Herons’ Plea on Democracy: Students’ Power vs. SJC Policy
The voice of the people’s power will always be louder than that of those people in power. The commemoration of EDSA Revolution isn’t just about the dictatorship of Marcos Sr. Administration, but also a reminder of the fight for democracy of the Filipino people– one that continues in different forms today.
Thirty-nine years ago in February 1986, thousands of Filipinos marched along EDSA—fearlessly fighting against the dictatorship of the Marcos administration. It was a massive rally calling out the endless killings and injustices experienced by the Filipino people who fought against the administration. Media outlets were silenced and controlled by the cronies to make the news in favor of them. In the end, the people’s power ousted the Marcos administration.
A similar fight for democratic rights happened at the University of Makati (UMak). The recent issue of the 2025 Plebiscite Participation Policy of the UMak Student Judicial Council (SJC) sparked heated conversation and political discourse among the UMak community. The root of public outcry originated from the idea of the policy wherein students are required to vote in the plebiscite to access their Report of Grades.
Following the strong opposition from the UMak community, the SJC revoked its policy, stating that they were ‘officially rescinding the imposed consequences and ensuring that the plebiscite remains an exercise of free and voluntary student suffrage.’
Looking into the situation, the voice of the students moved the motion by calling out the higher-ups to rectify the said policy, similar to what happened in the EDSA People Power Revolution movement in 1986. As the saying goes, the voice of the people will always be louder than people in power.
After the call for action, the policy was revoked and the student leaders responded to the concerns of the UMak community. However, questions from the students still arise asking why and how the policy was approved.
History has shown that silence enables injustice; hence, we should never forget. A famous movie line from Alone/Together (2019) says, “Our history is tragic, but no matter how tragic the past is, we must not forget. We must never forget. To forget is to deny the present any significant meaning.”
As students of the University of Makati, we should never cease calling out and be vigilant against unjust systems within our community. It is our right to exercise free speech and suffrage without fear of suppression. The administration may have tried to silence the press, but as campus journalists, we will remain steadfast in delivering the news, for our commitment to truth must remain unshaken. We stand with the students and the community.
The People’s Power Revolution will always remind us that the voice of the masses matters. No attempt to revise history or remove it from national holidays can erase the truth. We must #NeverForget the injustices, the endless killings, the silenced journalists, the desaparecidos, and the people who enabled a dictatorship.
The revocation of the plebiscite policy proves that when we stand together, we can make a difference.
Written by: Mary Jen E. Baer
