People-power revolution in the Philippines

People-power revolution in the Philippines
(Coordinator Comment)

The People-power revolution in the Philippines in 1986, based on nonviolence, the extensive involvement of the citizenry in a vast informal network of information, and the courage of an opposition radio station, is an important precedent for nonviolent revolution.

During the years of martial law from 1972 to 1986, a movement arose which was characterized by a vast informal network of information, using faxes and photocopies, to expose the true obituaries, movements of the army, information on corruption, etc. At the bottom of each sheet was written 'ipakopiya at ipasa' - copy and pass along.

Beginning in 1984 the International Fellowship of Reconciliation helped with workshops that trained many people in the methods of nonviolent resistance. Participants included the family of Benigno Acquino, the popular leader who was assassinated when he returned to the Philippines to oppose President Ferdinand Marcos.

The spark for the revolution was the fraudulent election of February 7, 1986, in which incumbent President Marcos was declared the winner against Corazon Aquino, the widow of Benigno. A timeline and description of the revolution are available on Wikipedia.

On February 16, around two million people gathered at Luneta Park, Manila repudiating the election results and asserting that Aquino was the real victor. Opposition leader and UNIDO presidential candidate Corazon Aquino called for nationwide civil disobedience.

Radio Veritas played a critical role during the mass uprising. Former University of the Philippines president Francisco Nemenzo stated that: "Without Radio Veritas, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to mobilize millions of people in a matter of hours."

On February 25 President Marcos fled, first to the US army base and later to the United States, leaving Corazon Aquino as the duly elected President.

The success of the Philippine Revolution as a nonviolent revolution won through democratic means and by popular use of the media provide a good example of how the culture of peace can gain power.