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 the 40th Anniversary of EDSA People Power last February 25, 2026 at San Pedro Cathedral.)

I’d like to believe that People Power in EDSA are among the signs for the Filipino people that we try to remember, and for the younger people, you desire to know and to learn about EDSA. Forty years ago, on February 22 to 25, they say the five days of EDSA, something extraordinary happened in our country, thousands of Filipinos gathered along EDSA: Epifanio de los Santos Avenue for protest against the Marcos dictatorship. What could’ve turned into violent action became a powerful witness of faith, unity and courage. Armed only with rosaries, prayers, songs and love for country, the people stood against tanks and soldiers not through bloodshed but through peaceful revolution that has since been called People Power.

Our gathering today especially the Holy Eucharist that this wasn’t just a political event but a moment of grace, it was a sign of God’s presence amongst His people. Like the Israelites in the Old Testament who were told to remember the wonders God has done for them, we too are called to remember what God what God did for our nation in 1986, forty years ago. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of People Power, the Catholic Church in the Philippines through the CBCP are invited to reflect on three important duties: first to remember, second to repent, third to respond. Again, as a consequence on our commemoration, we have a duty or perhaps a challenge to remember, repent and respond.

First, we are challenged, we are inspired to remember. We remember the simple and ordinary people who became heroes. Mothers who stood before soldiers to protect life, elderly people in wheelchairs praying the rosary, young people forming human barricades in linked arms peacefully. My dear young people, you can google, use social media the dramatic inspiring photos of these photos that I described during those five days of EDSA. They showed that faith is powerful, they proved that prayer can be stronger that weapons, they demonstrated that unity and love for country can bring real change.

People power in EDSA in 1986 became like an open-air cathedral people prayed, celebrated Mass and sung hymns together, it was it was faith in action, unity in action, it was what we call now people walking together, people standing side by side for truth, and justice. Our gathering today encourages not to forget this story.