Schools Declare February 25 a Non-Working Holiday Despite Palace Directive

Several educational institutions have declared February 25, the 39th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, a non-working holiday—directly contradicting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s proclamation, which classifies it as a special working day.

Malacañang issued Proclamation No. 727 on October 31, 2024, which included the EDSA anniversary in the 2025 holiday calendar but removed its non-working status. Despite this, several schools have chosen to suspend classes and office work to commemorate the historic event.

On February 14, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) announced that there would be no classes or office work on February 25, encouraging its community to participate in activities honoring the significance of the revolution.

Following UST’s lead, the EDSOR Consortium—comprising Immaculate Conception Academy, La Salle Green Hills, Saint Pedro Poveda College, and Xavier School—announced on February 17 that they would recognize the day as a non-working holiday, stating their decision was made “despite Malacañang’s exclusion of this historical event.”

De La Salle University also declared February 25 a non-working holiday, extending this status to all De La Salle Philippines schools, further reinforcing their commitment to commemorating the People Power Revolution.

The Dominican-run UST, one of the nation’s premier universities, reiterated its stance through an official memo on February 14, stating unequivocally that “there will be no classes and work on February 25 (Tuesday).”

Despite the schools’ collective stand, Proclamation No. 727 remains in effect, officially designating February 25 as a special working holiday nationwide. However, the decision by these institutions underscores their commitment to remembering a pivotal moment in Philippine history.