1/C Figueroa, Reagan V.

SocSci 4
S4 MT Alpha – 13

“WEEK 13: The Revolutionary Government and Fifth Republic of the Philippines”

1. Trace the cause of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

The People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution, the Philippine

Revolution of 1986, EDSA 1986, EDSA I (pronounced as EDSA One or EDSA Uno)
and EDSA People Power) was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines,
mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22–25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign
of civil resistance against regime violence and alleged electoral fraud. The nonviolent
revolution led to the departure of Ferdinand Marcos, the end of his 20-year presidential
rule, and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.
It is also referred to as the Yellow Revolution due to the presence of yellow ribbons
during demonstrations (in reference to the Tony Orlando song) following
the assassination of Filipino senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. in August 1983 upon
his return to the Philippines from exile. It was widely seen as a victory of the people
against two decades of presidential rule by President Marcos, and made news
headlines as "the revolution that surprised the world".
The majority of the demonstrations took place on a long stretch of Epifanio de los
Santos Avenue, more commonly known by its acronym EDSA, in Metro Manila from
February 22–25, 1986. They involved over two million Filipino civilians, as well as
several political and military groups, and religious groups led by Cardinal Jaime Sin,
the Archbishop of Manila, along with Catholic Bishops' Conference of the
Philippines President Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu. The protests,
fueled by the resistance and opposition from years of governance by President Marcos
and his cronies, culminated with the absolute ruler and his family fleeing Malacañang
Palace to exile in Hawaii. Ninoy Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, was immediately
installed as the eleventh President as a result of the revolution.

2. Determine the factors for the establishment of the Aquino Revolutionary

Government.

Revolutionary Government
 Immediately after assuming the presidency, President Aquino issued
Proclamation No. 3, which established a revolutionary government. She
abolished the 1973 Constitution that was in force during martial law, and instead
promulgated the provisional 1986 Freedom Constitution, pending the ratification
 of a new Constitution by the people. This allowed Aquino to exercise both
executive and legislative powers until the ratification of the new Philippine
Constitution and the establishment of a new Congress in 1987.
 Aquino's new government was met with criticism from Defense Minister Juan
Ponce Enrile and Vice President Salvador Laurel, as well as constitutionalist and
retired Supreme Court Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma vehemently opposing the
move. "To declare her government “revolutionary” and abolish the Batasan
Pambansa was to behave no better than Dictator Marcos", Palma
said. Homobono Adaza, who brokered the opposition coalition, "when the United
Democratic Opposition (UNIDO) decided to support Cory for President, the
agreement with Cory was that the type of government of Marcos would be
continued, with Cory as ceremonial President, since everyone knew that Cory
had no knowledge of how to run the country, and Cory admitted this."  Enrile and
Laurel subsequently resigned from Aquino's government.

3. Find out how the 1986 Constitutional Commission was created.

1986 CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION

 The Constitutional Commission of 1986, created through Proclamation No. 9, s.
1986, was a body composed of 48 national, regional, and sectoral
representatives who collectively drafted the current Constitution of the
Philippines.
 To fast-track the restoration of a full constitutional government and the writing of
a new charter, President Aquino appointed 48 members of the 1986
Constitutional Commission (Con-Com), led by retired activist Supreme Court
Associate Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma. The Con-Com completed its final draft in
October 1986[9] On February 2, 1987, the new Constitution of the Philippines,
which put strong emphasis on civil liberties, human rights and social justice, was
overwhelmingly approved by the Filipino people. The ratification of the new
Constitution was followed by the election of senators and congress that same
year and the holding of local elections in 1988.