Cartoon by: Jairus Kristan Samudio
Published by: John Kurt Gabriel Reyes
Date Published: February 25, 2024
Time Published: 9:01 PM
Revolutions, which typically happen during times of oppression, usually begin with good reasons and righteous intentions. The Philippine People Power Revolution that happened on February 25, 1986, in Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) was no exception to this widely known fact.
Justice. Freedom. Democracy. National Sovereignty and Equality: These are just five out of the many things that Filipinos fought for exactly 38 years ago in EDSA, Metro Manila.
The Philippine EDSA People Power Revolution has been widely known and recognized in many countries as a symbol of the resiliency and integration of Filipinos in the face of abuse and oppression. The people's rage and dissatisfaction with the dictatorial administration, which was willing to use force against its own citizens, whom it should be protecting, just to achieve its goals and greedy objectives, led the four-day-long protest full of resistance and opposition against the governance of formerly President Marcos to happen. However, in the current year of 2024, it seems like many people have already forgotten why this revolution started in the first place. So, as to freshen its importance in your minds, let us find out today what exactly happened during this revolution and why we, Filipinos, are still honoring it, even after 38 years later.
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February 22, 1986, marked the day when the People's Power Revolution properly started. During that time, in order to discuss the result of the recent elections and the current state of politics in the Philippines, President Marcos met with US Ambassador Stephen Bosworth and Philip Habib, the personal envoy that was appointed by US President Ronald Reagan, to have a meeting.
Juan Ponce Enrile and Lieutenant General Fidel V. Ramos took advantage of Marcos' absence and promptly proceeded to Camp Aguinaldo to declare their separation and opposition to the administration of Marcos. Then, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, in order to gather support for Enrile and Ramos as they were strengthening their defenses in the camp, went on Radyo Veritas to encourage the Filipino citizens that have been listening to the radios all over the country to support Enrile and Ramos.
The news of the opposition of the two against the Marcos administration gathered a huge crowd and resulted in the start of a series of protests along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Metro Manila.
The protests were sparked by the allegations of electoral fraud or vote rigging in the presidential election that supposedly happened on February 7, 1986, in which President Ferdinand Marcos was declared the winner. Thousands of Filipinos, including civilians, military personnel, and even religious groups, gathered along EDSA to demand Marcos' resignation in order to restore democracy, with Enrile and Ramos leading the protests.
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On February 23, 1986, due to the encouragement of many officials who had long since turned their backs on the Marcoses, the protesters continued to grow in size, with more Filipinos joining the protests and rallies along EDSA.
People from all over the country, including students, civilians, and ordinary citizens, participated in the nonviolent resistance and protest against Marcos' administration. Thousands and thousands of people surrounded and circled around Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame.
Due to the alarming growth in the population of the protestors, Marcos ordered General Artemio Tadiar to position tanks and Marine battalions directed at the protestors that have been swarming in EDSA. He did this in hopes that the protestors would be threatened; however, the exact opposite of what Marcos expected happened.
The protestors, or the Filipinos rather, who have been long determined to restore peace and democracy in the Philippines, formed human-like barricades in order to block the path of the tanks. This very brave action by the protestors eventually led Marcos to order General Artemio Tadiar to temporarily stop positioning tanks along the EDSA in Metro Manila.
It turns out that despite the numerous desperate attempts that have been made by the Marcos administration to suppress the uprising, which included the use of military power— did nothing but fuel the motivation of the protestors more to achieve a country free from oppression and abuse of power.
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On February 24, 1986, the revolution reached an important turning point when President Ronald Reagan told his U.S. secretary, George Shultz, to deliver the message “His time is up,” to the former President, Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
This message, which concluded on which side the US president is supporting, did not make former President Marcos waver. Instead, he stood strong and promised that he would wipe out all of the rebels that were against the government of the Philippines—by this, he meant the Filipino citizens that have been protesting along EDSA in Metro Manila since February 22, 1986.
In order to stay true to his words, Former president Ferdinand Marcos senior ordered Major General Josephus Ramas to plan and launch an enormous attack On EDSA using tear gas, guns, and jets— an attack equivalent to harming thousands of Filipinos who are protesting against his administration.
Thankfully, the news of the attack was leaked and Enrile and Ramos had time to prepare for this unexpected attack: The two asked the civilians on who would want to volunteer to be the frontliner fighters, many civilians who are part of the reinforcements volunteered and immediately prepared for the battle even though they were still astonished by the sudden news a a bit fearful as to what would possibly happen.
