Remembering EDSA 1986
So many people have written about their experiences of the February 22-25, 1986 EDSA revolution, which is now popularly called “People Power” revolution.
I myself have my own story to tell, although it is not as exciting as those who went to heed the call of Cardinal Sin to go to EDSA to “protect” Chief of Staff Fidel Ramos and Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile.
I remember February 22, 1986 was a Saturday, and I was working overtime in the office together with my officemates. A week before that, President-elect Cory Aquino called for civil disobedience. My officemates and I were huddled, discussing the fearful uncertain times. What would happen to our country? We were hoping that then President Marcos would step down and acknowledge defeat in the recent snap elections. And then, outside the office, we heard commotions, so we looked out of the window, and surely, we saw many soldiers in full battle gear riding in tankers and heading towards EDSA.
The following morning, all the news was about the people and the nuns in EDSA. Noel Trinidad was telling the TV viewers to turn off their TV sets and join the people in EDSA. I also saw June Keithley and other celebrities like the Apo Hiking Society reporting about what was happening. Of course, I did not go, I could not leave my young children. It was my husband who went there.
When my husband came home, he told me about the festive atmosphere in EDSA, so much food being distributed by celebrities who blended themselves with the people in the streets.
EDSA People Power is indeed a miracle. It was God’s hand that made it a peaceful revolution.
Before EDSA I happened Cory Aquino & daughter Kris were in Cebu for a civil disobedience rally after that now infamous snap election. The snap election was the dictator Marcos' greatest blunder. I'm not sure if it was Ted Koppel who interviewed him at that time when he announced there was going to be a snap election just to prove to the world that democracy existed in the Philippines. Things happened so fast, we were all glued to our radio /tv sets awaiting the outcome of the defection of Minister Enrile & Gen. Ramos. We were happy when the first announcement of Marcos fall was wrongly announced, but dismayed that it was not true. When finally their departure was announced and people's entrance to Malacanang was shown on TV, we were jubilant. My husband & I couldn't help it, we rode on our motorcycle, went around the city to join in the jubilation in the streets. It was a relief to have the dictator out after more than 20 years of rule, part of it under Martial Law.Hopefully, EDSA I & People Power would not be in vain and relegated to oblivion. Ours was the first & only bloodless revolution at that time & the word People Power became a byword in the history of the world. We await with bated breath this new Presidency that took long in coming, hopefully, to institute reforms & bring this country to its feet and the glory that Ninoy Aquino and others before him fought for! (comment from Linda Cerna)
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