Bente Kwatro
By Mark Vincent A. Durano, News Editor

If institutions like Far Eastern University (FEU) do not take a clear stand on commemorating the EDSA People Power Rising, it only heightens apathy among the youth—reflecting the failed education system once sought to be reformed when students amassed to overthrow a dictator and uphold democracy.

Several institutions, especially sectarian schools, across the country moved and echoed the importance of commemorating this historical moment in the country, suspending classes on February 25.

However, other universities held back to still hold classes or in alternative forms such as FEU Manila’s independent study day. While it waives onsite classes, faculty are still allowed to give activities to students which may span varyingly from readings to writing assessments.

Similarly, the Institute of Technology, Diliman, and Alabang campuses will shift to an asynchronous online modality which was just announced today. In FEU High School, classes will be held via synchronous online learning. Worse, FEU Cavite will push through onsite classes with “various activities” prepared by their departments.

This change in modality might seem big that students don’t need to go to school, but would it harm institutions to just simply suspend classes on EDSA?

FEU has long played safe amid societal issues, further boxing its students away from opportunities to gain liberated wisdom and join progressive movements like what the youth of 1986 embraced in the streets. The current youth we belong in has definitely been more progressive, however, this usually stops with the political thought without echoes of resistance and mobilization.

From declaring themselves as apolitical during the 2022 Elections to snubbing their autonomous status to suspend classes, it is no longer surprising that the University seeks gray decisions.

If there is something that EDSA proved, education will never be in a gray area nor in black and white. Educators, students, lay persons, and youth have all enjoined the masses to forward banners for democracy. Seemingly, this tradition has died down as institutions lean to protect their corporate interests and personal image.

As a repressive education framework dominates the country, students lack such avenues to exercise their awareness and even commitment to commemorate the almost four decades of supposed democracy—urged to uphold which will only live once fully obtained.

Students have the utmost responsibility and means to learn, especially about history. While this step is as important to catalyze a proactive will, the University, if not echo the same calls, must at least do the bare minimum and be non-repressive.

From commercialization through tuition fee increases, lack of genuine student spaces, bureaucratic policies, and censorship, what EDSA once sought to revolt only persisted. Thus, not allowing students to fully commemorate the day without academic load makes chains loose to kill democracy.

Neighboring institutions like the University of Santo Tomas urged its students to join EDSA-commemorative activities as a democracy. Meanwhile, Adamson University lit its facade yellow to show support for the rising and further encourage students to attend mobilizations. In De La Salle University, a video presentation of events that led to the rising flashed in their facade.

Why can’t FEU keep up?

In retrospect, the Marcos Sr. administration banned all student organizations and publications in universities, including FEU, during the Martial Law—a mere fact that should spur students to go back and be for the masses.

The decision to not fully suspend classes just speaks how FEU submits itself to bureaucracy, a mere show of negative politicization at the cost of students’ ability to fully embody EDSA as a rising movement. They do not compare any less with the Marcos administration pushing for EDSA Day as a special working holiday, diminishing the importance of the youth sector’s collectiveness to honor it.

Despite his attempts, Marcos Jr. cannot escape the horrors that his family set upon themselves. Not declaring EDSA 39 as a non-working holiday echoes the grip of the Marcoses to democracy that even a whole day to remember the rising is impossible to achieve.

After all, suspending classes is not the first step to embody the historical milestone of EDSA. If institutions cannot provide the bare minimum to instill that EDSA Day is a day of movement, the youth can only do more and be the movement itself.

Ultimately, the youth of today has the full capacity to assert its place in society as its members, embracing democracy and patriotism. 

As a continuing legacy, the People Power never ended in 1986. It must not be failed and should always continue through mass integrations and student-centered service. With or without EDSA, students should reclaim their rightful place in the streets with full power.

(Photo by Gwyneth Mendoza/FEU Advocate; Photo courtesy of Romeo Mariano; Layout by Jonathan Carlos B. Ponio/FEU Advocate)