Camille Naredo

Article (news)

EDSA at 40

Lyza Aquino

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- Church leaders, artists, and political figures gathered Sunday at the EDSA Shrine for a prayer rally commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, blending faith, music, and renewed calls to defend democracy. </p><p>The commemoration, dubbed “Prayer Power sa EDSA,” opened with a midday Mass presided over by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David. Despite the heat, worshippers and supporters packed the shrine as David centered his homily on Lenten reflection and civic responsibility.</p><p>He urged public officials to remain truthful and accountable and called on citizens to remain vigilant and engaged. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/22/-tayo-ang-people-power-youth-artists-unite-at-qc-circle-to-honor-edsa-legacy-0756"><strong>&#x27;Tayo ang People Power&#x27;: Youth, artists unite at QC Circle to honor EDSA legacy</strong></a></div><p>After the Mass, a short program unfolded outside the church, hosted by actress Iza Calzado and television host Edu Manzano. Musical performances by Arman Ferrer, Noel Cabangon, and APO Hiking Society lent a nostalgic yet resolute tone to the gathering.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>YOUTH AS &#x27;PROMISE OF EDSA&#x27;</strong></div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABy0OfozrtXMIHKA"></script></div><p>Among the speakers were Senator Bam Aquino and Kiko Aquino Dee, who both placed the spotlight on the youth as heirs to the revolution’s unfinished work.</p><p>Aquino said the younger generation now carries one of the strongest voices against corruption. </p><p>“Ngayon po na nandito tayo, ang kabataan ang lumalaban, ang kabataan ang may pinakamalakas na boses kapag may katiwalian sa gobyerno. Itong henerasyon na ito, ito ang kukumpleto ng pangako ng EDSA,” he said.</p><p>“Tayo pong nandoon noon, tayo ang taga-kwento, tayo ang tagasabi na kaya natin ito. Ito pong henerasyon ito po ang magpapatuloy. Hindi mangyayari ito pong mga nakita nating pagbabago kung hindi po umalma ang bayan at kabataan nung nakita ang karumaldumal na korapsyon sa ating bansa.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/groups-announce-edsa-40-protest-to-mark-40th-anniversary-of-people-power-1359"><strong>Groups announce ‘EDSA 40’ protest to mark 40th anniversary of People Power</strong></a></div><p>Dee echoed the call for collective action. </p><p>“Hamon ko sa kabataan at mga susunod na henerasyon, kailangan nating tumindig. Tayo ang People Power, tayo ang may kapangyarihan na ayusin ang bayang ito,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PUSH FOR FEB. 25 HOLIDAY</strong></div><p>Akbayan Representatives Chel Diokno and Percy Cendaña also announced plans to file a House bill declaring Feb. 25 a permanent special non-working holiday.</p><p>“Bukas magpafile ang Akbayan ng isang House bill para gawin talagang non-working holiday ang February 25 ang EDSA dahil ang pakikipaglaban natin sa demokrasya ay dapat hindi dependent sa political weather ng isang administrasyon, dapat constant yan,” Cendaña said.</p><p>Diokno pointed to persistent inequality and corruption as reasons the struggle must continue. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/ncrpo-no-threats-monitored-ahead-of-trillion-peso-march-on-edsa-anniversary-2140"><strong>NCRPO: No threats monitored ahead of ‘Trillion Peso March’ on EDSA anniversary</strong></a></div><p>“Nakakalungkot at nakakabahala na napakalaking isyu pa rin ng korupsyon, inequality, kaya tuloy-tuloy dapat ang laban hanggat makamit natin ito,” he said, adding that the anniversary deserves proper national recognition.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NOT JUST PEOPLE POWER&#x27;</strong></div><p>For organizers, faith remained central to the day’s message. </p><p>Fr. Jerome Secillano, rector of the EDSA Shrine, reminded the public that the 1986 uprising was not solely a political movement.</p><p>“Sana ang taong bayan dumedepende tayo sa kung ano ang magagawa ng Diyos sa atin. Hindi lahat magagawa ng tao, hindi lahat magagawa ng pulitiko. May mga bagay na Diyos lang ang makagagawa,” he said. </p><p>Quoting the late Cardinal Jaime Sin, Secillano added: “‘Hindi magtatagumpay ang People Power revolution without the aid of faith and almighty.’ It’s not just People Power, there is also faith power and prayer power.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WARNING VS HISTORICAL AMNESIA</strong></div><p>In his closing speech, Cardinal David reflected on his participation in the 1986 revolt and warned against what he described as a growing tendency to forget—or revise—history.</p><p>“Kailangan natin sariwan sa alaala dahil ang marami sa kabataan hindi pa isinisilang noon. Ito yung isang pagkakamali ng generation namin ng EDSA, mabilis ang pagkalimot lalo na kung iibahin ang mga kwento sa textbook at elementary school,” he said. </p><p>“Dati naman po holiday ang Feb. 25, di ba? Nakapanghihinayang ang daling makalimot.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/20/church-group-dpwh-m4gg-and-private-sector-link-hands-to-safeguard-public-funds-projects-1714"><strong>&#x27;People&#x27;s Power Movement&#x27;: Church group, DPWH, M4GG and private sector link hands to safeguard public funds, projects</strong></a></div><p>He reminded government officials that the 1987 Constitution was born from the revolution.</p><p>“Ang message ko sa government, sila ay sumumpa sa isang Constitution na tinayo sa pagitan 1986 at 1987. Ang 1987 Constitution hindi man ito perpekto, ito ay bunga ng EDSA People Power. Hindi ito dapat nalilimutan. It has taken us 40 years, we have to refresh our memories,” he said. </p><p>Meanwhile, earlier Sunday, members of the August Twenty One Movement marched at the University of the Philippines Diliman for an activity titled “ROAR: Walk for the People, Ride for the People,” recalling the night their founder, former senator Butz Aquino, called on the public to gather at EDSA on Feb. 22, 1986.</p><p>With more events scheduled through Wednesday’s anniversary, organizers said the message remains clear: the spirit of EDSA must not only be remembered—it must be lived.</p><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u0166nZFLnY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Church leaders, artists, and political figures gathered Sunday at the EDSA Shrine for a prayer rally commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, blending faith, music, and renewed calls to defend democracy.</p>

Church leaders, artists, and political figures gathered Sunday at the EDSA Shrine for a prayer rally commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, blending faith, music, and renewed calls to defend democracy.

Faith power, prayer power: EDSA at 40 rekindles call to defend democracy

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Faith power, prayer power: EDSA at 40 rekindles call to defend democracy

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 22, 2026 09:15 PM PHT

Read More:

EDSA People Power

40th anniversary concert

Edsa shrine

Prayer Power sa EDSA

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