(First published in Small World Ezine on 25 February 2002)
Once Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino, the exiled opposition figure,
arrived at Manila International Airport in 1983, He was
murdered even before his feet touched the Philippine ground.
Before the return, his family and friends tried to ask
him not to come back but he insisted to. They told him his
life was in danger. Ninoy said "The Filipino is worth dying
for". This word of his, nowadays, appeared on all Philippine
Peso banknotes. He became the country's second hero after
his death. (The first hero was Dr. Jose Rizal whose
execution by the Spanish regime raise the independent fight
all over the Philippines more than a hundred years ago).
Aquino's murder precipitated a loss of confidence in the
business community. Capital left the country in the rate of
US$12 million a day. The country went bankrupt, and that,
actually, was the start of the EDSA's riot in 1986.
The matter went hot and hotter when Corazon Aquino, the
widow of Ninoy Aquino's, candidated for the Presidential
election in 1985 and was robbed of her winning by President
Ferdinand Marcos's administration. Moreover, General Ver,
one of Marcos's people, was acquitted of complicity in the
Aquino assassination. Of course, Marcos was suspected to be
behind all these.
The Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin, declared on
February 8, 1986 that the election was fraud. Computer
workers of COMELEC (the Commission on Elections), noticed
the discrepancies between the numbers they had in the
computers and the official announcements, also stood up with
the church and Corazon Aquino to tell the people the truth.
Despite of the government's controls over media, the people
learned the truth and asked Marcos to step down. Marcos
reimposed the martial laws (which was actually being used
almost all the two decades of his presidency) and planned to
arrest Mrs. Aquino and other 10,000 members of the
opposition.
On February 22, Defense Secretary and his Vice Chief of
Staff decided to turn their back to Marcos and join the
rebel.
The main traffic artery in Manila is a wide boulevard named
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA for short). And that's
where the people gathered chanting "Cory, Cory, Cory!" (for
Corazon Aquino). Cardinal Sin gave his words of support and
after a while ministers and nuns started their fast to
protest.
The nuns and the people also lined themselves to protect
the rebels when Marcos sent tanks and gunmen. When
helicopter pilots, who were supposed to shoot into the
crowd, saw how strong the people were this time, they
surrendered the gunships to the rebels.
On February 24, the U.S. Ambassador said Marcos should leave
the country. President Reagan said he and his family will be
allowed to stay in the U.S. (wonder why?). And Nancy Reagan
told Emelda Marcos (the First Lady) that there's no hope.
Then, almost the entire armed forces had peacefully deserted
Marcos by the 25th.
Marcos and the family left Malacanyang Presidential Palace
that night and they left for Guam and Hawaii the next
morning.
For more insight on the last day of Marcos in the
Philippines, go to http://stuartxchange.com/DayFour.html
This is so dramatic that I almost felt sorry for them.
Hail to the people of the Philippines.
More:
I hope all the revolution could be like EDSA's people power.
The Philippines had two of this in its modern history (one
for Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and the other for Joseph
Estrada in 2001), and no-one died in the rallies.
Today, Manila International Airport has got its new name...
"Ninoy Aquino International Airport" for remembrance of
their national hero, who has shown his love for the country
and its people unconditionally.
In Thailand, where I was born, they said, "When a buffalo,
bull, or elephant dies, there'll still be horns or tasks
as evidences for its once-being. When a human die, there is
nothing, except for what the person has accomplished in his
life -- good or evil -- remaining in this world." (Oh...
there is no bone either. Thais cremate their bodies when we
die.)
Had the gunmen in Tien Un Mehn square (and several other
places in the world) had this kind of consciousness -- know
what's right or wrong, innocent people would not have lost
their lives like falling leaves.
Oh there were "Nigerian scams" claimed to be letters from
Loi Estrada, Joseph Estrada's wife, too. Please do not trust
these people. Loi Estrada is fine in the Philippines. While
her husband's popularity went down the ravine, Loi is fine.
She was even elected a senator (after the impeachment
incident... believe it or not... She must be dreaming of
being another Hilary.)
An Eyewitness History People Power: The Philippine Revolution of 1986
