06/03/2026
The Joaquin Bernas Student Corps recently held a forum on February 27, 2026, at Justitia Hall of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law titled “EDSA Lives: A Continuing Struggle for Democracy.”
In the forum, Mr. Cleve Arguelles presented his research “Revisiting Authoritarian Nostalgia in Marcos Jr.’s Philippines,” examining how the current administration is often compared with the rule of his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., whose regime was marked by dictatorship and repression. Human rights lawyer and legislator Chel Diokno then reflected on “A Look Back at Martial Law from the Lens of a Human Rights Lawyer,” emphasizing how the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines dismantled democratic institutions and civil liberties while also giving rise to courageous legal defense movements such as the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) that fought state oppression. Finally, political analyst Prof. Richard Heydarian reminded the audience that democracy must extend beyond elections by strengthening civil society, the rule of law, and democratic institutions.
More than a commemoration of the People Power Revolution, it serves as a powerful reminder to law students that the rule of law is not merely a concept studied in textbooks, but a living safeguard that protects democratic institutions and individual freedoms. EDSA remains as a beacon of hope, and a reminder that truth and justice will prevail.
