25/02/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
In 1986, the Philippines stood as a beacon of democracy. Along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), millions of Filipinos gathered in a peaceful display of unity that would redefine the nationโs path.
From February 22โ25, the People Power Revolution culminated in the exile of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and his family to Hawaii, marking the restoration of democratic governance in the country.
The uprising followed years of repression under martial law. According to Amnesty International, in the nine years after martial law was declared, around 70,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured, and more than 3,200 were killed. These documented figures remain a significant part of the nationโs historical record and help explain why many chose peaceful resistance in 1986.
Forty years later, EDSA remains a reminder of the power of collective civic action. In these times where corruption continues to plague the country, its legacy continues to encourage active citizenship, peaceful participation, and a shared commitment to safeguarding democracy.
Sources:
[1] Human Rights Foundation https://hrf.org/latest/the-legacy-of-the-edsa-people-power-revolution/
[2] Amnesty International Philippines https://www.amnesty.org.ph/2022/07/protestph-edsa-revolution/
[3] Philippines martial law: The fight to remember a decade of arrests and torture https://share.google/6L8y9oLDWWeaiZfx4
๐จ: Mikyla Yomi Espaรฑa, Carlos Gabriel Ruiz
๐๏ธ: Dain Dela Cruz