Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy urges Cebuanos to affix because the Individuals Energy Revolution stays a part of the Filipino ethical id
CEBU, Philippines – Cebu civic teams, identified for opposing authoritarian rule unveiled plans for the fortieth anniversary of the 1986 EDSA Individuals Energy rebellion, with church-led occasions highlighting the province’s anti-dictatorship id.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu, in partnership with the Cebu provincial and Cebu Metropolis governments, is organizing the actions via Sugboanong Pakigbisog Kontra Korapsyon (SuPaKK), a coalition of church and civil society teams centered on anti-corruption and civic participation.
Cebu’s anti-Marcos id is rooted in a long time of activism, stretching again to the Nineteen Sixties. When Martial Regulation was declared in 1972, distinguished Cebuanos had been among the many first 70,000 political prisoners nationwide, together with students, labor leaders, and scholar activists. (READ: [ANALYSIS] Why Cebu is traditionally famend as anti-Marcos nation)
SuPaKK volunteer Brenette Abrenica mentioned the February 25 commemoration begins with a Holy Mass on the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño Pilgrim Middle at 1:45 pm, adopted by synchronized tolling of church bells throughout all parishes at 3 pm.
“Since we’re commemorating 4 a long time, there might be [representatives of] 4 generations who will converse. They may converse briefly and straight, with a name to motion to encourage fellow Filipinos and Cebuanos to not overlook what occurred in 1986,” Abrenica mentioned throughout a press convention on the Archbishop’s Palace on Saturday, February 21.
Members will then march from the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño to Plaza Independencia for the “Panagtagbo” floral providing, with 1,000 rosaries and flowers ready for distribution. The commemoration will conclude with “Yukbo: Ang Konsiyerto,” that includes performances by a lineup of native musicians.
‘Reminiscence over forgetfulness’
Archdiocesan Chancellor Msgr. Renato Beltran learn a message from Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy, who urged Cebuanos to affix and highlighted three key causes to take part.
First, he mentioned, EDSA stays a part of the Filipino ethical id, “an ethical stand that confirmed the world Filipinos, guided by conscience, prayer, and unity, may reject dictatorship, corruption, and abuse of energy with out violence.”
“For Cebuanos, becoming a member of this anniversary is a method of claiming: We nonetheless imagine that what is correct is value standing for. We nonetheless imagine that reality issues, integrity issues, and the dignity of each individual issues,” mentioned Uy.
Second, he warned that freedoms restored by EDSA are nonetheless underneath pressure. “Forty years after EDSA, corruption and abuse of energy stay actual. Poverty persists. Belief in establishments is fragile,” he mentioned, reminding contributors that “freedom is just not computerized” and that EDSA was “the start of a accountability” to guard democracy via every day actions.
Third, Uy emphasised the function of the following era in preserving reminiscence and values. “Our youngsters and younger persons are studying from what we select to recollect — or overlook,” he mentioned. “If we don’t present them that EDSA nonetheless issues, they might develop up pondering that corruption is regular, that abuse of energy is appropriate, and that silence is safer than braveness.”
He added that becoming a member of the actions is a method to decide on “reminiscence over forgetfulness, braveness over indifference, and hope over cynicism.”
Strictly non-partisan
The coalition emphasised that the February 25 commemoration is strictly non-partisan. Because of this no public officers will take the stage.
Affiliation of Consecrated Males of Cebu president Fr. Jose “Saggy” Bagadiong mentioned seen political participation may create perceptions of partisanship and discourage broader public assist.
“When actions are interpreted as partisan, folks are inclined to withdraw, and the credibility of the trigger is affected. If we actually need to win as many individuals as doable to assist a noble trigger, we should keep away from political coloring,” Bagadiong mentioned.
Free Authorized Help Group (FLAG) president Jay Pujanes additionally clarified that the actions won’t embody requires any public official to resign, stressing that the occasion is targeted on points fairly than personalities.
Pujanes mentioned repeated calls for for particular officers to step down are inclined to create division and shift consideration away from broader structural issues. He described it as problematic when public discourse instantly turns to resignation calls each time allegations of corruption come up, as this may increasingly encourage shortcuts as a substitute of permitting correct authorized and institutional processes to take their course.
“We need to train the folks to be accountable in voting as a result of their votes have penalties. Dili naman pwede shortcut lang. Maanad na lang ta nga okay ra mga mobotar ta with out pondering nga corrupt ba or not as a result of in a method, afterward pwede ra man nato paresignon,” mentioned Pujanes.
(We must always not get used to voting with out occupied with whether or not a candidate is corrupt or not, assuming that we will merely ask them to resign later.) – Rappler.com
Marjuice Destinado is a senior political science scholar at Cebu Regular College and an alumna of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2025.
