On February 25th, 1986, the People’s Power Revolution swept the Philippines. Millions of Filipinos took to the streets to stand up against the regime of Ferdinand Marcos. In one of the only successful, peaceful revolutions in history, the protestors forced Marcos to flee, freeing themselves from his dictatorship. February 25th was declared a national holiday, the EDSA People’s Power Anniversary. Today, almost forty years later, Ferdinand Marcos’ son, Marcos Jr, is attempting to rid the Philippines of the memory of the revolution, starting with erasing the anniversary from the national calendar. 

The Backstory

For two decades, Filipinos lived under the cruel and unjust rules of the regime of Ferdinand Marcos. And for two decades, they built up a powerful resentment towards him. Ferdinand Marcos came to power in 1965 when he was inaugurated to his first term of presidency. His presidency began with lies and corruption, where he claimed to be a war hero of the Philippines, which was later found to be fraudulent. Initially, he was relatively popular. He used foreign loans to foster infrastructure development. He was a persona of youth, and people trusted him. His false reliability helped him become one of the only presidents of the Philippines to be elected for a second term. Near the end of his second term, Communist parties, student-led demonstrations, and a Muslim separatist movement were rising in the Philippines. On September 23rd, 1972, at 7:17 p.m., Marcos responded to these “threats” by declaring martial law. His Presidency, and the livelihood of Philippine citizens, took an immediate and dark turn.

The period of martial law began widespread human rights violations at the hands of Marcos. He dissolved Congress, enabling him to be the president with no end to his term in sight. Over 70,000 cases of human rights abuse were recorded during his regime. His army tortured and murdered citizens and activists who opposed him. He shut down media outlets, and his administration began arresting citizens, journalists, and political leaders who opposed him. Most notably, Senator Benigno Aquino, a face of pro-democracy in the country. His arrest garnered international attention, raising awareness and criticism of the Marcos Regime worldwide. Internally, Aquino’s arrest gave rise to tensions between the Filipinos and Marcos. Unrest was growing in the Philippines, but it took a turning point when Senator Aquino was brutally assassinated by Marcos.  

“They had an open casket funeral for him. They didn’t clean up his wounds, so people could see the brutality of his murder caused by Marcos,” said Melissa Ince, my mother, who grew up during the time of Marcos. 

Citizens were outraged. Marcos held an election following the death of Senator Aquino to solidify his role as president, and ran against Senator Aquino’s wife, Corazon Aquino. 

“Marcos was declared the winner, but it was obvious that, in truth, it was fraud. People were enraged. That was kind of the trigger to revolt against Marcos. The protests started,” said Ince. 

The Revolution

My mother, Melissa Ince, was just a child when Marcos declared martial law and lived throughout his dictatorship. When Aquino was murdered, she was a college student at the University of the Philippines, where she took part in the beginning of the revolution against Ferdinand Marcos. 

“The revolution started with the students like me. I joined a student activist group. We blocked traffic in the commercial sections, we had marches, and held up signs. Then more and more people started to protest all over the Philippines,” she said. “I could see how corrupt Marcos and the government were. I believed change needed to happen. I wasn’t going to just sit around.”

Awareness of the revolution was growing nationwide. More and more people were beginning to stand up to Marcos. The revolution came to a head in February of 1986 when the Philippine military stood up and announced a coup against Marcos. The general took his men to Fort Bonifacio.

Ince said, “The students, like me, were marching around Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (or EDSA), Manila’s main vein, in support of the military against Marcos. Marcos was sending his own troops against the military, and we were there to block him from getting to them. Then the people, really everyone, came out onto the streets and blocked it, so Marcos couldn’t get to it. That’s why it’s called the ‘People Power Revolution’ because it was the power of the people. People were lying down in front of tanks, trying to convince Marco’s soldiers to join their side. It was clear that people really just wanted Marcos gone and to make change.” 

For four days, a seemingly endless number of people could be seen standing along EDSA. Millions of Filipinos stood, looking for a change, tired and fed up with the dictatorship with which they had been living in. But for all the anger and resentment they held, for all the turmoil that they had been put through, every one of the millions put up their bravest face and responded with peace.

“It was very peaceful; it was almost a party atmosphere. People were happy to be there and feel like they were doing something,” said Ince. “It wasn’t angry. No one was ever shot at, no one was killed. Some of us went up to the soldiers and placed flowers in their guns.”

Against the power of all the people in the Philippines, Marcos could not hold up. Support towards him was faltering immensely. His advocates began joining the protestors on EDSA. With no support, Marcos had no option but to leave. On February 25th, 1986, the United States, a close ally of the Marcoses, sent a helicopter to help him escape and transport him and his family to the United States.

“Then he left. That was it. It was a huge celebration in the streets. He was gone, it was the end of the Marcos dictatorship. We were definitely a big part of history. If none of us students went out there, it wouldn’t have started. If people weren’t brave enough to go out and protest, nothing would have changed.”

The Philippines Today

Despite their victory in 1986, citizens of the Philippines still grapple with political turmoil under the leadership of President Duterte, and, elected in 2022, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the former dictator. Marcos Jr refuses to apologize for the reign of his father. He has just recently eliminated February 25th as a national holiday, that commemorates the end of his father’s regime, from the Philippine calendar. He wants the Philippines to forget and move on, but, for those who lived and suffered under the Marcos regime, this is not an option. The Philippines is at risk of forgetting the importance of the revolution. The Power Revolution taught the Philippines a valuable lesson that can be applied to their political situation today.

Ince reflected, “The Power Revolution showed that you can make a difference. That any person can make a difference. And that you have a responsibility to the people around you to use your voice and actions to make things better.”

Melissa Ince reflected, “The Power Revolution showed that you can make a difference. That any person can make a difference. And that you have a responsibility to the people around you to use your voice and actions to make things better.”