Conejos, Jeorjeane Andrea F.

21-00026

The Contemporary World

The Repercussions of People Power Revolution

From February 22 to 25, 1986, the People Power Revolution, commonly known as the
EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of public rallies in the Philippines,
mostly in Metro Manila. Against regime violence and electoral fraud, there was a continuous
campaign of civil opposition. The nonviolent revolution resulted in Ferdinand Marcos' departure,
the end of his 20-year dictatorship, and the re-establishment of democracy in the Philippines.
(Ignacio, 1988)

Revolutions often do not erupt and resolve in a matter of days—but the events of February
1986 forever altered the course of our nation’s history; it showcased to the world the singular
strength of the Filipino people; of course, it naturally comes with its repercussions. Although there
are positive and negative outcomes created during the People Power Revolution, the light
repercussions overpower the latter because the revolution had a huge effect on democratization of
the Philippines, it ended a two-decade dictatorship from the Marcoses, the freedom of the press
was restored and the 1987 Constitution was adopted.

The People Power Revolution was neither peaceful nor bloodless. Although the Filipino
residents offered all their blood, sweat, and tears – the hoped-for democracy still managed to
prevail. The Philippines is the oldest democracy in Southeast Asia. The Philippines' journey to
democracy after the overthrow of the authoritarian administration in 1986 is marked by the
country's tenacity in the face of many backsliding episodes and ongoing adaptations in the face of
development and governance issues. (Atienza, 2011)

As democracy is in touch of the citizens’ hands, so as well the two-decade dictatorship held
by Ferdinand Marcos. Filipinos endured under authoritarian control for two decades, while Marcos
and his supporters benefited themselves by owning Philippine news and industrial outlets and
siphoning monies from US, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund loans. (Sanchez, 2021)
 Long before Marcos declared martial law, the People Power movement had been growing.
Dedicated activists in the Philippines, exile, and the diaspora worked relentlessly to spread word
of the Marcoses' human rights atrocities and ill-gotten wealth around the world. (Sanchez, 2021)

Marcos claimed victory in the snap election in 1985. This time, though, Filipinos refused
to accept this lie. On February 22, citizens took to the streets on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue
(EDSA). Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Archbishop of Manila, called upon Filipinos to support the
peaceful protests. When Marcos ordered the military to arrest detractors, Cardinal Sin called upon
the people to shield them. The Catholic radio organ, Radio Veritas, became a major control center
for protest communications during the People Power movement. (Sanchez, 2021)

Ever since the dictatorship was down, the freedom of the press was restored and the 1987
Constitution was adopted. The 1987 Constitution established a representative democracy with
power divided among three separate and independent branches of government: the Executive, a
bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary. In the article III section IV of the 1987 Constitution, it is
stated that “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press,
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of
grievances. ... No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof.” (Official Gazette, 2022)

The revolution restored the Filipinos' rights and liberties through the 1986 constitution,
which is currently the supreme law of the land. For more than 30 years, this core law allowed for
the peaceful transfer of power without any leader becoming a long-term tyrant. (Kanan, 2021)

People Power in EDSA was a culmination of sadness, based on the expectation of finally
overthrowing a corrupt dictatorship. To sum up, EDSA I or the People Power Revolution brought
some advancements to the Philippines: basic freedoms and rights were recovered and Filipinos
realized that yes, they can remove corrupts and dictators if they act united.

It's past time to acknowledge that EDSA People Power is a result of decades of uprising
by people deprived of freedom, democracy, and human rights, and that it is not so far distant from
the chain of events that strengthened and emboldened it.