By CESAR JOLITO III

Church leaders, faith-based organizations and sectoral groups in Bacolod City and parts of Negros Occidental will stage a unity march on Wednesday, February 25, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, underscoring renewed calls to confront poverty and corruption.

During a press briefing, Fr. Arman Onion of the One Negros Ecumenical Council and TAMA NA Negros said the march will highlight a collective message of unity against poverty and corruption, urging the public to take an active role in good governance.

The program will begin with a Holy Mass at 12:30 p.m. outside the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol, to be presided over by Patricio Buzon of the Diocese of Bacolod.

Participants will then proceed on a march through major streets near the Capitol before gathering for a program.

Organizers encouraged participants to wear white clothing as a symbol of the people’s struggle to cleanse government institutions of corruption.

Catholic schools across the province are also set to join the march.

Onion said member schools of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines have signified their participation, with classes suspended in participating institutions to allow students and staff to attend.

The groups said the commemoration of the February 25, 1986 uprising aims to connect the historic spirit of people power with present-day social concerns.

Meanwhile, Fr. Michael Cuenca of the Clergy for Good Governance cited a pastoral letter from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, encouraging dioceses nationwide to hold similar activities in recognition of the Church’s role during the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Aside from Bacolod, the dioceses in the cities of Kabankalan and San Carlos have also announced parallel commemorative activities within their jurisdictions, reflecting a province-wide observance of the historic milestone./CJ, WDJ