FILE PHOTO: Two days after this scene, the mammoth crowd on Edsa would rejoice over the news of dictator Ferdinand Marcos finally leaving Malacañang and fleeing the country with his family and cronies. February 25 has since been a public holiday. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Edsa People Power Anniversary, which celebrated on February 25 of each year, is no longer a holiday in 2024, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Proclamation No. 368 that was released on Friday.
Proclamation No. 368 signed by Marcos on October 11 enumerated next year’s official national holidays, non-working days, and special non-working days.
It includes the Chinese New Year (February 10), Black Saturday (March 10), All Souls’ Day (November 2), Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8), Christmas Eve (December 24), and even the death anniversary of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aguino Jr. (August 21).
But not the Edsa People Power Anniversary, which the nation commemorated for the 37th time this year, even if it has been a “special non-working holiday” in the past years.
The Palace has not offered any explanation as of this writing despite queries from members of the media.
On February 25, 1986, Filipinos took to the streets their condemnation of the dictatorial rule of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. – the incumbent President’s father and namesake.
It would later be known as the Edsa People Power Revolution, a bloodless uprising that toppled the 20-year reign of Marcos Sr. that was marred with widespread corruption and human rights abuses.
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