EDSA People Power Revolution

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.

The first EDSA ‘‘People Power’’ revolution is represented as the most important event in Filipino history,
but its legacy to the current Filipino political system is mixed. Contrary to what might be hoped, a measure
of belief in the ‘‘People Power’’ of EDSA I was not an independent predictor of either participation or
participation intentions in social protest movements. Rather, it was a measure of historical fatalism, or
belief that EDSA and similar social movements are an ineffective means of reducing corruption in
government that was a significant negative predictor of passive behavioral participation in the EDSA II
movement that unseated President Estrada, and a significant negative predictor of active participation
intentions to unseat President Arroyo (his successor). It is interpreted that it is in lack of cynicism, not faith
about the effectiveness of People Power that is the more powerful interpretation of EDSA that motivates
social movement participation; or alternatively, passivity in the face of the frequent abuses of power by
elites in the Filipino political system is anchored in historical fatalism about the ability of the people to
produce genuine change. It may be fair to say that the Filipino people seem fed up with their politicians,
with so many of the latter having serious allegations of corruption against them, but see few alternatives.
Soon after his ouster, Estrada began planning another run at the Presidency after receiving a Presidential
pardon from Arroyo for his previous sins; another previously convicted instigator was sitting on the Senate
(Gringo Honasan) and also contemplating a run at the Presidency. EDSA might be considered as an
historical symbol that depletes the ‘‘reservoir of support’’ for the Filipino government that itself has lost
efficacy in terms of Filipinos believing in social movement as a means of reducing corruption.