What you need to know about People Power Revolution
A PAGE FROM THE ANNALS OF HISTORY. Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net.
Probably one of the most controversial topics nowadays, the 1986 People Power Revolution (also knows as the EDSA Revolution) has been the longest-standing debates in Philippine history. Debates between Marcos supporters and detractors haven’t ceased, decades after the dictator was removed from power. This, however, does not take away the fact that the People Power Revolution remains the most successful nonviolent revolution that the world has seen.
Every year, the country commemorates this momentous event on the 25th of February with gatherings at various parts of the country. From re-enactments to free concerts, every organization has its own way of commemorating the occasion. There is no shortage of protests on this very day, with people seemingly using the day itself as a way of getting their message out. This 2016, the Philippine government has declared February 25, 2016 (Thursday) a special non-working holiday in observance of the 30th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution.
For anyone who’s not in the loop, here are the things you need to know about the People Power Revolution:
1. People Power Revolution is known by many names. Most of the world know People Power Revolution as it is, but it is also known as the “EDSA Revolution” (named after what was then known as Highway 54), “Yellow Revolution” (due to Ninoy Aquino’s comeback song Tie a Yellow Ribbon), “Bloodless Revolution” (as it was the first of its kind in human recorded history), and “1986 Philippine Revolution” (for those who want to toe the line).
2. Mass media took the biggest hit during Martial Law, and had its biggest resurgence after People Power. Almost every Marcos supporter will dispute this, but the former president had all media agencies closed right after declaring Martial Law in 1972. They were eventually reopened, but would operate under close (actual presence within their offices) scrutiny of the government. Once the dictator fled, the media had a field day.
3. The late Pres. Corazon Aquino, who was seen as the rallying point for everyone who joined the revolution on that faithful day, was not in EDSA on February 25. She was conducting her own protests in Cebu, which is why you should expect to see the President in Cebu on that day, or at least someone he has assigned.
4. The L hand symbol holds a second meaning for people who were either in the revolution or have studied it for a long time. It means laban or to fight.
5. Bayan Ko by Freddie Aguilar and Magkaisa by Virna Lisa Loberiza are the most iconic songs from the revolution. Click the links and you’ll know why.
6. While critics are quick to point out that the EDSA Revolution happened only in Manila (and that the rest of the country were not in sync), demonstrations were actually held in other parts of the country at the same time as the EDSA Revolution itself. It truly was a country-wide revolution.
7. Two monuments were built to commemorate the event: EDSA Shrine, also known as the Mary Queen of Peace Shrine (located at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue), and the People Power Monument (located at the corner of EDSA and White Plains Avenue). EDSA Shrine was completed in 1989, while the People Power Monument was built in 1993.
There are many more facts that you can get about People Power, like how it has been used to this day as a model for other nonviolent revolutions, or the fact that the country hasn’t learned from the lessons EDSA has given us. There’s also a change that’s been affecting the youth as of late, believing EDSA marked the end of what could have been the best time for the Philippines.
But we’ll leave those things for history to decide.
