VOICES

At Keys School Manila, commemorating the EDSA People Power Revolution is not just about observing a special working holiday–it is an opportunity to connect our students with their nation’s powerful history of peaceful resistance and democratic renewal.

"I have always remembered since my first year in Keys that kids are much wiser and knowledgeable than we give them credit for," shares Teacher Juano Santos, a Grade 1 Social Studies educator at our school. Rather than shying away from these conversations, Keys embraces them as essential learning moments. Teacher Juano explains, "I've always been taught that kids are clever and if you can master the language of understanding concepts and breaking down these ideas, you can have fruitful discussions that lead them to meaningful learning... that is how I have meaningful discussions with my students when it comes to something heavy and serious that is based on real life such as the EDSA People Power."

Our commemoration activities focus on making this historical milestone accessible and meaningful for young learners. We've developed several approaches that resonate with children:

1. Family Storytelling: We create opportunities for intergenerational learning by inviting family members to share their EDSA experiences. By bringing parents and grandparents into the classroom to recount their personal stories, children discover their own family’s connection to this pivotal moment in Filipino history, making abstract historical events tangible and meaningful.

1. Literature as a Window to History: We carefully select age-appropriate Filipino literature like "The Magic Arrow," "Isang Harding Papel," and other works that present historical events in ways children can understand and relate to.

2. Interactive Activities: Since EDSA is a special working holiday, we dedicate this time to interactive learning such as engaging with short videos about the event, student letter writing or illustrations related to democracy and peaceful resistance.

In every activity, we emphasize how the EDSA People Power Revolution exemplifies Filipino values of bayanihan (community spirit), pakikipagkapwa-tao (relating with others), and kapayapaan (peace). By understanding these connections, students develop a deeper appreciation for their Filipino identity.

We believe that by connecting our students with their nation’s history in meaningful ways, we’re cultivating not just knowledgeable Filipinos, but empowered citizens who understand the power of peaceful collective action and the responsibility that comes with democracy. The spirit of EDSA lives on in each child who learns its lessons and carries them forward into the future.