29 interesting facts about the EDSA

revolution
By Alixandra Caole Vila (philstar.com) | Updated February 25, 2015 - 11:36am
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In this 1986 photo, protesters express disapproval for the iron regime of President Ferdinand Marcos. Photo is
owned by Gerardo Joaquin Sinco not by princesse_laya/Flickr
MANILA, Philippines Did you know that yellow is not really the favorite color of the late President Corazon
Aquino? According to her interview in TIME, her favorite color was actually red. It was only when some friends
suggested the song Tie A Yellow Ribbon for Ninoys homecoming that she developed a fancy for the color.
In line with the 29th anniversary of the historical EDSA revolution, here are 29 EDSA-related facts:
1.

People Power Revolution is also tagged as the EDSA Revolution, Yellow Revolution, Bloodless
Revolution and 1986 Philippine Revolution.

2.

Despite the presence of tank-riding soldiers and big guns, not a single shot was fired. Thus, People
Power Revolution was the first nonviolent, bloodless revolution that ever took place.

3.

4.

It was not only in 1986 that there had been a mass gathering on EDSA. There was another massive
gathering in which media commonly tags as EDSA 2 (EDSA Dos) on January 2001, which ousted thenPresident Joseph Estrada.
Since Ninoys assassination, yellow has been the color of the revolution.

5.

Tie a Yellow Ribbon was Ninoys comeback song. Because he was assassinated upon walking off the
plane, the Filipinos took their cue from the song and since then used color yellow as their symbol of rebellion.

6.

Corazon Aquino was hesitant to go against Ferdinand Marcos for the snap elections. To encourage her
make the decision, 1 million signatures of Filipinos urging her to plunge into the political arena was presented
to her.

7.

The official tally of the votes did not come together during the snap elections. To be exact, the official
election canvasser, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), declared Marcos the winner with 10,807,197
votes against Aquino's 9,291,761 votes while National Movement for Free Electionss (NAMFREL) had Aquino
winning with 7,835,070 votes against Marcos' 7,053,068 points.

8.

Ninoys widow Cory Aquino was not in EDSA during the entire revolution. She was in Cebu, conducting
her own protests.

9.

Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enriles move on February 22 to take over the Defense Ministry at Camp
Aguinaldo with hundreds of pro-Aquino protesters was seen as the first action of the People Power revolution.

10.

Fidel Ramos, after being contacted by Enrile joined him in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo and
announced their resignations and defection to the opposition. They also announced that blatant fraud took
place during the elections. I would like to appeal to the fair and to the dedicated and people-oriented members
of the AFP and the INP to join us in this crusade for better government, he said during the conference.

11.
12.

Cardinal Sin was the one who led the Catholic Churchs participation in the revolution.
It was only after Cardinal Sins announcement in Radio Veritas that thousands of people, responding to
the Cardinals appeal, began gathering outside rebel camps, bringing supplies and food for the soldiers.

13.

Radio Veritas was the only radio station which covered events that government-owned stations didn't.

14.

Armed soldiers destroyed Radio Veritas transmission tower, cutting off all news of the rebellion.

15.

When General Artemio Tadiar warned the crowd that he would open fire if they dont disperse, people
responded by singing, "Bayan Ko," praying and offering soldiers cigarettes and bread.

16.

The L hand symbol (done by extending the thumb and the index finger pointing up) means "laban" (to
fight). It was the eminent hand gesture of protesters during the revolution.

17.

Aside from wearing yellow clothes and tying yellow ribbons on trees and posts, phone directories
(which is color yellow) were ripped apart on demonstrations and were used as confetti.

18.

Performers like the APO Hiking Society staged mini-concerts during the revolution.

19.

Bayan Ko and Magkaisa are among the iconic songs during EDSA Revolution. The latter was
composed by now senator Vicente Sotto and was sung by Virna Lisa Loberiza. Other than during the EDSA
revolution, the song was also sung during the funeral of senator Aquino.

20.

There were two inaugurations held on Feb. 25, 1986. Marcos held his in Malacaang while Aquino
held hers in Club Filipino.

21.

After hearing the news that Marcos had already abandoned the palace, Fidel Ramos was the one who
announced to the thick crowd the good news, while jumping with joy. Up to now, the jumping he did is still
symbolic in EDSA celebrations.

22.

After Marcos and his family left the country, people marched inside the palace. People wandered
around and saw the luxury of Marcos. Some reports claim that there have been looting occurrences, too.

