The Power Is In Our Hands

The People Power Revolution In The Philippines

If you’re like me, you’re probably feeling pretty anxious about the state of the world. When worry starts to overtake hope, I try to remind myself of the power we ordinary folk have to resist authoritarianism and change the world as we have, believe it or not, many times over. I remind myself that we freedom lovers are the majority and, one day, beginning today, we can make the case that our freedoms are intertwined and interdependent across our many differences, and begin to exercise the power that gives us.

One great example from history that I find especially inspiring when I’m feeling doubtful is the People Power Movement in the Philippines. The People Power Movement stopped an election steal and ousted a dictator from the presidency, demonstrating how collective power exercised by ordinary people can change the world.

In the 1980s, the Philippines was under the dictatorial rule of Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos extended his grip on power through martial law, corruption, and brutal enforcement. By 1986, the situation reached a boiling point after he blatantly rigged a presidential election against Corazon Aquino, a political outsider who had captured the hope of a nation desperate for change.

This was a moment when Filipinos saw a path to challenge a man who had ruled them for over 20 years, who had crushed opposition, stolen from his people, and silenced voices of dissent. When Marcos declared himself the winner in the election despite strong evidence that he had lost, it was the tipping point.

Electoral Fraud and Mobilization

This fraudulent election acted like a spark in dry tinder. The National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) exposed the extent of Marcos’ vote-rigging, leading Corazon Aquino to call for civil disobedience. People answered that call, and the country was plunged into what became known as the People Power Revolution. The People Power movement drew support from high ranking government officials, including in the military, but while powerful singular individuals played a big role, at its base the movement was powered by Filipinos from all walks of life whose collective exercise of power was the single most critical element in its success.

The People Power Revolution reminds us that when institutions fail, we the people become the final arbiters of justice.

Among the key strategies was to target key pillars of authoritarian power in the Philippines and divide the oligarchs who benefited from the Marcos dictatorship. Here’s a rundown of some of the key actions and actors:

Role of the Catholic Church

The involvement of the Catholic Church supercharged the movement. It wasn't just a matter of moral support. Cardinal Jaime Sin took to the airwaves, calling on Filipinos to protect the military defectors who had abandoned Marcos. This wasn’t just symbolic; it turned into a protective shield of civilians standing between Marcos’ forces and his defectors. The Church’s involvement gave the movement legitimacy, and its message was simple: fight for justice, but fight without violence. This was nonviolent civil resistance at its core.

Military Defection and Mass Mobilization

What also made the revolution possible was the defection of key military leaders like Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel Ramos. They broke ranks with Marcos, creating an internal fracture that shook his regime to the core. But what truly tipped the scales was the protection of these defectors by the people themselves—people who surrounded their military camps, forming a human shield against potential attacks. What you had here was a civilian force standing up to military might, without weapons, without violence, but with determination and hope. When the people have your back, even the power of a dictator’s army can be neutralized.

For four days, millions of Filipinos gathered on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the heart of the protest movement. They prayed, they sang, they offered flowers to soldiers, transforming a potential bloodbath into a peaceful standoff. These small acts of defiance and solidarity—giving food to soldiers, refusing to leave the streets—remind us that sometimes the most powerful resistance is peaceful and resolute.

Economic Boycotts and Mass Actions

The People Power movement also waged a financial battle. Economic boycotts targeted businesses tied to Marcos and his cronies. Major corporations, including San Miguel Corporation and Philippine Airlines, were boycotted, as was the state controlled bank, shaking the economic foundations of the regime. These boycotts were an economic rebellion, further weakening Marcos’ grip. Even labor strikes and calls for citizens to withhold their taxes became acts of resistance. By hitting the kleptocratic regime where it hurt the most—the wallet—Filipinos were building another layer of power against authoritarianism.

International Pressure and Marcos’ Downfall

The tipping point, however, came when the United States, which had been one of Marcos’ key allies, withdrew its support. The Reagan administration quietly encouraged Marcos to step down, recognizing that his rule was no longer sustainable. Without military or international backing, Marcos fled to Hawaii on February 25, 1986, allowing Corazon Aquino to be inaugurated as the first female president of the Philippines.

Lessons from People Power

The People Power Movement shows us the powerful potential of civil resistance. It wasn’t just about one charismatic leader or a sudden uprising—it was about ordinary people coming together to demand a new future, but doing so through the strategic deployment of the very real power ordinary people have when they act together. It’s a reminder that authoritarianism is always vulnerable when faced with mass mobilization, coalition-building, and moral clarity.

