EDSA @40: Faith and Unity in Action

(An excerpt of the Homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D. during the celebration of 40th Anniversary of EDSA People Power last February 25, 2026 at San Pedro Cathedral.)

The spirit of that People Power in EDSA must be told again and again, especially to the younger generation. Courage, faith, and love for the common good must remain alive in our hearts. We remember that courage, faith, and love were the only “weapons” that the heroes of EDSA in 1986 had.

Second, we are called to repent.

We must honestly admit today that, over the years, we have not fully lived the promise of EDSA. The gift of freedom was sometimes taken for granted. We became complacent. Corruption continued. Poverty remained. Trust in institutions weakened.

Like the Israelites who forgot God after being freed from Egypt, we too forgot the responsibility that comes with freedom. Freedom is not only a gift; it is also a duty. It requires hard work, honesty, and commitment to the common good.

We must admit that we have, in some ways, contributed to the problems of our nation – through silence, indifference, or compromise which we sharply call moral compromises. This forgetfulness can be seen as a betrayal not only of the spirit of EDSA but also of God.

True repentance means recognizing our mistakes. It means turning away from selfishness, materialism, dishonesty, and corruption. It means choosing integrity even when no one is watching. Indeed, repentance begins in the heart.

Third, we are called to respond – not with fear or anger, but with courage and love.

The spirit of People Power at EDSA must not remain only in memory. It must inspire action today.

We are reminded that real change requires:

First, Honesty – We must seek truth and reject lies.

Second, Love – Love is not just a feeling; it is action. It is in fact called sacrificial love.

Third, Personal conversion – Each of us must choose integrity in daily life.

Fourth, Communal conversion – Our institutions must reject corruption and work for transparency and accountability.

The Church in the Philippines, through our bishops, proposes some concrete actions:

First, Fight impunity and demand accountability.

Second, Support laws and reforms that protect democracy and prevent concentration of power.

Third, Encourage in our parishes and GKKs discussions about the government’s use of public funds, and promote responsible questions addressing transparency.

Fourth, Promote dialogue and discussions in the meetings of our parish leaders, in GKK, and mandated organizations to encourage responsible citizenship.

Fifth, Continue our Voters Education Program so that voters will support honest and competent leaders who truly serve the common good. We should never get tired of this mission of forming our people.

And I believe that all these efforts require what we call a “revolution of the heart.” Before society can change, hearts must change. This revolution begins in our homes, parishes, schools, convents, institutions, and communities.

In this Eucharist, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord, truly present in our midst, move us to this revolution of our hearts; may he move us to true conversion.

As we celebrate 40 years since that historic moment of People Power at EDSA, may we once again allow God to renew our nation. May we not forget the wonders the Lord has done. And may we continue the journey from our present situation of misery and near hopelessness to a future life that is truly inspired and guided by God’s Spirit. A future that sees us walking and journeying together as brothers and sisters, walking and journeying together as truly Filipino sons and daughters of God.