Today is the 34th anniversary of the People Power Revolution, also known as the Edsa Revolution. The peaceful revolt actually started on February 22, 1986, and culminated on February 25, after President Ferdinand E. Marcos fled the country.
Those were the heady four days of People Power marked by a sustained campaign of peaceful and nonviolent resistance against a despotic regime. It was a bloodless uprising, which toppled the 21-year rule of a tyrant and dictator.
The Edsa People Power was precipitated by a series of events as far back as August 21, 1983, the day when opposition icon, former Sen. Benigno S. Aquino, returned to the Philippines after years of exile in the United States. His murder stirred majority of the Filipinos from political stupor and passive acceptance of the oppressive regime for over two decades, foisted upon them by a tyrannical regime led by Marcos and his military cabal headed by Gen. Fabian Ver. This saw the beginning of mass demonstrations initially held in the Makati Commercial District, regularly conducted every Friday. These massive protests quickly multiplied in many other places, like Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and in many regions of the country. There was a regular Sunday run of protesters from Luneta to the Baclaran Church. The movement bred anti-establishment newspapers, like Malaya, Philippine Daily Inquirer and many others, which published articles critical of the ruling regime. The widespread mass actions were coupled by civil disobedience against the government. The protesters were led by such varied groups as the Unido, headed by Doy Laurel, ATOM organized by the martyr’s brother, Butch Aquino, PDP-Laban of Nene Pimentel, Liberal Party remnants, the labor groups and the Makati business groups, and a motley of opposition groups whose common aim was to oust Marcos and to restore democracy in the country. It was also called the Yellow Revolution because of the yellow t-shirts, ribbons, and banners worn or displayed by the participants. Unfortunately, the yellow tag has been used indiscriminately at present by the people who may be ignorant of its historical significance or by the very people and their minions whose pelf, power and privileges had been stripped by the yellow movement they now deride. The mounting disenchantment of the people and the growing unpopularity of the regime rocked by widespread protests and massive civil disobedience, resulted in the US putting a strong pressure on Marcos to conduct an election to heed the people’s clamor. The snap elections were conducted on February 7, 1986, with Cory Aquino running for president against Marcos. The Comelec declared Marcos the winner although the independent canvassing body, the Namfrel, had Aquino winning against Marcos. The snap elections were marred by massive electoral frauds documented by the Comelec canvassers who staged a walkout during the counting. After the Comelec had proclaimed Marcos the winner, Cebu Cardinal Ricardo Vidal issued a declaration that when “a government does not of itself freely correct the evil it has inflicted on the people then it is our serious moral obligation as a people to make it do so.” To those powerful words, Vidal also added: “Now is the time to speak up. Now is the time to repair the wrong…that depends fully on the people, on what they are willing and ready to do.” And the people proceeded to do what they were ready to do. And so there was Edsa People Power. The Reform the Armed Forces Movement led by Lt. Col. Gregorio Honasan II set into motion their coup attempt, which was discovered by Marcos and his military cohorts who ordered the plotters’ arrest, including then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile. They were urged to surrender and end their stupidity. Threatened with arrest, Enrile sought the help of then PC chief Fidel Ramos, who joined him in Camp Aguinaldo where the plotters were camped. Cardinal Sin and Butch Aquino lent their support and a mass of people gathered along Edsa to protect Enrile, et al. The rest is history.
The People Power, unprecedented in the annals
of history, was historic because in a Gandhi-like fashion, people through
sheer numbers ousted an abusive ruler from power without resorting to violence
and carnage. No wonder it was hailed around the world and was used by other
countries as template in dislodging their own tyrants. It was a victory not
only for the Filipinos, but also for all peace-loving citizens of the world who
disdain dictators. The Edsa revolt gave the world the concept of People Power
and added a new term in our lexicon. For those who took part in Edsa and
witnessed the transformation of the Filipinos from passive victims of
oppression by the ruling dictator to brave-hearted people undaunted by the
great perils they confront, Edsa was their finest moment. Around the
world, people celebrated the event with awe. CBS News correspondent Bob Simon
broadcasted: “We Americans like to think we taught the Filipinos democracy. Well,
tonight they are teaching the world.” And to those who seek to rewrite our
history, don’t rob our
nation of its proudest moments!