Philippine Carmelites Mark 40th EDSA Anniversary with Call for Accountability

Marking the 40th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, the Philippine Carmelite Province of St. Titus Brandsma renewed its commitment to stand with the poor and denounce corruption, during its 5th Provincial Chapter at the Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila on February 25.

In a statement issued during the gathering, the Carmelite friars expressed alarm over what they described as a “troubling absence of integrity and accountability” among national leaders, amid fresh waves of corruption scandals that have gripped the country.

“Gathered as one body in fraternity, prayer, and reflection, we renew our commitment to live in the footsteps of Jesus Christ,” the statement read, linking their spiritual renewal to the historic anniversary of People Power.

Echoes of 1986

The religious order recalled its presence during the 1986 uprising that led to the ouster of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., as well as its solidarity with those who resisted human rights abuses during the martial law years.

“Just as we stood by the poor and oppressed during the dark years of martial law … and were present with the masses that assembled for the historic 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, which we commemorate today, we renew our resolve to reject corruption in all its forms,” the Carmelites said.

The peaceful revolt, widely regarded as a defining moment in modern Philippine democracy, restored democratic institutions after more than a decade of authoritarian rule.

Standing with the Marginalized

Drawing from their Carmelite charism rooted in the prophetic witness of St. Elijah, devotion to Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the example of their patron St. Titus Brandsma, a Dutch Carmelite priest who died in a Nazi concentration camp, the friars emphasized their mission to accompany those on the margins.

They highlighted indigenous peoples, farmers, workers, victims of injustice and human rights violations, migrant workers facing hardships abroad, and communities made vulnerable by natural disasters worsened by “the scourge of greed and corruption.”

“We continue to listen to the voices of our sisters and brothers on the margins,” the statement said, underscoring the Church’s preferential option for the poor.

Democracy a Continuing Task

While acknowledging the gains of the past four decades, the Carmelites stressed that democracy remains “a work in progress.”

They pledged to serve as “vessels of hope in prayer and in action,” committing themselves to pastoral and social engagement that allows “the last, the lost, and the least to experience God’s love amid suffering and difficulty.”

The province also joined calls for greater accountability and transparency in government and urged an end to entrenched political dynasties, which it described as part of a “self-perpetuating scourge” undermining democratic life.

As the nation remembers the spirit of People Power, the Carmelite friars said their observance goes beyond commemoration, calling instead for moral renewal in public life and sustained solidarity with the struggling masses.

“May justice and peace reign in our land,” the statement concluded.