However, contrary to what the civilian reinforcements expected, due some kind of a miracle, soldiers that has been tasked on to eliminate the protestors refused to fire their guns. According to some people who witnessed the revolution first-hand, some protesters have even given flowers to the soldiers, and the soldiers accepted it peacefully.
After that eventful afternoon on EDSA, in the evening, following the remarks that has been made by President Ronald Reagan in the morning, the U.S Government officially declared their support for corazon aquino for presidency.
Despite the obvious loss of power, former President Ferdinand Marcos still made an appearance on local television, where he stated that he and his whole family were ready for anything that could possibly happen, which implies that he still refused to give up his power and would proceed with his inauguration.This appearance made by him just made the protestors in EDSA more eager than ever to overthrow Marcos in his seat.
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On this significant and historical day, two inaugurations occurred at the same date and time. On the morning of February 25th, at 10:46 a.m., former President Corazon Aquino took the oath and swore to bring back the long-lost democracy of the Philippines in front of many hopeful Filipinos' who fought for her inauguration to happen in San Juan, the office of the President of the Philippines.
In the course of her inauguration, the crowd suddenly started to sing “Bayan Ko”, a song that has been considered an anti-Marcos anthem by many Filipinos. Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel V. Ramos, as one of the leading figures that started the revolution, sang along with the crowd as the inauguration came to an end.
Despite the obvious loss of power, former President Ferdinand Marcos still made an appearance on local television, where he stated that he and his whole family were ready for anything that could possibly happen, which implies that he still refused to give up his power and would proceed with his inauguration.This appearance made by him just made the protestors in EDSA more eager than ever to overthrow Marcos in his seat.
Shortly after Corazon Aquino's inauguration, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. eventually began his own inauguration ceremony; however, as soon as he raised his hand to take the oath of office, the television transmitter was suddenly taken down, which caused the live coverage of his inauguration to be cut off. It was later on revealed that the cause of this sudden live coverage cutoff was the rebel soldiers who found the respective studios of the channel stations that were involved.
Just a few hours later, after Imee Marcos, the spouse of the former president, negotiated with her friend who works in the U.S. Embassy for assistance, the whole Marcos family fled from the country, thus ending his 20-year-long reign as president of the Philippines. Celebrations all over the streets broke out once the news of Marcos' stepping down from his seat reached the ears of many Filipinos.
That day, not just the people who participated in the peaceful protest but also those who supported them silently rejoiced, celebrated, and regained their hope for our country. Some protestors near the MalacaΓ±ang Palace even attempted to enter the palace to vandalize it with the intention of sending a message to the Marcoses that even with their immense political power, the citizens of an oppressed country with the goal of freeing their homeland will always prevail. However, just as these protestors could enter the palace, the men of Fidel V. Ramos had already secured the whole area, preventing them from entering it further.
After the failed infiltration, the protestors made their way into the streets of Manila while celebrating. They were holding several drums, pictures of Corazon Aquino, signage, and trumpets as they walked by the streets, with obvious happiness showing in their faces.
With that, the beginning of a new era full of hope started, and the long-lost democracy and freedom of the Philippines was reclaimed.
REFERENCES:
[1] Telen, N. (2023, February 24). TIMELINE : EDSA People Power Revolution 1 - Toppling a Dictator.https://amaranth.vsu.edu.ph/feature/26-people-events/433-timeline-edsa-people-power-revolution-1-toppling-a-dictator
[2] Amnesty (2022, July 22). Edsa People Revolution.https://www.amnesty.org.ph/2022/07/protestph-edsa-revolution/
[3] Sanchez, M. (2021, February 24). The People Power Revolution, Philippines 1986.https://origins.osu.edu/milestones/people-power-revolution-philippines-1986?language_content_entity=en
[4] Tomacruz, S. (2024, February 22). In 1986, the Philippines’ People Power was world’s bright spot.https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/people-power-philippines-world-bright-spot-1986/
[5] Gunasera-Rockwell, A. (February 22, 2023). Today in History: The 1986 People Power Revolution in the Philippines.https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/today-history-1986-people-power-revolution-philippines
[6] Martinez, M. (2022, February 25). People Power Revolution: Looking back and why we should never forget 1986.https://www.sbs.com.au/language/filipino/en/podcast-episode/people-power-revolution-looking-back-and-why-we-should-never-forget-1986/q71f1soz1
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