23.

The whole world rejoiced with the Filipinos. In fact, Bob Simon, an anchorman at CBS said, "We
Americans like to think we taught the Filipinos democracy. Well, tonight they are teaching the world."

24.

On the day Marcos and his family departed the country for exile in Hawaii, Corazon Aquino was
inaugurated as the 11th and the first female president of the Philippines.

25.

One of Aquino's first and boldest moves was the creation of the Presidential Commission on Good
Government (PCGG), which was tasked to go after the Marcos ill-gotten wealth.

26.

"Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo" was composed by songwriter Jim Paredes two months after the
revolution.

27.

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), where the EDSA revolution took place previous names include
North-South Circumferential Road, Avenida 19 de Junio (June 19 Avenue), Highway 54. Contrary to what most
people believe, EDSA is not 54 kilometers long, but only 24.

28.

EDSA Shrine or the Mary Queen of Peace Shrine was constructed in honor of the Virgin Mary to give
thanks for the peaceful EDSA revolution. It was completed three years after the revolution.

29.

People Power Monument, which was also built to commemorate the event was then built seven years
after the revolution, on 1993. It is located at the corner of EDSA and White Plains Avenue, less than a kilometer
away from the EDSA Shrine.

Sources: Philippinehistory.org, Mtholyoke.edu

Naging simbolo ng protesta sa Pilipinas ang yellow ribbon noong 1983. Pinahintulutan si
Sen. Benigno Ninoy S. Aquino Jr. na magtungo sa Amerika upang magpaopera sa puso
noong 1980, gayong siya ay nahatulan ng isang military court sa ilalim ng martial law.
Nanatili siya roon kasama ang kanyang pamilya sa sumunod na tatlong taon. Noong 1983,
nagpasya siyang umuwi sa Pilipinas.
Naroon din ang sikat na awiting Tie A Yellow Ribbon na tungkol sa isang convict na umuwi
sa kanyang tahanan matapos ang tatlong taon at hindi naman nito tiyak kung tatanggapin
pa siya ng kanyang pamilya. Kaya nagpadala siya ng mensahe sa kanila na magtali ng isang
dilaw na laso sa isang oak tree sa tapat ng kanilang tahanan kung kailangan pa siya roon;
kung hindi, hindi siya hihinto at bagkus magpapatuloy pa. Sa Metro Manila, libu-libong dilaw
na laso ang itinali sa mga puno sa mga lansangan, iyon ang mensahe ng taumbayan na
kailangan pa nila si Ninoy Aquino.
Ang yellow ribbon, na isang simbolo ng protesta, ay ginagamit na ng mamamayan ng Hong
Kong na ipinaglalaban ang kanilang mga karapatan. Nang maibalik ang Hong Kong sa China
noong 1997, pumayag ang Beijing na taglayin pa rin ng mga ito ang kanilang mga
karapatan sa ilalim ng polisiya na one country, two systems. Gayunman, sa halalang
idaraos sa 2017, nilalayon ng Beijing na limitahan ang kanilang choices para sa Chief
Executive sa dalawa o tatlong kandidato lamang na aprubado ng isang pro-Beijing
committee.
Ito ang ipinoprotesta ng mga mamamayan ng Hong Kong ngayon. Hinagisan sila ng tear gas
noong isang araw ngunit patuloy pa rin ang kanilang protesta araw-araw, umulan man o
umaraw. Kung paano ito hihinto ay walang makapagsasabi. Malamang na hindi
pagpapasensiyahan ng China ang pagpapakita ng rebelyon ito na maaaring mag-udyok sa
iba na dalhin sa mga lansangan ang kanilang kilos protesta.
May nakapagsabi na may epekto ang stand-off sa mga mamamayan ng Taiwan, na
maghahalal ng kanilang sariling mga opisyal. Kung muli silang maging bahagi ng China na
ipinangakong gawin ng Beijing kahit sa ilalim ng one country, two systems policy, hindi
nila tatamasahin ang parehong karapatan na taglay nila ngayon.
Samantala, panonoorin ng buong daigdig ang mga kaganapan sa Hong Kong. Tayo rito sa
Pilipinas, tinanggap natin ang yellow ribbon bilang simbolo ng protesta mahigit 30 taon na

ang nakararaan noong 1983, na nagpunta sa EDSA noong 1986, ay kaisa ng mga tagaHong Kong sa kanilang pakikibaka para sa demokratikong kalayaan.