ILOILO City – Despite the government’s decision to declare February 25 a special working holiday, two tertiary schools in this city have taken it upon themselves to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Malacañang, under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., had declared February 25, 2025 not a nonworking holiday, drawing criticism from various sectors.
Many view this as an attempt to downplay the importance of the 1986 revolution, which peacefully toppled the authoritarian regime of his father, Ferdinand E. Marcos, and restored democracy in the country.
Among the schools in Iloilo City expressing their dedication to the EDSA legacy is Central Philippine University (CPU).
CPU president Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy issued a memorandum on February 20 informing the school community that classes would be suspended and offices closed on February 25 to mark the anniversary. Classes will resume on February 26.
Similarly, the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) has also made provisions for the observance.
Chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano encouraged UPV faculty members to hold alternative classes on February 25 in honor of the revolution.
While some faculty members may opt to conduct regular classes, the final decision is left to their discretion as part of academic freedom, clarified Camposano.
Camposano said the best way to commemorate the restoration of freedom in 1986 is through the active practice of democracy and the cultivation of diverse political opinions.
The anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution had been traditionally observed as a non-working holiday. However, under then President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration (2016 to 2022), the holiday was changed to a special (non-working) holiday in 2017, which means it still remains a holiday, but with a different designation.
Special non-working holidays allow businesses to operate normally with employees given the option of working, but those who do not report to work are not entitled to holiday pay.
In contrast, a non-working holiday means that employees who are required to work on such days are entitled to additional pay, and those who don’t work are considered on leave but still entitled to their full pay.
While the current national government’s position on the EDSA anniversary has raised eyebrows, schools in Iloilo and other parts of the country remain firm in their resolve to uphold the spirit of the revolution.
Several educational institutions nationwide have declared class suspensions, including:
* Adamson University
* Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan Parochial Schools
* Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae-Philippines Schools Network
* De La Salle Philippines
* Don Bosco Technical College Cebu
* General de Jesus College
* Immaculate Conception Academy Greenhills
* Imus Institute
* Kalookan Diocese Schools Association
* Maryhill College Lucena City
* Saint Pedro Poveda College
* San Beda University (Manila and Rizal)
* San Pablo Diocesan Catholic Schools System
* St. Bridget College Batangas City
* St. Joseph’s College (Quezon City and Rodriguez)
* St. Scholastica Academy Pampanga
* St. Scholastica’s College Manila
* University of Santo Tomas
* University of the East (Manila and Caloocan)
* UST Angelicum College
* Xavier School (San Juan and Nuvali)
Meanwhile, some schools have opted for asynchronous or independent learning on February 25, including Far Eastern University Manila and Makati, Immaculate Heart of Mary College, Miriam College, and UP Los Baños./PN
