'Join EDSA event'

First,

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Uy said EDSA is part of the Filipino people’s moral identity. “EDSA was not just a political event; it was a moral stand,” he said, noting that the peaceful uprising demonstrated how Filipinos, guided by conscience, prayer, and unity, rejected dictatorship, corruption, and abuse of power without resorting to violence.For Cebuanos, joining the anniversary is a reaffirmation that truth, integrity, and respect for human dignity remain important values, he added. “To remember EDSA is to remember who we are and who we want to remain as a people,” the message stated.

Second, Uy stressed that the country’s freedom continues to face challenges even four decades after the historic uprising. He pointed to persistent corruption, ongoing poverty, and fragile public trust in institutions as reminders that democracy requires constant vigilance.

“EDSA was not the end of the struggle; it was the beginning of our responsibility,” he said, urging the public not to be indifferent or silent but to help protect and renew democratic life through responsible governance, community involvement, and personal integrity.

Third, the archbishop highlighted the importance of historical memory for the younger generation. He said that failing to remember EDSA could lead young people to believe that corruption and abuse of power are normal and that silence is preferable to courage.

By participating in the commemoration, Uy said, adults demonstrate that freedom comes with responsibility and that ordinary citizens, united by shared values, can shape the nation’s future. “In one line: to join EDSA is to choose memory over forgetfulness, courage over indifference, and hope over cynicism,” the message read.