A network of church leaders and faith-based organizations has issued a strong call for social transformation, invoking the spirit of the 1986 EDSA People Power uprising as the nation marks its anniversary.
In a statement titled “Living Out the Spirit of EDSA: A Call to the Church People”, the signatories—comprising 199 individuals, including 65 bishops—urged Christians to embrace the prophetic role of speaking truth to power and standing against injustice.
The statement emphasized that faith must manifest in concrete actions for justice, human rights, and accountability.
“The victory of EDSA was not just a political triumph; it was a moral and spiritual awakening,” the statement read. “It showed us that courage, compassion, and solidarity could break the chains of dictatorship.”
The church leaders expressed concern over the return of the same political family unseated during the uprising to the highest seat of power.
They condemned the perpetuation of systems that, they said, continue to trap millions in poverty, silence, and fear.
Quoting Proverbs 31:8-9, they reminded the faithful: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Among the prominent signatories were Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Taytay; Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos; Bishop Rhee Timbang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente; Ms. Minnie-Anne Mata-Calub of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines; Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza of United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP); and Fr. Rico Ponce, Prior Provincial of the Philippine Carmelite Province of St. Titus Brandsma.
The signatories underscored the importance of educating communities about historical distortions, threats to democracy, and systemic injustices. They called on Christians to root their activism in Scripture and the social teachings of the Church.
“Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Our commitment to Christ must manifest in concrete actions—advocating for human rights, supporting the poor, exposing lies, seeking accountability for misdeeds, and challenging the systems that perpetuate suffering,” the statement stressed.
The signatories pledged to continue building “communities of resistance and hope,” echoing the unity and determination that defined the EDSA movement nearly four decades ago.
They ended their appeal with a challenge: “Will we remain passive in the face of oppression, or will we rise as a prophetic voice for justice and righteousness? The spirit of EDSA is alive whenever we choose to act in faith, speak truth to power, and build a nation where justice and peace reign.”
