when everyone contributes. By working side-by-side with young people, we’re ensuring the spirit of people power takes root in ways that matter for their future,” Osias added.

Local leaders and school officials hailed the partnership, noting it is shifting perceptions of military engagement in communities.

Mrs. Francisca Pagaduan, an official of the school, said the initiative is welcome and a meaningful way to engage young people.

“This isn’t just about an event – it’s about giving our youth concrete ways to live out the ideals EDSA stands ," she said.