Palace: No intention to erase EDSA memories

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro (PCO Photo)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang defended on Tuesday President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision not to declare Feb. 25, the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution as a non-working holiday, emphasizing that there was no intention to erase the uprising’s memories or diminish its significance.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro denied that the administration is trying to revise history.

She pointed out that Feb. 25 was designated a special working day and that the administration had not prohibited any activities related to the commemoration.

“When we say special working day, still there is encouragement to people to commemorate, to join any event and it will not hinder any activity to commemorate the EDSA People Power,” Castro said.

Responding to concerns that the move could be seen as an attempt to erase the memory of the EDSA People Power, Castro vehemently rejected such claims.

“Meron po bang pinahinto ang Pangulo na anumang activity na patungkol sa commemmoration ng EDSA People [Power] (Has the President ever stopped any activity to commemorate EDSA People Power Revolution?),” the Palace official said.

“At the same time, paano po mabubura ang history? (How can you erase history?) History is history. Hindi po kakayanin ng Presidente na ito ay mabura sa ating history (The President alone cannot erase EDSA in our history),” she added.

Castro also emphasized that universities were free to suspend classes for the day if they chose to observe the occasion in their own way.