EDSA at 40: Why the Past Still Matters to the New Generation

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution today, the question of its relevance inevitably arises. Is it still relevant? Did the original movement create lasting, beneficial impact in dismantling old systems, or has it only replaced old institutions with the same? However, despite such criticisms, undoubtedly EDSA remains extremely relevant, especially to our relatively young generation, not only because of its effects, but also because of the example it seeks for us to follow.

EDSA is often described as a moment when ordinary people, without weapons and without violence, proved that collective moral courage can restrain abusive power. For a generation that grew up after 1986, EDSA may seem as if it was a distant chapter—existing only in textbooks, commemorations, and news articles. But the core questions that EDSA raised have not disappeared: How do we prevent leaders from placing themselves above the law? What does it mean to defend human dignity when institutions are under pressure? And what responsibilities do citizens have when the state fails to protect rights?

First, EDSA is relevant because it reminds us that upholding democracy is a constant challenge. Many young people, in inheriting democratic freedoms, mistakenly assume that these are self-sustaining. EDSA, and in the regime that led up to it, showed us the opposite. Rights can diminish quietly when people become used to small abuses—when censorship is rebranded as “discipline,” when corruption is dismissed as “normal,” when cruelty is excused as “necessary,” or when lies are treated as mere “opinions.” EDSA matters to the young because it demonstrates that political conditions are not permanent. If freedom can be lost, it can also be defended—but only by citizens who remain alert and engaged.

Second, EDSA is relevant because it clarifies the moral limits of power. The revolution was not just about replacing personalities; it was about rejecting a system where fear and force shape public life. Even today, young people are confronted with the same fundamental dilemma: do we accept a politics that rewards intimidation, patronage, and historical distortion, or do we insist that leadership must be accountable, truthful, and bound by law? In school, at work, and online, we meet versions of this conundrum—whether to remain silent to keep peace, or to speak when something is wrong. EDSA becomes an important reference point: it tells us that silence is not neutrality when injustice is normalized, and that courage can be contagious, especially when seen amongst a large number of people.

Third, EDSA is relevant to our generation because it offers a standard for citizenship beyond voting. Many young people feel powerless: politics seems dominated by dynasties, money, and machinery, while ordinary citizens struggle with rising costs and limited opportunities. However, EDSA shows that change does not always begin with perfect institutions; sometimes it begins with solidarity—people choosing to show up, to protect each other, and to insist on truth. The lesson for us is that civic participation can take many forms: community organizing, honest public discussion, fact-checking, volunteering, demanding transparency, and holding leaders accountable through lawful means.

EDSA is relevant because it expands our imagination of what citizens can do. At the same time, it is fair and necessary for younger people to question EDSA’s legacy. Such include: if EDSA was so impactful, why do we still struggle with inequality, corruption, and weakened institutions? Why do old problems seem to return in new forms? These questions do not make EDSA irrelevant; they make it more urgent. EDSA was a breakthrough in national solidarity and identity, but it is not a final solution. It removed a dictatorship, but it did not automatically rebuild institutions, erase poverty, or reform political culture overnight. In fact, one of the most important lessons herein is that symbolic victories must be followed by patient, difficult work: strengthening courts, protecting journalism, improving education, building a fair economy, and creating a culture where public service is not treated as private property nor as an inheritance.

Finally, EDSA is relevant because the battle for memory is now part of the battle for the future. Our generation lives in an era where misinformation spreads faster than corrections, and where history can be edited into entertainment. When historical events are distorted, young people lose the ability to judge present leaders with clarity.

Remembering EDSA is not about worshipping the past; it is about protecting the public from manipulation and misinformation in the future. If we cannot agree on basic truths about what happened, we become easier to divide, easier to deceive, and easier to control. EDSA People Power is still relevant to my generation because it is not merely a success story in far 1986; it is a warning and a challenge that repeats in different forms. It warns that power, when unchecked, tends to abuse.

The bloodless revolution’s deepest relevance lies in its insistence that dignity is worth defending, that truth matters in public life, and that ordinary people can shape the direction of a nation. For a young generation deciding what kind of country we want to inherit—and what kind we are willing to build—EDSA remains not just relevant, but instructive."