Why the Celebration of the People Power Revolution in the Philippines Still Matters Today

The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution, was a historic event that occurred in the Philippines in 1986. It was a peaceful mass protest that resulted in the end of the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy in the country. The revolution was sparked by widespread discontent with the Marcos regime, which was marked by human rights abuses, corruption, and economic mismanagement. The peaceful nature of the revolution and the unity of the Filipino people in their call for change were key factors in its success.

The celebration of the People Power Revolution serves as a reminder of the importance of democracy and the sacrifices made to achieve it. It is a time to honor the memory of those who fought for freedom and to reflect on the lessons of the past. The revolution was a turning point in Philippine history, marking the end of a dark period of authoritarian rule and the beginning of a new era of freedom and democracy.

However, the fact that the son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is now the president of the Philippines may lead to differing opinions on the significance and value of the People Power Revolution today. Some may argue that the election of Marcos Jr. is a step backward and that the country is at risk of returning to the same type of authoritarian rule that existed under his father's regime. Others may see it as a sign of forgiveness and a move forward, as the country has not seen any major human rights violations under his rule.

It's important to note that the People Power Revolution was not only a political event, it was also a social and cultural one. It was a moment when the Filipino people came together to demand change and assert their rights as citizens. It was a time when the people stood up for what they believed in and refused to be silenced by fear. The revolution was a powerful expression of the Filipino spirit and resilience.

Furthermore, the People Power Revolution should be celebrated as a reminder of the importance of civil society in promoting democracy and good governance. The role of civil society in the revolution was crucial in uniting the people, raising awareness of the issues, and providing support to the opposition. Today, civil society organizations play a significant role in monitoring government actions and holding elected officials accountable.

Celebrating the People Power Revolution is still significant and has value today. It serves as a reminder of the importance of democracy and the sacrifices made to achieve it. The revolution was a turning point in Philippine history, and it should be celebrated as a reminder of the strength of the Filipino people and the power of peaceful protest. The fact that the son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos is now the president of the Philippines may lead to differing opinions on the significance and value of the People Power Revolution. Still, it should not detract from the importance of the event and the lessons it holds for the future of the country.

Democracy in the Philippines: A Brief Overview

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian country located in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is a democratic republic, which means that it is a country ruled by the people through their elected representatives. 

The Philippines has a long and complex history of democracy. The country was a Spanish colony for over 300 years, and it was only in the late 19th century that an independence movement began to emerge. In 1898, the Philippines declared its independence from Spain, and the following year, the United States acquired the Philippines as a territory.

Under American rule, the Philippines underwent a period of political and economic modernization. The American government introduced a new constitution in 1935, which established a representative democracy with a bicameral legislature and an independent judiciary.

The Philippines gained its full independence in 1946, and since then, the country has gone through several periods of democratic and authoritarian rule. In the 1950s and 1960s, the country experienced a period of political stability and economic growth, but this was followed by a period of political instability and economic decline in the 1970s.

In the 1980s, the Philippines underwent a period of authoritarian rule under the regime of Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos was overthrown in a popular uprising known as the "People Power Revolution" in 1986. The new Philippine Constitution, which was adopted in 1987 after the revolution, establishes the country's democratic system of government and the country's return to democratic rule.

Under the Philippine Constitution, the government is divided into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. The executive branch is headed by the President of the Philippines, who is elected by the people through a popular vote. The legislative branch is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which are responsible for making laws. The judiciary is the branch of government that interprets laws and resolves disputes.

The Philippine democratic system is based on the principle of checks and balances, which ensures that no branch of government becomes too powerful. This is important because it helps to prevent corruption and abuse of power.

Despite its long history of democracy, the Philippines has faced many challenges over the years. One of the biggest challenges is the presence of political dynasties, which are families that have been in power for generations. These political dynasties often have a stranglehold on the government, making it difficult for new and independent voices to be heard.

Another challenge to democracy in the Philippines is corruption. Corruption is the abuse of public office for private gain, and it is a widespread problem in the country. This can take many forms, from bribery and embezzlement to nepotism and cronyism. Corruption undermines the rule of law and hinders economic development, making it a major challenge to democracy in the Philippines.

Despite these challenges, the people of the Philippines remain committed to democracy. They continue to exercise their right to vote and participate in the political process. They also hold their elected officials accountable through protests, elections, and other means.

In conclusion, democracy in the Philippines has a long and complex history. The country has faced many challenges and opportunities in its journey toward a more inclusive and democratic society. While there is still much work to be done, the Philippines has made significant strides in strengthening its democratic institutions and protecting the rights of its citizens. It is up to the Filipino people to continue to defend and strengthen their democracy.

Our Love of Democracy

We celebrate 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution every year to commemorate our recovery of democracy from the Martial Law imposed by the late President Marcos in the 21th day of September 1972. We often reminisce how our countrymen gather together in EDSA to protest and to remove dictator from the office. Every year local TV channels are airing a documentary programs that tells the success of the what we so-called peaceful revolution. Almost 41 years ago today, the spirit of democratic ideals and our love for democracy is still life a wild-fire that burning our heart. They say it was a successful political reformation and rehabilitation, but is it? Yes, the succeeding administration changes all officials but it doesn’t last long. Today, same old names can be seen our government and those who was rid during the Cory Administration successfully back into action.

The 1986 EDSA PPR is not really a successful paradigm shift, but the Martial Law is. When Marcos announced to the public the Proclamation No. 1081, the whole Philippine Archipelago was under Martial Law. Few weeks later, the new draft of the constitution that contains almost everything that the late president wanted including the right to legislate for the duration of the emergency, that emergency lasted long enough to become the New Society. The newly implemented constitution was amended to enable the president to continue issuing presidential decrees that intended to reform the Philippine Society. It was known as the “Bagong Lipunan” movement that aimed to modernize the Philippines.

The Catholic Church and the US Government is silent during that time. That was the church way of disclaiming any participation and association to its members that joins in growing number of protesters. The US government seems to be in favor to the Martial Law due to its silence.

It was during the Martial Law, series of major changes in our foreign policies was implemented. Greater liberalization of foreign investments was made and implemented that would let foreign investors to establish their business inside the country easily. After the expiration of Laurel-Langley agreement, the supreme court ordered the turn-over of American nationals own lands to the Filipinos as part of the reforming the Philippine society.

In short, Martial Law was born in a society that was thought to be resistant to authoritarianism. Martial Law made a great impact to us that strengthen our love of democracy. We may be a victim of the abuses that have been done during that what we called dark years of our country, but it serves as a bridge to have a true meaning of paradigm shift, that was not really happened after EDSA revolution, that was simply disregarded as we became paranoid to protect our democracy.

We always think that authoritarianism was bad and abusive but we forgetting the simple truth that democracy may not be felt by the majority of the people living in poverty line as it in favors to the well-off citizens and the few elites who ran the economy.

Martial Law is now part of history, as well as what we so-called Peaceful Revolution” the 1986 People Power.  Both have a great contribution to our history but were the People Power really succeeds to get its primary goals in resetting our Political System?