EDSA Revolution

EDSA Revolution
Name	EDSA Revolution
Native name	People Power Revolution
Caption	Crowds on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue during the 1986 People Power Revolution
Date	February 22–25, 1986
Place	Metro Manila, Philippines
Result	Ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos; installation of President Corazon Aquino

EDSA Revolution was a four-day mass uprising in February 1986 centered on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Metro Manila that led to the departure of President Ferdinand Marcos and the installation of Chief Justice Corazon Aquino as president. The event involved coordinated actions by dissident elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, religious leaders, civil society organizations, political parties, and international actors. It marked a pivotal turning point in contemporary Philippine history, triggering transitions in institutions such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Philippine Constabulary, and the Commission on Elections.

Background

The political environment in the lead-up to the uprising was shaped by the 1972 declaration of martial law under Ferdinand Marcos, years of opposition activism by figures like Benigno Aquino Jr. and organizations including the Lakas ng Bayan party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition, and the 1983 assassination of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Economic pressures from institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and creditors compounded domestic unrest amid reports of corruption tied to the Marcos family and the Crony capitalism network around the San Miguel Corporation and other conglomerates. Opposition alliances formed around Corazon Aquino, the Liberal Party (Philippines), socialist and communist groups including the Communist Party of the Philippines, and labour unions like the Kilusang Mayo Uno.

Timeline

Key pre-1986 developments included the 1985 snap election called by Ferdinand Marcos and contested by Corazon Aquino, with election monitoring by organizations such as NAMFREL and LENTE. The disputed February 7, 1986 election saw parallel tallies from the Commission on Elections and allegations of fraud reported by figures like Cardinal Jaime Sin and journalists from Philippine Daily Inquirer and Malaya (newspaper). From February 22 to 25, 1986, events unfolded rapidly: the defection of Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Lieutenant General Fidel V. Ramos; public appeals by Cardinal Jaime Sin; mass gatherings along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue; standoffs at Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame; and the eventual evacuation of Ferdinand Marcos to Hawaii facilitated by coordination with United States officials including representatives of the Reagan administration.

Causes and Participants

Participants included defectors from the Armed Forces of the Philippines such as Juan Ponce Enrile, Fidel V. Ramos, and other officers from the Philippine Constabulary; political opposition leaders like Corazon Aquino, Jose W. Diokno, and members of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino; religious figures including Cardinal Jaime Sin and leaders from the Iglesia ni Cristo and various Protestant denominations; civic groups such as Bayan, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and grassroots organizations including Kilusang Pro-Demokrasya; media outlets like ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer; and international actors including the United States Embassy in Manila and foreign media such as the BBC and The New York Times. Structural causes involved the contested 1986 snap election, graft allegations tied to the Marcos family, economic decline influenced by global commodity prices and debt service to institutions like the Asian Development Bank, and human rights reports by organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Key Events and Locations

Major locations included Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), Camp Crame, Camp Aguinaldo, Malacañang Palace, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and the Coconut Palace in Pasay. Notable events comprised the televised walkout and defection announcement by Juan Ponce Enrile at Camp Aguinaldo; the live radio and television broadcasts from Channel 4 (ABS-CBN) and GMA Network; mass prayers led by Cardinal Jaime Sin at Quiapo Church and the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene; the armored standoff involving units from the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy; civilian barricades and human chains preventing clashes; and the eventual departure of Ferdinand Marcos aboard Flight 811 bound for Clark Air Base and subsequent exile to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Political and Social Impact

The uprising precipitated the collapse of Marcos-era institutions such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Philippine National Bank leadership, and elements of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines that had aligned with the regime. It led to constitutional changes culminating in the 1987 Constitution drafted by the 1986 Constitutional Commission chaired by Cesar E.A. Virata and promulgated under President Corazon Aquino, which restructured the Supreme Court of the Philippines and abolished certain executive powers associated with the Marcos presidency. Socially, the event energized civil society movements including Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, labour federations like Sentro, student groups from the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, and cultural responses from artists associated with Sining Bayan and writers published in Liwayway (magazine). Internationally, it influenced policies of countries such as the United States, Australia, and members of the United Nations toward democratic transitions.

Aftermath and Legacy

In the aftermath, President Corazon Aquino initiated reforms including the release of political prisoners, the restoration of ABS-CBN frequencies, and the re-establishment of diplomatic ties with states and organizations like the European Economic Community and the Organization of American States. The legacy includes annual commemorations along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, the preservation of sites like Camp Crame as symbolic venues, historiographical debates involving scholars from Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines Diliman, and De La Salle University, and cultural representations in films such as "A Dangerous Life" and publications by journalists like Santos Felipe. The event remains central to discussions about civilian resistance exemplified by movements including People Power Revolution (1986) commemorations and has been cited in comparative studies of nonviolent transitions alongside the Velvet Revolution, the Orange Revolution, and the Saffron Revolution.

Category:People Power Revolution