Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan urged Filipinos to safeguard the memory of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, warning that forgetting its lessons could lead to a return of dictatorship and the erosion of democratic freedoms.
He delivered the message during the Feast of Our Lady of Peace celebration at the mission station named after the iconic Marian symbol of EDSA on Feb. 25, 2025.
“It was a shining moment in our nation’s history, but sadly, many Filipinos are forgetting it,” Cardinal David lamented.
“Even the former official holiday to commemorate this day has already been removed. But if the state will no longer remember, the Church will continue to commemorate it,” he added.
EDSA as ‘Epiphany of Saints’
The prelate explained how the name Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, the site of the historic uprising, holds deeper meaning.
“Many do not know that the road where the peaceful revolution happened from Feb. 22 to 25, 1986, was named after Mr. Epifanio de los Santos. Do you know he was a hero born and raised here in Malabon?” Cardinal David asked.
He described de los Santos as an intellectual patriot who played a key role in the 1898 revolution against Spanish colonization and was a member of the Malolos Congress that drafted the first Philippine Constitution.
The cardinal highlighted the significance of the avenue’s name, saying: “Epifanio de los Santos,” in English, means “Epiphany of the Saints,” and in Filipino, “Pagpapakita ng mga Banal.”
“That moment at EDSA made it clear that holiness and heroism are always connected,” he said. “Holiness without heroism is mere sanctimony. A pursuit of holiness without concrete concern for the welfare of the nation has nothing to do with God.”
Faith over fear
Recalling the events of the peaceful revolution, Cardinal David emphasized that it was not political ideology but faith and love for the country that gave Filipinos the courage to face tanks and soldiers armed only with rosaries, flowers, and prayers.
“Cardinal Sin called on the people to go to EDSA and pray, to prevent a bloody clash. To pray for the help of the Blessed Virgin in resolving the government crisis peacefully,” the cardinal explained.
“And the Filipinos flocked to EDSA, stood before the tanks, carrying rosaries, food, flowers, while listening to Radyo Veritas.”
He compared the people’s bravery to the Blessed Virgin Mary’s acceptance of God’s will during the Annunciation: “They were like Mama Mary, who said, ‘Let it be done unto me according to your word.’”
“Like Mary, the Filipino nation at that moment was like a virgin, unable to believe that democracy could be born through peaceful means,” Cardinal David said. “But they believed in the angel’s words: ‘Do not be afraid… for nothing will be impossible with God.’”
Call to remember and educate
The prelate expressed concern about historical amnesia, warning that forgetting the sacrifices made during EDSA could lead the country back to oppressive rule.
“What will happen if we forget? We will just keep repeating history, returning to the painful and dark chapters of our social life,” he cautioned. “Do we want God to say to us: ‘It’s because you forget so quickly’?”
He stressed the importance of passing the story of EDSA from one generation to the next. “Can you tell the Israelites not to tell their children how they crossed the sea on dry land and were freed from slavery?” he asked.
Cardinal David also highlighted the need for a more robust education system, one that goes beyond traditional literacy.
“If before, literacy programs were about teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic—the 3Rs—today, we must add digital literacy and the intelligent use of artificial intelligence,” he said. “Otherwise, things might reverse—the robot will become like a human, while the human will become like a puppet.”
“Do we want intelligent robots while people become fools?” the cardinal asked pointedly. “Our youth need more than information. Education must not only be informative but also performative and transformative. It should inform, reform, and transform.”
Renewed patriotism
The cardinal ended his homily by invoking the image of motherhood, likening the Blessed Virgin to the “Inang Bayan,” the beloved motherland.
“If the mother of Jesus became the symbol of EDSA and brought peace, a mother is also the image we hold dear for our nation: Inang Bayan. A mother to whom we owe our lives and must love, as we profess in the Panatang Makabayan,” he said.
Reciting the traditional version of the patriotic oath, Cardinal David emphasized the duty of every Filipino to serve the nation with sincerity and integrity:
“I love the Philippines. This is my birthplace. This is the home of my race. She takes care of me and helps me to become strong, happy, and useful. In return, I will heed the advice of my parents, obey the rules of my school, fulfill my duties as a patriotic citizen who abides by the law, and I will serve my country without selfishness and with complete loyalty. I will strive to become a true Filipino in mind, in word, and in deed.”
