"YOU can kill a revolutionary, but you can never kill the revolution… You can jail a liberator, but you can't jail liberation." A quote from Fred Hampton, an American revolutionary and activist, can correlate to what was celebrated last Feb. 25, the 39th anniversary of the People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution. 

     This could be considered the tragedy of the "Reign of Terror,"—the  20-year rule of the former president, whom some view as a ruthless dictator, marked by torture, violence, and censorship against those who opposed his order.

     And to those who have been a victim of such cruelty, their fight for a better future and their demise were not in vain, as the nation joined arms for its cause, to liberate against injustice, shed truth to the lies and manipulation, and oust the power that has ultimately been corrupted with its agenda.

     After several decades, what has changed? It is disheartening to see the essence of this commemoration is slowly losing its spark, as its history is distorted, revised, and forgotten.

     Furthermore, with the former president's son now in power, his year's commemoration saw a significant change—the president reclassified it from being an official holiday to a special working day.

     I say this: this is a deliberate ploy by the government to further divide the masses and to lessen the importance of the historical event. However, they fail to realize that the power of the people overpowers that of the government. They may erase the holiday, but they will never erase the history.

     As someone born long after the event and a member of Generation Z, it is remarkable to witness its lasting impact on people's lives. It is undeniable that this moment in history paved the way for what many still consider essential, which is the freedom and the right to choose our leaders.

     As I came across dozens of images, videos, and documentation recounting the historical event, I came across a song performed by various artists who actively protested during the revolution towards a better change. "Handog ng Pilipino Sa Mundo," composed by Jim Paredes of APO Hiking Society, captures the spirit of the EDSA revolution and has since become its defining anthem.

     It was then released in English "A New and Better Way—The People's Anthem." This song made me reflect on a longstanding question that remains relevant today: Have we found a new and better way, or are we still haunted by the past, repeating the same mistakes that have shaped our present?