Revisiting EDSA: Forum held to commemorate 39 years of People Power

On 28 February 2025, the Joaquin Bernas Center Student Corp hosted a forum at the Ateneo Law School titled "Blessings of Democracy: Revisiting EDSA People Power" to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

The forum featured distinguished speakers, including Atty Neri Colmenares, Ramon “Mon” Isberto, Francis Aquino Dee, and Cleve Arguelles.

Ramon “Mon” Isberto, former spokesperson for Smart and PLDT and a seasoned media professional with over forty years of experience, opened the forum. He provided a detailed account of the EDSA People Power Revolution, offering law students valuable insights into the events that unfolded during the Martial Law era.

Next, Francis Aquino Dee, a respected political scientist from the University of the Philippines - Diliman and grandson of former President Corazon Aquino, shared his perspective on the revolution. His talk provided a unique and personal account of how the EDSA movement was experienced by the Aquino family during the Marcos regime.

Following him, Cleve Arguelles, an esteemed political scientist and professor at De La Salle University, discussed the ongoing significance of the EDSA Revolution and how it is remembered by the present generation.

The last speaker, Atty Neri Colmenares was a former political detainee during Martial Law and a highly regarded public figure. He shared his firsthand experiences as an 18-year-old student leader during a time when press freedom was severely repressed, offering a powerful testimony of the challenges faced under Martial Law.

The forum concluded with an open panel discussion which engaged the students from the Ateneo Law School Community. The event successfully bridged personal narratives from the Martial Law era with the perspectives of a younger generation shaped by the EDSA Revolution.

The Joaquin Bernas Center Student Corp, a student organization at the Ateneo Law School, is committed to upholding the virtues, ideals, and principles of Fr Joaquin Bernas SJ. A revered figure at Ateneo and one of the framers of the Philippine Constitution, Fr Bernas was a staunch advocate for human rights. The forum was well received by the Ateneo Law School community, enriching the values and ideals of the EDSA Revolution.