People Power Revolution
People Power People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution and The Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that began in 1983 and culminated in 1986 after the death of Benigno Aquino. In February 25, 1986 marked significant national event that has engraved in the hearts and minds of every Filipino. This revolution was widely seen as a victory of the people against the 20 year running authoritarian, repressive regime of then President Ferdinand Marcos and made news headlines as “the revolution that surprised the world.” Benigno Aquino’s widow Cory, ran against Marcos. The election was marked by widespread fraud, with Marcos’s thugs beating up election workers and scrambling voter roles. The government declared Marcos the winner. After the election Cory Aquino spoke to a crowd of one million people at a rally in Manila. She proposed a seven part program of nonviolent resistance, including one day work stoppage and a boycott of Marcos controlled banks, stores and newspapers. She urged people to “experiment with non violent forms of protest and declared: “…If goliath refuses to yield, we shall keep dipping into our arsenal of nonviolence and escalate our nonviolent struggle.” The revolution begun. The assassination of Benigno Aquino was the match that sparked the fire. There was an upsurge in women’s political activity. An all women’s protest demonstration against the Marcos regime was held, which was called WOMB (Women of the ouster of Marcos and Boycott) a militant women’s organization. Gabriela Silang was a Filipina General in the revolution against Spanish colonialism in the Philippines. An women’s organization was formed after Gabriela name (General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership and Action. Another women who took action was a women named Fely Aquino who said, “Torture and sexual violence against women cuts across all class lines. Sexual violence