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EDSA People Power Revolution

The EDSA People Power Revolution was a peaceful demonstration in 1986 that ousted President Ferdinand Marcos from power and restored democracy in the Philippines. Fed up after years of Marcos' oppressive rule, human rights abuses, and electoral fraud, Filipinos from all walks of life gathered along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue holding prayers and protests. With support from religious and military leaders withdrawing from Marcos, the people prevailed and Corazon Aquino was sworn in as the new president, marking the success of the non-violent pro-democracy movement.

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EDSA People Power Revolution

The EDSA People Power Revolution was a peaceful demonstration in 1986 that ousted President Ferdinand Marcos from power and restored democracy in the Philippines. Fed up after years of Marcos' oppressive rule, human rights abuses, and electoral fraud, Filipinos from all walks of life gathered along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue holding prayers and protests. With support from religious and military leaders withdrawing from Marcos, the people prevailed and Corazon Aquino was sworn in as the new president, marking the success of the non-violent pro-democracy movement.

Uploaded by

iris
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© © All Rights Reserved
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EDSA People Power Revolution

The Philippines was praised worldwide in 1986, when the so-called bloodless revolution
erupted, called EDSA People Powers Revolution. February 25, 1986 marked
a significant national event that has been engraved in the hearts and minds of every
Filipino. This part of Philippine history gives us a strong sense of pride especially that other
nations had attempted to emulate what we have shown the world of the true power of
democracy. The true empowerment of democracy was exhibited in EDSA by its successful
efforts to oust a tyrant by a demonstration without tolerance for violence and bloodshed.
Prayers and rosaries strengthened by faith were the only weapons that the Filipinos used to
recover their freedom from President Ferdinand Marcoss iron hands. The Epifanio de los
Santos Avenue (EDSA) stretches 54 kilometers, where the peaceful demonstration was held
on that fateful day. It was a day that gathered all Filipinos in unity with courage and faith to
prevail democracy in the country. It was the power of the people, who assembled in EDSA,
that restored the democratic Philippines, ending the oppressive Marcos regime. Hence, it
came to be known as the EDSA People Powers Revolution.

The revolution was a result of the long oppressed freedom and the life threatening abuses
executed by the Marcos government to cite several events like human rights violation since
the tyrannical Martial Law Proclamation in 1972. In the years that followed Martial Law
started the suppressive and abusive yearsincidents of assassination were rampant,
particularly those who opposed the government, individuals and companies alike were
subdued. The Filipinos reached the height of their patience when former Senator Benigno
"Ninoy" Aquino, Sr. was shot and killed at the airport in August 21, 1983, upon his return
to the Philippines from exile in the United States. Aquinos death marked the day that
Filipinos learned to fight. His grieving wife, Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino showed the Filipinos
and the world the strength and courage to claim back the democracy that Ferdinand Marcos
arrested for his personal caprice. Considering the depressing economy of the country,
Ninoys death further intensified the contained resentment of the Filipinos. In the efforts to
win back his popularity among the people, Marcos held a snap presidential election in
February 7, 1986, where he was confronted with a strong and potent
opposition, Corazon Aquino. It was the most corrupt and deceitful election held in the
Philippine history. There was an evident trace of electoral fraud as the tally of votes were
declared with discrepancy between the official count by the COMELEC (Commission on
Elections) and the count of NAMFREL (National Movement for Free Elections). Such blatant
corruption in that election was the final straw of tolerance by the Filipinos of the Marcos
regime. Thedemonstration started to break in the cry for democracy and the demand to
oust Marcos from his seat at Malacaang Palace. The revolt commenced when Marcos'
Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and the Armed Forces Vice-Chief of Staff command
of Fidel V. Ramos, both withdrew their support from the government and called upon the
resignation of then President Marcos. They responsibly barricaded Camp Crame and Camp
Aguinaldo and had their troops ready to combat against possible armed attack organized by
Marcos and his troops. The Catholic Church represented by Archbishop Jaime Cardinal
Sin along with the priests and nuns called for the support of all Filipinos who believed in
democracy. Radyo Veritas aired the message of Cardinal Sin that summoned thousands of
Filipinos to march the street of EDSA. It was an empowering demonstration that aimed to
succeed peacefully with the intervention of faith. Nuns kneeled in front of tanks with
rosaries in their hands and uttering their prayers.

With the power of prayers, the armed marine troops under the command of Marcos
withdrew from the site. Celebrities expressed their support putting up a presentation to
showcase the injustices and the anomalies carried out by the Marcos administration. Finally,
in the morning of February 25, 1986, Corazon Aquino took the presidential oath of
office, administered by the Supreme Court Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee at Club
Filipino located in San Juan. Aquino was proclaimed as the 11th President of the
Republicof the Philippines. She was the first lady president of the country. People rejoiced
over their victory proving the success of the EDSA Peoples Power Revolution, the historic
peaceful demonstration. Although in 2001, there was an attempt to revive People Power in
the efforts to oust then President Joseph Estrada, it was not as strong as the glorifying
demonstration in 1986. The bloodless, People Power Revolution in EDSA renewed the power
of the people, strengthened the meaning of democracy and restored the democratic
institutions of government. Continue to the 5th Republic (1986) up to
the Present Time.

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