MANILA — More than a hundred cyclists, skaters, and joggers convened on Ayala Avenue in Makati on Sunday for the "Edsa Freedom Ride," marking the 38th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution.

Organized by Akbayan Party, the event aimed to commemorate the historic event while advocating for the protection of the 1987 Constitution against amendments that the group said are manipulative and self-serving. 

Among the groups at the activity were:

Siklista Pilipino

Pilipinas Riders

Makati Villages Council

Cycling Buddies

PioLeni

Skaters for Leni

Kalye Serye Mandalyong

Akbayan Youth

Youth Resist

Youth Alliance Against Charter Change (TAYO Against Cha-Cha)

ALAB Pilipinas

Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP)

Francis Aquino Dee, deputy executive director of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF) and grandson of democracy icons Ninoy and Cory Aquino, also marked the occasion.

Dee expressed confusion among Aquino supporters on why the EDSA People Power anniversary wasn't declared a holiday.

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"I tried to give the benefit of the doubt naman. 'Okay, tama Sunday, so baka di na kelangan', pero siguro yung nag-confirm sa akin na hindi maganda nangyari is nung Chinese New Year. Kasi 'di ba Sabado siya? Ginawang holiday yung Friday...but yung EDSA hindi."

Ferdinand Marcos, the current President's father and namesake, was ousted in the 1986 People Power revolution, which was a culmination of years of resistance to Martial Law and the Marcos dictatorship.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's election in 2022 has been framed as the family's return to Malacañang and a return to the supposed progress during his father's time in power.

The gathering formed part of the month-long activities of the #BuhayAngEdsa Campaign Network, a coalition comprising social movements, Church leaders, political parties, sectoral organizations, NGOs, artists, businesspeople, and individuals.

The event commenced with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Senator Ninoy Aquino monument, followed by prayers.

Cyclists, skaters, and joggers then embarked on their journey along Ayala Avenue. Wearing in yellow and white shirts, bicyclists also embellished their bikes with yellow ribbons and flaglets bearing the message: "Buhay ang Edsa! Cancel Cha-cha!"

Participants voiced their opposition to ongoing attempts at charter change, calling them a betrayal of EDSA's democratic principles enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.

"Kelangan tutulan ang current efforts na masyado secretive tsaka mga self-interested efforts to change the charter," Dee said.

After the EDSA Freedom Ride, supporters gathered in Club Filipino in San Juan, the place where former President Corazon Aquino was sworn in as president back in 1986. 

"Commemoration siya ng swearing-in pero multimedia experience po siya. May songs may pag-tatanghal all kinds of media to retell that story na yung mismong 10 a.m. ang sa Club Filipino ang swearing-in ni President Cory."