Earlier today, the local Church in Cebu and various civil society groups gathered to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” S. Uy presided over the Holy Mass at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. He was joined by Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar, CSsR (Bishop-Emeritus of Pagadian) and members of the clergy.
In his homily, the Archbishop reminded the faithful that the spirit of EDSA is not a relic of the past, but a living demand for integrity.
“Niining ika-40 nga anibersaryo sa EDSA, giawhag kita sa pagsinggit pag-usab: Igo na sa pag-abuso sa gahum, igo na sa kahakog, igo na sa korapsyon. Dili kini tawag sa kasuko o sa pagkabahin-bahin. Kini tawag sa konsensya. This is a call to moral conversion,” said Archbishop Abet.
A short program immediately following the Holy Mass featured keynote talks on the enduring legacy of the 1986 People Power Revolution and the urgent call for ethical leadership.
After the short program, Archbishop Abet led the multi-sectoral peace march toward Plaza Independencia alongside students, faculty, clergy, and urban poor groups. The peace march concluded at the Martial Law marker within the Plaza grounds, where the good Archbishop and religious leaders offered flowers and rosaries—handing flowers as well to personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a gesture mirroring the historic event in 1986.
The YUKBO Concert followed, serving as a musical tribute that brought together Cebuano artists to conclude the day’s event.