Walk the Length of EDSA Where the Revolution Happened
By mid-morning on February 25, the asphalt of EDSA in Quezon City is warm underfoot and loud with marching bands, school groups in matching shirts, and vendors working the crowd with cold drinks and printed banners. This is where the 1986 People Power Revolution unfolded, and every anniversary the stretch between the EDSA Shrine and the People Power Monument fills with people who come to walk it again. The commemoration is organised by the Buhay ang People Power Campaign Network with church and civil society groups, and the day is structured so you can join at any point.
Start early. Assembly at the EDSA Shrine begins around 7:00 a.m., with an opening program at 8:30 a.m. featuring civil society, religious and political leaders. At 9:00 a.m. the crowd marches to the People Power Monument, where a "Panata ng Mamamayan" — a public pledge — is recited at 10:00 a.m. Wear comfortable shoes; you will be on your feet for hours.
Spend the Afternoon at the People Power Monument
The monument grounds become the day's civic heart. From 11:00 a.m., merchandise booths open alongside exhibits from partner organisations and schools. A pre-program runs at 2:00 p.m., building to the main program at 3:00 p.m. under the banner "Tayo ang People Power: Noon, Ngayon, Bukas." Expect speeches, music, and a crowd that spans generations — veterans of 1986 standing beside students. This is the best place to eat: food stalls set up around the booths, so graze your way through the afternoon rather than planning a sit-down meal.
Join the Evening Mass and the Free Concert
At 6:00 p.m., the day turns quiet for a Holy Mass at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace — the EDSA Shrine — traditionally presided by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas. Then, at 7:00 p.m., gates open at Eton Centris for a free outdoor concert organised by Caritas Philippines as a youth event, with Ben&Ben and other artists taking the stage from 8:00 p.m. Arrive at gate-opening time; a free show with a national name on the bill draws a serious crowd.
- 7:00 a.m. — Assembly, EDSA Shrine
- 8:30 a.m. — Opening program
- 9:00 a.m. — March to People Power Monument
- 10:00 a.m. — "Panata ng Mamamayan" at the monument
- 11:00 a.m. — Booths and exhibits open
- 2:00 p.m. — Pre-program
- 3:00 p.m. — Main program
- 6:00 p.m. — Holy Mass at EDSA Shrine
- 7:00 p.m. — Gates open, Eton Centris
- 8:00 p.m. — Free concert
Know the Shape of the Anniversary Year
The 2026 edition marked the 40th anniversary, a milestone that drew an expanded programme and nationwide commemoration across 86 Catholic dioceses from February 22 to 25. The core date is always February 25, and the three anchor venues — EDSA Shrine, People Power Monument, and Eton Centris — sit along the same Quezon City stretch of EDSA, so you can move between them on foot or with a short ride. For 2027, check local listings closer to the date for the confirmed programme; the pattern of prayer march, monument program, evening Mass and concert is the city's established rhythm, but exact times and performers are set each year.
Make a Day of the EDSA Corridor
All three venues cluster along EDSA in Quezon City, which makes the anniversary easy to attend without a car. Base yourself nearby and treat the corridor as a single walking route: shrine in the morning, monument through the afternoon, concert at night. The March to the monument and the evening shift to Eton Centris are the two moments when the crowd moves en masse — follow it, and you will experience the day the way Manileños do.
The anniversary falls on February 25. Book accommodation near the EDSA corridor in Quezon City well ahead, clear your calendar for the full day from the 7:00 a.m. assembly to the 8:00 p.m. concert, and watch for the official programme as the date approaches. Then all you have to do is show up and walk.