Monday, February 25, 2019



EDSA People Power Revolution

   The People Power Revolution was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in the capital city of Manila from February 22–25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and alleged electoral fraud.There was a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and alleged electoral fraud. The nonviolent revolution led to the departure of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the end of his 21-year presidential rule, and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.

   The Philippines was praised worldwide in 1986, when the so-called bloodless revolution erupted, called EDSA People Power’s 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 Marcos’s 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 Power’s Revolution.



   Today, February 25, marks the 33rd anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolutionthe peaceful movement that has ended within the two-decade rule of the known strongman of the Philippines, Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos. He ruled as a dictator under martial law from 1972 until 1981. His Presidential Term started on December 30, 1965 until February 25, 1986.

Why should young Filipinos should care about the Martial Law?

Young Filipinos should care about the Martial Law, for them to have an enough information or knowledge about what really happened in the year of 1986 and what is the real meaning of "Martial Law" and how the Filipinos cope with it or how they have experienced it.  My family told me about the curfews, all the protests that is rocking almost like everyday in the streets around in University of Santo Tomas, and they also told me going to EDSA during the peaceful revolt, and the start of rising of Corazon Aquino to the presidency which held to shed many tears of joy. Most of the teenagers nowadays doesn't even know the meaning of EDSA if you we're to ask me if what EDSA stands for, it stands for Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue, it  might have been named "Avenida 19 de Junio" if it we're not for the unbending determination of Filipinos intellectuals in 1958. These are the reasons why young Filipinos should know or care about the Martial Law that happened in the year of 1986 because obviously their relatives/family have experienced it and they don't have any idea what happened to them in 1986 and how did they survive through all that. The EDSA People Power Revolution is one of the most memorable event that happened in the Philippine's History, and that is why it is important for us to know what truly happened under the iron hands (kamay na bakal) of Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos through the 21 years of his Presidential Term and how he treated the Philippines miserably that the Filipinos had hardly suffered from.



Here's a footage of what really happened in the People Power Revolution in 1986:







Source:
http://www.philippine-history.org/edsa-people-power-revolution.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K2wEuotFFI
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/104927/edsa-greatest-filipino-genius-after-rizal