Puny hands against military tanks during the 1986 People Power Revolution. From the Presidential Museum and Library. Photo by Peter Reyes, People Power: The Philippine Revolution of 1986 

MANILA — The EDSA People Power Anniversary this year “is definitely bigger” compared to commemoration events in recent years, one of the grandsons of late democracy icons Ninoy and Corazon Aquino said on Saturday, the eve of the 38th anniversary of the peaceful revolt.

“The holiday was taken out, we have to make a clear showing na whether it is a holiday or not, EDSA is still significant,” said Francis Aquino Dee, deputy executive director of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF).

“We’re making our voice heard: EDSA has to be remembered,” he said.

Remembering EDSA People Power

The NCAF initially wanted a “simple” commemoration this year, but plans changed after the term “EDSA-puwera” was included in a television campaign that pushed to change parts of the 1987 Constitution via a people’s initiative.

“EDSA-puwera” is a pun that insinuates that several segments of society were not included in the progress following the EDSA People Power revolution that ousted former President and late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

While he was initially disgruntled with the advertisement, Dee said that the controversial advertisement “opened up space for people to get very interested in EDSA again.”

“They gave us more space to talk about EDSA… There are now so many groups talking about EDSA,” he told ABS-CBN News.

“We are taking as much space as we can… There’s no call to remove the president or anything. All we’re talking about is stop wasting the people time on changing the charter,” he said.

Mga taga-oposisyon ginunita ang EDSA People Power Revolution

“Stop this waste of resources and focus on the more important issues on hand,” he added.

Among the activities that will mark the 38th EDSA anniversary are fun runs and bike rides in Makati on the morning of February 25.

The swearing in of former President Corazon Aquino will be also be commemorated at Club Filipino, while the day will be capped with a concert at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.

‘EDSA Revolution needs to be remembered all the more’

“The big idea behind the concert… is more about what did it feel like to be there in EDSA… and what did it feel like when that moment happened,” Dee said.

“We just like people to feel what it was like and that Filipinos were able to do this,” he said.