ACTIVITY #4

Subject: Readings in Philippine History

Name: ROBLES, LHYRA MAE S.

Instructor: Mrs. Mary Grace A. Castellon

IDENTIFY THE CONTEXT AND CONTENT USING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
HISTORICAL
EVENTS.
PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
CONTENT:

a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud.

The nonviolent revolution led to the departure of Ferdinand Marcos, the end of his 20-year
dictatorship and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.
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
The revolution had an effect on democratization movements in such countries
as Taiwan and South Korea; other effects include the restoration of the freedom of the press,
abolition of repressive laws enforced by the previous regime, the adoption of the 1987
Constitution, and the subordination of the military to civilian rule, despite several coup
attempts during Aquino's rule.
the revolution provided for the restoration of democratic institutions after 13 years of
totalitarian rule and these institutions has been used by various groups to challenge the
entrenched political families and to strengthen Philippine democracy.

CONTEXT:

Marcos and his family were forced to abdicate power and leave the Philippines. Many were
optimistic that the Philippines, finally rid of the dictator, would adopt policies to address the
economic and social inequalities that had only increased under Marcos’s twenty-year rule.
This People Power Revolution surprised and inspired anti-authoritarian activists around the
world.

Ferdinand Marcos had been president of the Philippines since 1965. After declaring martial
law in 1972, he suspended and eventually rewrote the Philippine constitution, curtailed civil
liberties, and concentrated power in the executive branch and among his closest allies.
Marcos had tens of thousands of opponents arrested and thousands tortured, killed, or
disappeared.

For two decades, Filipinos lived under authoritarian rule while Marcos and his allies
enriched themselves through ownership of Philippine press and industry outlets and through
the siphoning of funds from U.S., World Bank, and International Monetary Fund loans.

The People Power movement had been building since well before Marcos’s declaration of
martial law. Committed activists who organized underground in the Philippines, in exile, and
in the diaspora worked tirelessly to broadcast news of the Marcoses’ human rights violations
and ill-gotten wealth globally.

Date February 22–25, 1986 (3 days)

Location Philippines, primarily Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Metro Manila

 Assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983

Caused by
 Fraud during the 1986 snap presidential election
 Decades of oppressive and autocratic rule

Goals  Removal of Ferdinand Marcos from power

 Installation of Corazon Aquino as President

Resulted in
Opposition victory

 Ferdinand Marcos removed from office

 End of the Marcos regime
 Marcos Clan fled to Hawaii
 Start of the Fifth Republic
 Corazon Aquino becomes President

The People Power Movement serves us lessons. We can see the courageous solidarities and
coalitions that might mobilize against authoritarian restrictions on civil liberties. But we must
also look at the importance of finding ways to build anew and address the grievances and
injustices that have made such authoritarians so popular in the first place.
The EDSA protests in 1986 were a remarkable moment in Philippine history, a moment
filled with the sense of unlimited hope and possibility. And for those with democratic
dreams, it provides both a lesson and a warning for the battles ahead.