PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION

The People Power Revolution (otherwise known as the EDSA Revolution) was a non-violent movement of united Filipino citizens led by Corazon Cory Aquino, which led to the overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos and Cory Aquinos ascendancy to the presidency. The revolution revived Philippine democracy and evoked a feeling of nationalism and unity in the nation. For five days in February 1986 (February 21-25), millions of Filipinos gathered on the Ortigas Avenue intersection of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Metro Manila to overthrow their dictator of more than 20 years, Ferdinand Marcos, who had held power of the Philippines under martial law. For many foreigners, the nearly bloodless EDSA Revolution was seen as a historic triumph. But Filipinos saw themselves shedding centuries of shameful legacies of successfully fighting back against centuries of colonial control and governmental cruelty . For the first time, poor Filipinos and rich Filipinos, Communists and Church leaders, classes which would never have associated in the past, gathered together in national unity and put their lives at stake to fight for a common cause. A series of events including Marcos declaration of martial law and the assassination of Marcos main opposition leader sparked the beginnings of the revolution but it was not until the dishonesty of the 1986 Philippine Presidential Elections was discovered that the movement really began its force. The result of the revolution came when Aquino assumed the presidency and Marcos and his wife, Imelda, fled the Philippines. The peaceful EDSA Revolution was able to achieve two things. The prevention of violence breaking out between the divided Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the stepping-down from power by Ferdinand Marcos as he accepted that he had indeed lost the 1986 Philippine Presidential Elections to Cory Aquino. All over the world, people rejoiced and congratulated Filipinos they know. Almost overnight, the Philippines became a source of inspiration and admiration to the world.

Jumar L. Vidal

Reaction: The revolution is a story about an economically poor government; a poverty-stricken nation; and a corrupt dictators nearly bloodless ousting. The revolution was key in understanding the current state of the nation, as well as exhibiting factors that have led to the countries current economical state. While the events leading up to the revolution are by no means only responsible for the poverty of the Philippines, the nation is still recovering from the effects of the incidents preceding the revolution. The People Power Revolution takes place because of the government fails to meet the needs of its people. Also, because of the revolution democracy was finally restored. The Filipinos learned to valve the importance of unity. A new constitution was framed to conform to the needs of free Democratic nation.

Jumar L. Vidal