Thirty-seven years ago, millions of Filipinos marched out of their houses and went to the streets of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to trample down the 21-year dictatorial ruling of late former president Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Sr.
This people’s revolt, which lasted for four days, from February 22 to 25, was etched as one of the most popular and remarkable protests in Philippine history.
As the country commemorates the 37th year of peaceful protest that restored the country’s democracy and ended decades of tyranny, DZRH News Online will give a quick rundown on the key individuals that played roles during those periods.
Corazon 'Cory' Aquino
Photo courtesy: Malacañang Palace archives
Corazon "Cory" Aquino, the widow of late opposition Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, is a prominent figure in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
When Marcos called for a snap election in 1985, it was Cory who led the opposition and ran for president.
But on February 7, 1987, the snap elections were hounded with reports of alleged widespread vote-buying and fraud. Despite these allegations, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed Marcos as the winner, which made the public's disdain for his leadership grow even more.
In protest, Cory then led a public disobedience campaign encouraging people to boycott companies owned by the Marcoses.
After the people's revolt in EDSA, which pushed the Marcoses to flee the country, Cory was sworn into office. She was the first woman president of the Philippines.
Juan Ponce Enrile
Photo courtesy: Tom Haley
Under the Marcos Sr. administration, Juan Ponce Enrile served as the Defense Minister and Justice Secretary.
He is regarded as one of the persons behind martial law in September 1976.
But on February 22, 1986, he publicly announced that he withdrew his support for Marcos Sr. at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Enrile then joined millions of Filipinos at EDSA. He strongly called on Marcos to step down from the post and appeal to him to stop his antics.
Following EDSA People Power, the former Defense chief revealed that he and his men had plotted the ousting of Marcos Sr. since 1982, but such attempts to do so failed.
He also disclosed that they only faked his ambush on September 23, 1972, the day when martial law was declared.
Enrile is the current Chief Presidential Legal Counsel of Marcos Sr.'s son, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
Fidel V. Ramos
Photo courtesy: Bullit Marquez /Associate Press
Fidel Ramos was the former Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the Marcos regime.
He also resigned from his post and withdrew himself from the Marcos cabinet.
Ramos followed Enrile and joined the rebels at Camp Crame on February 22, 1986. They then declared support for Benigno Aquino's widow, Cory.
Following the peaceful revolt at EDSA, Cory tapped him as the Secretary of National Defense and chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council.
Years later, he announced his candidacy for the presidency and won the position in 1992.
Jaime Cardinal Sin
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin is among the Catholic leaders who demanded Marcos to end Martial law in the 1970s.
He was remembered for playing a significant role in the peaceful protest of the EDSA People Power.
Following Enrile and Ramos’ defection from the Marcos administration, Cardinal Sin delivered a message through Radyo Veritas broadcast, appealing to the public to go out in the streets and support the two senior officials.
He asked the public to avoid “violence” and "no blood" being shed in the protest.
Gringo Honasan
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Retired soldier Gregorio 'Gringo' Honasan backed Enrile to overthrow the Marcos administration.
Honasan, Enrile, and troops from the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) plotted a coup at the Malacañgan originally set on February 23, 1985, but this plan was foiled after it was discovered.
Nonetheless, Honasan joined the massive crowds to oust Marcos from the post.
In 1986, late president Cory Aquino awarded Honasan a Distinguished Conduct Star for his role in the EDSA Revolution and the Presidential Government Medal.
Agapito ‘Butch’ Aquino
Photo courtesy: Official Gazette website
Former Senator and founder of the August 21 movement (Atom) Agapito ‘Butz' Aquino is the brother of the late Ninoy Aquino.
Alongside Cardinal Sin, he called the people to mass at EDSA and support the two rebel officers Enrile and Ramos.
Butz and the members of Atom were at the forefront among the Anti-Marcos groups in the streets of EDSA.
Fabian Ver
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Former AFP General and Chief of Staff Fabian Ver was the most trusted military officer, ally, and childhood friend of late former president Marcos Sr.
He was one of the accused in the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr., an opposition leader, and stone critic of Marcos in 1983.
But in December 1985, he and 25 others were acquitted by the court due to insufficient evidence to convict them.
During the four-day people's revolt, Fabian Ver positioned his men to counter the millions of protestants at EDSA.
As more people came out to support Enrile and Ramos, Ver told Marcos that he plans to attack the people who had revolted against his administration. However, the former president rejected this.
On February 25, after the public threw the Marcoses and fled to Hawaii, Ver and his family also came with them.
Nuns who stopped military tanks
Photo courtesy: Sr. Rose Agtarap / Facebook
Heeding the call of Cardinal Sin, clergies and members of religious groups rallied at EDSA and formed human barricades to stop huge tanks sent by Marcos.
Nuns were praying with their rosary and pleaded with the armed men to break away from the strong man's order.
The photo above is the two daughters of Saint Paul sisters namely, Porfiria Ocariza and Sr Teresita Burias, who became known after they knelt in front of the armed men.
Fr. James Reuters
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Fr. James Reuter is an American Jesuit priest and honorary Filipino who ran an underground radio station Radio Bandido or Bandit Radio.
While many media outlets were restricted from covering the four-day protest, his radio station bravely broadcasted news updates.
They delivered the news to the public until the Marcoses fled the country.
Aside from Veritas, Radio Bandido also aired the message of appeal by Cardinal Sin for the Filipinos.
