 |
| Millions of people at EDSA Highway calling for Marcos to step down |
The resignation of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak is victory to the Egyptian people, I truly believe that the Egyptian revolution showed us democracy at work. It did force the end of the 30 year authoritarian rule.
This event in Egypt reminded me of the same revolution that happened in the Philippines 25 years ago. I was there when it happened and it was an event that shook Philippine politics (for awhile) and made Filipinos proud. This event as most people know is the People's Power Revolution which ended 21 years of the Marcos regime. The administration of President Marcos (together with his wife Imelda Marcos) was marred with corruption, nepotism, despotism and human rights violation. The regime saw the development of infrastructure and construction of great highways throughout the Philippines but amidst all of this the lavish lifestyle and corruption of the political elite was getting too much whilst the country's poverty and economy is sinking. This aggravated the Filipinos and most especially the assasination of the late Senator Benigno Aquino nailed its toll on the Marcos administration. Aquino was considered by the Filipinos to be the best politician to replace Marcos. The people's revolution was also set in motion when the president's Defense Secretary Juan Enrile and General Fidel Ramos started a coup d'etat to overthrow the Marcos government.
It was a great revolution. It lasted from Feb. 22-25, 1986 and is still considered to be one of the most peaceful and bloodless revolution. The military, the Catholic church, and the Filipino people, rich or poor were all united in their objective - to end the 21 years of Marcos dictatorship. In the end Marcos and his family fled and left the country through the help of the United States. The country hailed their new president, in fact the Philippine's first female president and her name is Corazon Aquino...and the rest is history.
This event in Egypt reminded me of the same revolution that happened in the Philippines 25 years ago. I was there when it happened and it was an event that shook Philippine politics (for awhile) and made Filipinos proud. This event as most people know is the People's Power Revolution which ended 21 years of the Marcos regime. The administration of President Marcos (together with his wife Imelda Marcos) was marred with corruption, nepotism, despotism and human rights violation. The regime saw the development of infrastructure and construction of great highways throughout the Philippines but amidst all of this the lavish lifestyle and corruption of the political elite was getting too much whilst the country's poverty and economy is sinking. This aggravated the Filipinos and most especially the assasination of the late Senator Benigno Aquino nailed its toll on the Marcos administration. Aquino was considered by the Filipinos to be the best politician to replace Marcos. The people's revolution was also set in motion when the president's Defense Secretary Juan Enrile and General Fidel Ramos started a coup d'etat to overthrow the Marcos government.
It was a great revolution. It lasted from Feb. 22-25, 1986 and is still considered to be one of the most peaceful and bloodless revolution. The military, the Catholic church, and the Filipino people, rich or poor were all united in their objective - to end the 21 years of Marcos dictatorship. In the end Marcos and his family fled and left the country through the help of the United States. The country hailed their new president, in fact the Philippine's first female president and her name is Corazon Aquino...and the rest is history.
No comments:
Post a Comment