By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan and Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, a former Martial Law detainee, defended the Marcos administration’s decision to downgrade the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary to a special working holiday, saying it was a “presidential prerogative.”
He cited Proclamation No. 727, issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which reclassified Feb. 25 as a working holiday for economic reasons.
“As mayor of Iloilo City, I will not declare it a holiday because it’s not red in our calendar. I will be made liable if I declare it a holiday. Here in the city, we have a no work, no pay policy,” Treñas said in a press conference on Monday, Feb. 24.
He noted that while schools had the discretion to declare suspensions, regular office work and classes would continue in the city.
Despite his stance, Treñas urged the public to remember the “very peaceful” EDSA revolution.
“It is important that we do not forget it because democracy is really worth fighting for,” he added.
Two universities in Iloilo City—Central Philippine University and the University of the Philippines Visayas—have suspended classes to commemorate the event.
The University of San Agustin, Iloilo Science and Technology University, and West Visayas State University (WVSU) opted to hold regular classes.
In a memorandum, WVSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla encouraged faculty members to dedicate part of their class time to discuss the historical significance of the revolution.
“February 25 marks an important day in our history as we commemorate the EDSA Revolution. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the collective pursuit of the Filipino people for a better government. Moreover, it highlights our contribution to the world—our experience of a nonviolent and peaceful revolution,” she said.
Treñas recalled his experience as a student activist under the Marcos Sr. dictatorship, calling People Power the “culmination” of the youth’s struggle even before Martial Law.
“The significance was really the struggle of the youth. Most of the time, it was students from UP and other schools. They saw they were not happy with the system, they wanted to change the system, and some of them offered their lives,” he said.
In 2020, Treñas recounted his detention, describing how he and other activists were crammed into a Love Bus on the way to Camp Crame, singing the mass song Walang Sinuman ang Nabubuhay para sa Sarili Lamang.
Despite his past as a political detainee, Treñas maintains ties with the Marcos family, even sharing a Jan. 30 letter from Malacañang thanking him for a gift he sent.
The mayor has previously suspended classes for two political rallies this year—the Iglesia ni Cristo gathering on Jan. 13 and the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas proclamation rally on Feb. 13—citing their impact on city traffic.
However, he emphasized that the city government would follow the national government’s holiday declarations.
