CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Ribbons fluttered in the breeze at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, adorning trees across the campus. It was a quiet yet deliberate act of remembrance as the university marked the 39th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution, a movement that once turned Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) into a sea of yellow.
Almost four decades later, the ribbons in this Jesuit-run university were no longer yellow. They were white.
The change was intentional. Organizers sought to move beyond the yellow long associated with the 1986 uprising — and the Aquino family — to emphasize the broader democratic principles that People Power stood for.
The yellow ribbon, first used as a symbol of defiance during the Marcos dictatorship, was inspired by the song Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree, a 1973 hit by the American group Tony Orlando and Dawn. Over time, the symbol evolved, becoming a mark of support for opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. After his assassination in 1983, yellow flooded protests and later, the EDSA revolt that toppled dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.
But as the years passed, yellow became the political color of the Aquino family — first under Corazon Aquino’s presidency, then under her son, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and the Liberal Party.
That political branding prompted Xavier-Ateneo to adopt a neutral white. Their message: the legacy of 1986 belongs to the Filipino people, not to any political faction.
“It’s beyond partisan engagement,” said Nestor Banuag Jr., Xavier-Ateneo’s advocacy coordinator.
Outside the university’s Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, students — born long after the revolution — held banners with EDSA slogans, echoing the messages of 1986.
Beyond the campus, however, the city was quiet. No local government-led events marked the anniversary.
Ian Fuentes, Cagayan de Oro’s information officer, said Mayor Rolando Uy had not issued any directive for a commemoration, unlike in past years, especially during the 1980s and 1990s, when the city observed EDSA Day with almost the same significance as Philippine Independence Day. The last city-led commemoration was under the previous administration.
Cagayan de Oro played a key role in the anti-Marcos movement. It was home to the now-defunct Mindanao Alliance, a prominent opposition coalition in Mindanao.
Cagayan de Oro also factored in the founding of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), which later merged with Ninoy Aquino’s Lakas ng Bayan (Laban) to form the anti-Marcos dictatorship PDP-Laban. Decades later, that party fractured, with the Duterte faction seizing control.
Inside Xavier-Ateneo, however, the spirit of remembrance remained strong.
Students and academics planned to gather outside the campus on Tuesday night to urge passing motorists to honk in solidarity with the revolution’s ideals.
The university lined up activities to remind the community of its hard-won democratic freedoms. The commemoration opened with a public forum on the revolution’s victories and the threats democracy still faces.
At the university’s Magis Canteen, Democracy Hour provided an interactive space for creative expression, where music, poetry, and art became tools for civic engagement. Participants created banners and artwork reflecting their thoughts on democracy and justice, adding a personal, visceral layer to the day’s events.
A Mass for Democracy was set at the Immaculate Conception Church, followed by a symbolic walk through the campus, culminating in a candle-lighting ceremony and community singing.
The commemoration continues Wednesday, February 26, with a session on youth citizen engagement, urging young people to take an active role in nation-building. A panel will discuss youth advocacy, responsible voting, and the enduring importance of civic duty. – Rappler.com