So this weekend was supposed to be another long weekend because we had February 25, or People Power day. It fell on a Sunday, but based on the government’s ‘holiday economics’ of government, everyone expected the holiday itself to be moved to either the Friday before or the Monday after. This is what usually happens to holidays under that policy which is supposed to give Filipinos more free time to enjoy their holidays and it is even expected to spur additional economic activity and local tourism.
However, it would seem that there is a force more powerful than holiday economics, because instead of the Sunday holiday being moved, this particular one was simply removed.
Proclamation No. 368, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on October 11, 2023, did not include the anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolution, which falls on February 25, 2024, a Sunday, among the list of holidays. This is the first time that it was not celebrated as a holiday, since it was made such a few years after Mr. Marcos Jr. and his family were sent into exile in Hawaii by virtue of the events that culminated on February 25, 1986, more commonly known as the People Power Revolution.
The reason given for the removal of the People Power Revolution anniversary for the list of 2024 holidays is being a Sunday, there would be “minimal socio-economic impact in declaring this day a special non-working holiday since it coincides with the rest day for most workers and laborers,” which is a bit lame considering how many holidays have been moved this year just to create long weekends, under the popular holiday economics policy. The most recent one being the additional holiday declared on February 9 to make the Chinese New Year weekend a long one.
If you come to think of it, considering that the younger version of BBM described their exile in Hawaii as among the darkest days of their lives, and the reason for those dark days is the People Power Revolution that kicked his overstaying dad and namesake out of power in 1986, it was just a matter of time before that particular holiday would be deep-sixed under his reign. After all, what is he in power for? If he can’t even do a simple thing like that, which is totally within his powers as president of this country, then why go through all that effort of running for the position, right?
As an observer of history, I can’t really fault BBM for removing the People Power Anniversary from the 2024 roster of holidays and I won’t really be surprised if it never comes back as a holiday while he is in power. If anyone is to blame for the loss of a holiday, it would be the people who put him in power, knowing fully well that February 25 would no longer be one.
Anyway, for the holiday lovers, do not worry. Knowing our president’s love for holidays and long weekends, I’m sure that he will make up for it by giving us an alternate one. If I were to make a guess, his pops’ birthday could be declared a holiday soon. Or maybe we can have no work to commemorate the declaration of martial law, which is also a significant chapter of our history that we should never forget, if you come to think of it.
As for those who are salty over seeing the People Power holiday undermined by the comebacking son of the dude who was kicked out of power and the country by the revolution, the only way to explain it is two sayings: “To the victor goes the spoils” and “history is written by the victors.” They got their chance to have the spoils and write history, but it would seem that they dropped the ball, the Marcoses made their way back, all the way to becoming the victors this time around, so now they get the spoils and can rewrite history.
Of course, it would be nice if we get some consistency in our holidays, which somehow includes our nation’s definition of heroism and nationalism, and often provides a reflection of its values. Seeing the EDSA People Power Revolution lose its place as among the events we supposedly value as a people in this country is a bit sad, as it commemorates that time in our history when we stood up against an abusive and plundering dictator, stood our ground, and were able to pull off a bloodless revolution that might never happen again.
If we want that kind of commemoration to be a regular part of our holiday diet, we will need lawmakers to protect it from the fickle executive branch, through legislation. The question at this point would be whether we have the legislators who are willing to go out on a limb to protect a holiday, during an era when the guy in back power is named Ferdinand Marcos Jr.? Given the kind of stuff that our so-called leaders and representatives are made of these days, I wouldn’t bet on it.
So for now, those who want to remember the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution will have to do it in their own personal ways, within their circles, while waiting and working for the victory of another leader with a different agenda, to take the reins of the country.
As for those who don’t really care about it, then it’s just another holiday lost to the whims of our politicos and their dynasties that are likely to rule this country for more generations to come, as long as its people let them have their way.*
