1986 EDSA REVOLUTION
SOURCE: Official Gazzete
The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution gathered millions of Filipinos from all
walks of life to march along Epifanio de los
Santos Avenue (EDSA), the main artery of
Metro Manila, to end the dictatorship of
President Ferdinand E. Marcos and begin a
new era marked by true freedom and
democracy. It is also referred to as the
Yellow Revolution due to the presence of
yellow ribbons during demonstration. The
EDSA revolution was the first nonviolent, and
bloodless revolution that ever took place in Asia. Since Ninoy’s assassination yellow
has been the color of the revolution.
The protests, fueled by the resistance and opposition from years of governance
by President Marcos and his cronies, culminated with the absolute ruler and his family
fleeing Malacañang Palace to exile in Hawaii. Ninoy
Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, was immediately
installed as the eleventh President as a result of the
revolution. The events of February 25, 1986,
altered the course of our nation’s history; it
showcased to the world the remarkable resolve of
the Filipino people. It heralded an era of peace.
Over the years, we have continued to remember
this momentous occasion by honoring the sacrifices
of all those who fought the dictatorship. By virtue of
Proclamation No. 1071, s. 2015, February 25, 2016, is a special (non-working)
holiday throughout the country in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the 1986
EDSA People Power Revolution—the movement that “restored our democratic
institution and ushered in political, social and economic reforms in the country.”
The People Power Revolution has inspired a call for a change of government through
peaceful protests rather than bloodshed. Many similar revolutions have followed since
then, taking the Philippine example of nonviolent regime change, such as that in East
Germany and many other former Soviet
Bloc countries. It also helped inspire the
Arab Spring in 2011. The EDSA
Revolution Anniversary is a special
public holiday in the Philippines. Since
2002, the holiday has been a special
non-working holiday. Rampant
corruption during the term of President
Joseph Estrada led to the similar 2001
EDSA Revolution leading to his
resignation from the presidency. In 2003,
the Radio Broadcast of the Philippine People Power Revolution was inscribed in the
UNESCO Memory of the World Register, the official documentary heritage list of the
United Nations' educational and scientific body. In spite of the revolution's repudiation of
Marcos' dictatorial regime, the Marcos family slowly regained a political presence in the
Philippines, with Imelda and her children Bongbong and Imee reacquiring positions in
government by the 1990s. Bongbong himself was narrowly defeated by Leni Robredo
as candidate for the Philippine vice presidency during the 2016 presidential elections.