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| One Feb. 25, 1986m thousands of Filipinos on EDSA Blvd. holding up their extended thumb and forefinger to form an "L" for L"aban" (Fight!) |
If he had his way, Philippine President Bong Bong Marcos would have the Filipino people forget the People Power revolution that kicked his family out of Malacanang Palace.
Last October Marcos Jr. issued issued Proclamation No. 368 which eliminated February 25t the anniversary of the bloodless revolution as a national holiday.
Critics say that it is Marcos' attempt to diminish what he previously said was one of the "darkest days" for his family when his father, the dictator Ferdinand Marcoswas, and his family fled from the People Power revolution in 1986.The only official mention of the anniversary was a proclamation from the National Historical Commission of the Philippine which issued a statement on Facebook.
Much of the protests took place on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue,the highway encircling Manila, giving the actions the name of the EDSA revolution.
“The EDSA People Power Revolution was a series of demonstrations from 22 to 25 February 1986. It was a civil resistance campaign against the regime of violence and electoral fraud. The peaceful revolution led to the departure of former President Ferdinand Marcos ending 20 years of dictatorship and restoring democracy in the country.” .
The Marcos family and their supporters have spent years and part of their ill-gotten fortune rewriting history of the 20 years spent under the Marcos dictatorship. The success of the disinformation campaign led to the election of Marcos, Jr. to the Philippine presidency two years ago.
In 2023, his first year in office, Bong Bong Marcos observed the anniversary, saying “I once again offer my hand of reconciliation to those with different political persuasions to come together as one in forging a better society – one that will pursue progress and peace and a better life for all Filipinos."
This year, there was no official statement from Malacanang.
“The EDSA People Power Revolution was a series of demonstrations from 22 to 25 February 1986. It was a civil resistance campaign against the regime of violence and electoral fraud. The peaceful revolution led to the departure of former President Ferdinand Marcos ending 20 years of dictatorship and restoring democracy in the country.” .
The Marcos family and their supporters have spent years and part of their ill-gotten fortune rewriting history of the 20 years spent under the Marcos dictatorship. The success of the disinformation campaign led to the election of Marcos, Jr. to the Philippine presidency two years ago.
In 2023, his first year in office, Bong Bong Marcos observed the anniversary, saying “I once again offer my hand of reconciliation to those with different political persuasions to come together as one in forging a better society – one that will pursue progress and peace and a better life for all Filipinos."
This year, there was no official statement from Malacanang.
It is a watershed moment in in Philippine history that should not be forgotten. For those of us in the United States, it was a moment of pride and visibility, knowing that Filipino presence in the US media was almost zero. The protestors in EDSA were our cousins, brothers, sisters, titos and titas.
READ: As editor of the Philippine News, I had a unique perspective of that day.
In the US it was Feb. 24. We watched on television, with baited breath, minute by minute, as the events occurred leading to the eventual Marcos family's departure.
Following is the Feb. 25 timeline (as reported on Wikipedia):
FEBRUARY 25, 1986
- 12:00 MN:
- Marcos loyalist soldiers fire through barbed wire barricades on Nagtahan Street, injuring several people.
- Some of Marcoses’ belongings are taken out of Malacañang.
- 3:30 AM: Marines rejoice as orders to attack Camp Crame are canceled.
- 3:45 AM:
- Airplanes carrying reinforcements ordered by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Fabian Ver head for Clark Air Base.
- The troops stay there for the duration of the revolt.
- 5:00 AM:
- On the phone to Washington, President Marcos asks US Sen. Paul Laxalt if he should resign. Laxalt's reply: “I think you should cut, and cut cleanly. The time has come.”
- Marcos tells Labor Minister Blas Ople, who is in Washington lobbying for the Marcos regime, that he is not stepping down because first lady Imelda Marcos does not want him to.
- 5:15 AM: Marcos gives the go-signal for his family to prepare to leave.
- 6:00 AM: Rebel soldiers advance towards the Broadcast City complex with hundreds of people with them, accompanied by a rebel S-76 helicopter
- 8:00 AM: People are called to guard Club Filipino in San Juan in case Marcos attempts to disrupt Aquino's inauguration as president.