The strategic focus on pillars of societal power provides guidance to us today. Winning the support of key military leaders and the Catholic Church, and targeting the economic pillars of Marcos’s kleptocratic regime oligarch cronies made a decisive difference, turning protests into demonstrations of people power in action. Likewise the movement’s commitment to tactical nonviolence, which gave the movement moral authority and invited broad participation, contributed greatly to the movement’s success.

In the end, People Power didn’t just topple a dictator; it transformed the Philippines into a symbol of hope for peaceful revolutions worldwide. For those of us fighting authoritarianism today, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere, the lessons of People Power remind us that even when we seem to face insurmountable odds, there is always a way forward, especially when we lean on the power of the people.

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Friends, imagine with me for a moment that immigration raids are driving immigrant workers into hiding and many are being deported. This nightmare scenario may feel terribly disempowering and emotionally overwhelming, but consider the power that immigrant workers have.

When immigrant workers cannot go to work, farms are short of workers, crops die in the fields and orchards, fulfillment centers don’t have enough hands, growers lose crops, truck drivers who carry the packages and the harvest lose work, processing plants don’t have product to process and package. A cascading set of negative financial impacts can quickly cross partisan divisions, driving dissatisfaction with deportation campaigns and the autocrats leading them.

If we prepare ourselves, we can consolidate that dissatisfaction into actions that can have real and meaningful impacts. In order to use our collective power, we must first recognize and claim it. No matter who we are, we are supported in our lives by dense networks of mutual dependence, networks in which everyone matters and everyone can make a difference.

Additional Resources:

Here are some additional resources on the People Power Revolution and the Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. regime that have been recommended to me. Fair warning, I haven’t examined these resources in detail yet, so keep your critical thinking cap on.

Nonfiction Titles:

1. “The Aquino Papers” (1986) – Corazon Aquino and Soc Rodrigo
   This collection of speeches and writings by Corazon Aquino provides insight into the struggle against Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship and the people-powered uprising that followed. It gives a direct account of her experience as a central figure of the revolution.

2. “The Marcos Dynasty” (1988) – Sterling Seagrave
   This investigative work delves into the life of Ferdinand Marcos, his rise to power, and the vast corruption of his regime. It is a detailed account of the lead-up to the People Power Revolution and the larger geopolitical context around it.

3. “Closer Than Brothers: Manhood at the Philippine Military Academy” (1999) – Alfred McCoy
   This book looks at how the Philippine military, under Marcos, was both a tool of oppression and a site of defection during the People Power movement. It provides a critical understanding of the military's role in the political transitions.

4. “History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos” (2010) – Luis H. Francia
   Although broader in scope, this history of the Philippines includes a good discussion of the People Power Revolution, situating it within the longer struggle for Filipino independence and democracy.

Fiction Titles:

1. “Dogeaters” (1990) – Jessica Hagedorn
   Set during the Marcos regime, Dogeaters is a critically acclaimed novel that explores Philippine society through multiple characters from different backgrounds. It provides a fictionalized but vivid portrayal of life under Marcos, the cultural impact of authoritarianism, and the stirrings of revolution.

2. “Gun Dealers’ Daughter” (2012) – Gina Apostol
   This novel takes place against the backdrop of political violence in Marcos-era Philippines. It delves into the personal and political awakening of its protagonist, offering a powerful meditation on activism, privilege, and resistance.

3. “Ilustrado” (2010) – Miguel Syjuco
   Although broader in scope, this novel explores the complexities of Philippine politics, history, and revolution through the lens of a young Filipino writer. The text deals with themes of exile, corruption, and the legacy of political struggle, including the effects of the Marcos dictatorship.

4. “In the Country” (2015) – Mia Alvar
   This collection of short stories focuses on the Filipino diaspora but includes narratives that explore the political unrest and tensions during the People Power movement. It connects personal lives with larger historical events, including the revolution.

5. “Empire of Memory” (1992) – Eric Gamalinda
   Set during the Marcos dictatorship, this novel weaves together fact and fiction to provide a lyrical portrayal of political unrest, resistance, and the struggle for memory amidst a repressive regime.

Documentary Films:

1. “A Dangerous Life” (1988)
   A dramatized miniseries about the last days of the Marcos regime, focusing on the lead-up to the People Power Revolution. This film gives a narrative-driven insight into the key events of the uprising.

2. “Imelda” (2003) – Directed by Ramona S. Diaz
   This documentary film provides a glimpse into the life of Imelda Marcos and her role in sustaining the Marcos dictatorship, revealing the psychological and cultural layers of the regime.