Who Writes Our History?
February 25, 1986– a day that should forever live in the hearts and minds of Filipinos. On this day, millions gathered in Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), armed with nothing but their voices, prayers, and a collective yearning for freedom from the cruel dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The EDSA People Power Revolution remains one of the most defining moments in Philippine history—a moment that demonstrated to the world the unwavering resolve of Filipinos to take back what they deserved without the bloodshed Martial Law had inflicted for years.
And yet, nearly four decades later, the memory of this historic event is slowly being eroded not only by time but by deliberate efforts to revise history, risking a distorted narrative of the nation’s history for future generations.
With the Marcoses back in Malacañang, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has embarked on a series of deliberate moves targeting the legacies of his predecessors while propping up his father’s time in office as the “Golden Age” of our history with outlandish and unfounded claims of a strong economy, low unemployment, and a prosperous Philippines. One of the most insidious moves in this campaign of historical distortion is the quiet erasure of the People Power Revolution from our memory by removing it from the list of national holidays. This comes alongside the rescheduling of Ninoy Aquino Day, which commemorates former senator Ninoy Aquino’s sacrifice for opposing the Marcos regime, to August 23. For decades, these dates served as an institutional reminder of the Filipino people's victory against tyranny. Stripping these dates of their status as a holiday sends a clear and symbolic message: the current administration would rather that Filipinos forget.
The alleged explanation for rescheduling these historical events extends back as early as 2007 when former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo dubbed it “Holiday Economics” under R.A. 9492. This policy moved regular and special holidays to the nearest Monday, effectively creating longer weekends that create more economic opportunities as families and tourists would be more inclined to spend. However, it seems holidays have become more of a burden than a blessing for businesses, especially for workers with “no work, no pay” contracts who constitute around 25% to 45% of employment in the country.
Beyond calendar manipulations, Marcos Jr. and his family have actively engaged in historical whitewashing through the use of public office and the media. Ever since their return from exile in 1991, the family had run for public office in various positions and started rehabilitating the Marcos name through large media campaigns spanning decades. In a widely criticized interview with celebrity Toni Gonzaga, he refused to call his father a dictator, downplaying the human rights abuses, cronyism, and economic turmoil of the Martial Law era. In fact, social media has become a battleground ever since Marcos Jr.’s presidential campaign three years ago, where disinformation prevailed as Marcos Sr.’s rule was portrayed in a positive and idealistic light while conveniently omitting the realities of rampant corruption and repression. These narratives have shaped public perception, especially preying on younger generations who may not have been properly educated in history, effectively rewriting history by wielding the media in his favor.
This historical erasure does not stop at propaganda. It extends into the very foundation of learning what is right and wrong: our education. Marcos Jr.'s administration has made significant changes to the education system, including overhauling the K-12 program, an initiative introduced under former President Benigno Aquino III, as well as introducing a bill that will make senior high school optional. The introduction of the MATATAG curriculum has been framed as a response to the perceived failures of K-12, yet the implications go beyond simple educational reform. By altering the framework of what is taught in schools, the administration holds the power to shape how history is remembered or forgotten.
It is important to remember that even if it seems that we know our own country’s history, misinformation and disinformation remain rampant because people, much like us, have their own confirmation bias and are unaware of it. Even if holidays are meant to remind citizens about their history and encourage critical thinking, the continued lack of development when addressing issues within education will hamper Filipinos from reflecting on our shared past, which risks devaluing the significance of our country’s upbringing.
As stated in George Santayana’s The Life of Reason, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Removing the EDSA People Power anniversary from the official list of holidays does not erase the sacrifices of those who fought for democracy, but it does make it easier for future generations to overlook them. As we observe the People Power Revolution as a holiday, whether officially recognized or not, we must remind ourselves that history is not merely a collection of dates on a calendar but the foundation of our identity.
On this day, we must remember. And more importantly, we must Never Forget!
