EDSAPeoplePower@31 Essay Contest

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. invites students in grades nine through twelve in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland to join an essay writing contest in line with the celebration of the 31st Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

Students from public, private, and parochial schools are eligible to join the contest. Entries from home-schooled students are also accepted.

The essay must address the question, “What does freedom mean to you?”

All submissions must be original work, in the English language, not more than 500 words in length, typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Arial with a one-inch margin on all sides of the page.

On a separate page, please write full name, grade level, name of school, telephone number, home address, and essay word count. Kindly note that the word count does not apply to cited sources.

Entries must be submitted as Word files to info@philippinesusa.org with EDSAPeoplePower@31 Essay Contest in the subject line.

The deadline for submission is 12:00 PM EST, 21 February 2017.

The winner will receive $200, a certificate of achievement, and the opportunity to meet the officials of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. The winning essay will be published on the Embassy’s website (www.philippineembassy-usa.org) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/philippinesusa) on 25 February 2017.

The EDSA People Power Revolution refers to a series of popular demonstrations that led to the end of the Marcos regime and to the restoration of democracy in the Philippines 31 years ago. The majority of the demonstrations took place on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, more commonly known by its acronym EDSA, in Metro Manila from February 22 to 25, 1986. 

The first peaceful uprising in history, the EDSA People Power Revolution not only restored democracy and supremacy of civilian authority in the Philippines, but also laid out for the world to see the best of the Filipino – peace-loving, courageous and compassionate. It served as an inspiration for similar movements in other countries. 

The theme of this year’s commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution is “A Day of Reflection: Celebrating People Power.”