Photo from Facebook page of EDSA Shrine – National Shrine of Mary, Queen Of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Archbishop Socrates “Bishop Soc” B. Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan presided over a solemn Mass on February 25, 2026 at the EDSA Shrine, culminating the 40th anniversary commemoration of the 1986 People Power Revolution.
The celebration gathered clergy, religious sisters and brothers, youth representatives and educators from CEAP member schools, Martial Law survivors, witnesses of the 1986 uprising, and ordinary citizens who filled the shrine grounds in prayer and reflection. The Mass honored four decades since the peaceful revolution that toppled the dictatorship and restored democratic institutions in the Philippines.
In his homily, Bishop Soc urged Filipinos not to reduce EDSA to nostalgia but to reclaim its moral and spiritual fire. “We do not bask in nostalgia,” he said. “We confront our betrayals, repent, and rise. Our wine is running out.” Drawing from the Gospel image of being “the light of the world,” he called on the faithful to “fill the jars of wine again,” reviving the spirit of prayer, unity, and nonviolence that marked EDSA in 1986.
Reflecting on four decades of political history, Bishop Soc traced what he described as the gradual “leaking” of EDSA’s grace. He recalled the early years of restored democracy under President Cory Aquino and the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, when solidarity and subsidiarity shaped national rebuilding. He then lamented subsequent years marked by corruption scandals, political spectacle, and what he called the erosion of truth in public life. Without naming individuals directly at first, he criticized leadership tainted by gambling controversies, populism, online disinformation, and moral compromise.
The archbishop spoke strongly against extrajudicial killings and the normalization of violence, saying, “Murderers cannot be leaders.” He also warned against historical revisionism and the resurgence of political dynasties, saying that corruption, poverty, and foreign encroachments on the Philippine seas signal that the nation risks repeating the shadows of 1986. “This is not EDSA,” he said repeatedly, drawing applause from the congregation.
Addressing various sectors, the archbishop issued pointed calls to action. To the youth: think critically and resist fake news. To the poor: reject celebrity politics. To families: practice honesty at home. To politicians: shun dynasties and self-promotion. To historians and journalists: defend truth. To business leaders: uphold the dignity of labor. He also appealed to the International Criminal Court at The Hague to pursue justice for victims of drug-related killings.
Bishop Soc acknowledged that many who stood at EDSA in 1986 are now elderly or have passed on, turning to the younger generation: “The torch passes. Rise as true patriots.” He emphasized Catholic teaching on forming consciences guided by Scripture and doctrine, particularly in defending life and human dignity.
Despite his sharp critique, the archbishop ended on a note of hope. “May pag-asa pa!” he declared. “Nasa puso ang EDSA… Nasa ating mga kamay ang pagkabuhay na muli ng EDSA.” (There is still hope. EDSA is in our hearts… The rebirth of EDSA is in our hands.)