- 10:00 AM: Aquino arrives at Club Filipino. Opposition lawyer Neptali Gonzales reads a resolution proclaiming her and former Sen. Salvador Laurel as duly elected President and Vice President.
- 10:46 AM:
- Aquino was sworn in as President by Senior Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee, and Salvador Laurel as Vice-President by Justice Vicente Abad Santos, at Club Filipino in San Juan.
- Aquino appoints Enrile as Defense Secretary and Ramos as AFP Chief of Staff.
- 11:45 AM: Marcos enters Malacañang's Ceremonial Hall for his own inauguration.
- 11:55 AM: Just as President Marcos addresses the crowds at Malacanang Palace, RPN-9, BBC Channel 2 and IBC-13 all sign-off as rebel soldiers capture the Broadcast City complex, transmitters and studios of said stations. The New TV-4 and GMA Network continue airing as usual. The President had just taken what would be his final inauguration oath of office beforehand.
- 3:45 PM:
- Loyalist soldiers try to ram down barricades set up at Tomas Morato and Timog Avenue in Quezon City, but people power prevails.
- On Nagtahan, pro-Aquino groups and loyalists coming from Marcos’ inauguration clash.
- 4:30 PM: Imee Marcos’ husband, Tommy Manotoc, relays the offer of US Brig. Gen. Ted Allen to use American helicopters or boats to move Marcos from the Palace.
- 5:00 PM:
- Marcos calls Enrile again to coordinate his departure from Malacañang.
- His aides start packing not only clothes and books but also boxes of money that have been stored in his bedroom since the start of the election campaign. Prime Minister Cesar Virata negotiates Marcos’ departure with Aquino.
- 6:30 PM: Imee and Irene Marcos plead with their father to leave Malacañang after he tells his remaining men that he has decided to die there.
- 7:00 PM:
- US Ambassador Stephen Bosworth asks Cory Aquino if Marcos can be allowed two days in Paoay, Ilocos Norte province, before heading abroad. To prevent possible regrouping of Marcos loyalists, Aquino refuses.
- In Malacañang, luggage are loaded on boats, which proceed to Pangarap golf course across Pasig River where US helicopters are to collect the Marcoses.
- 7:30 PM: The families of Ver and Eduardo Cojuangco motor to Clark Air Base in Pampanga province.
- 8:40 PM: A convoy of heavily secured vehicles makes a beeline for Clark.
- 8:45 PM: The Marcoses and other government officials board helicopters. Some of their possessions are loaded on the choppers.
- 9:05 PM: President Marcos and his family leave the Malacañang Palace and are now on Clark Air Base, Radio Veritas and The New TV-4 announced the departure. As news of their departure reaches the people, the millions who gathered at EDSA rejoice, since their departure sparks the conclusion of the revolution. Crowds already position along Mendiola Street, Recto Avenue and Legarda Street, having arrived there late in the afternoon to await the departure of the First Family and had already encountered the pro-Marcos crowd at Nagtahan earlier
- 9:20 PM: Within minutes of the announcement of the departure of the Marcos family, President Aquino makes her first ever live address to the nation as chief executive via Channel 4
- 9:30 PM: Remaining members of the presidential household and employees begin to pack up and leave the palace complex while the pro-Aquino crowds began to walk to the gates
- 9:45 PM: Marcos lands in Clark and is met by Bosworth. People in the area welcome him with chants of “Cory! Cory!”
- 9:52 PM: DZRH announces: The Marcoses have fled the country.
- 10:00 PM: US Air Force TV station FEN confirms Marcos’ departure.
- 11:30 PM: Pro-Aquino crowds force the opening of the Malacanang Palace gates, as they open thousands of Aquino supporters and participants of the revolution storm the palace complex with little resistance
Nuns stopping tanks. Girls giving flowers to the soldiers. Soldiers refusing to fire on the crowds. The phone calls to the White House. The shoes. What a day.
The next day, I remember the sun was shining in California. A reporter asked me how I felt. I responded, "See this smile? I can't stop smiling."
We will not forget. We must not forget!
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.
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