The start of the democratic revolution
Time Magazine Article Cover of the Marcos-Aquino Election (barewalls.com)
After the Aquino assassination, people began to gather around Cory Aquino, Ninoy's wife, for opposition towards Marcos. Marcos called for a snap election against Aquino so that he could restore his reputation. After the election was held on February 7, 1986, both candidates declared that they won. The Roman Catholic Church declared that the election was a fraud since Marcos controlled the National Assembly, which decided the results.
The 1986 People's Power Revolution
Women giving flowers to soldiers (seasite.niu.edu)
After giving their loyalty to the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), a movement consisting of members giving their loyalty to the Philippine Constitution, Fidel Ramos (Vice-Chief of Staff) and Enrile made their way on EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) to reach Camp Aguinaldo, where the Ministry of Defense was. Millions of protestors started to join them to defend Camp Aguinaldo and Crame (the other camp across from Aguinaldo) and the marines were on their way, as explained in this quote:
"Now the commander of the Marines, Brigadier-General Tadiar, brought the tanks and armoured personnel carriers he had been mustering at Imelda's University of Lifecampus down to EDSA where they trundled towards Camp Crame, intending to ring it. This produced the most memorable demonstration of 'People Power" when the vehicles were brought to a halt by the crowds, by nuns kneeling in the road in front of the snorting monsters, holding up crucifixes as though to halt Count Dracula, by people climbing onto the tanks' turrets and giving flowers and cigarettes to the bemused young soldiers inside."
- James Hamilton-Paterson, "America's Boy", pg. 389-390
Marcos was in even bigger trouble when the US started to tell him to resign. US Senator Paul Laxalt talked to President Reagan and Secretary of State George Schultz and this is the conversation Laxalt and Marcos had:
" 'Mr. President, I'm not bound by diplomatic restraint. I'm talking only for myself. I think you should cut and cut cleanly. The time has come . [Here there was a long pause]. Mr. President, are you still there?' 'Yes, I'm still here,' came Ferdinand's voice. 'I am so very, very disappointed.' "
- Time Magazine March 10, 1986, qtd. in Hamilton-Paterson, pg. 392
Marcos finally gave up after protestors flooded his palace and was flown out of the Philippines to Guam and Hawaii at 9:05 PM. The dictator was finally out of the Philippines.
Interview with Dr. Aurelio Agcaoili
During the time of the People Power Revolution, Dr. Agcaoili was a young instructor at the University at Santo Tomas in Manila.
"What gave you the inspiration to revolt against the Marcos
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"What did you do in the 1986 People Power
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"Yes. Everybody was revolting. And it was the social force, the social energy that really pushed you into taking a part. So, it wasn't really my own volition, it was not my own decision alone, but I was simply collaborating, taking part with the rest of the people who were also at that time revolting." |
"I joined the contingent form the University at the time where I was teaching and I joined with our students. We went there, my students and I and other professors and other members of the Administration and we took part in that 4-day revolution. We practically stayed on the streets." |