Witnessing history as it unfolds is like winning the lottery. It gives one an ecstatic and euphoric feeling. True enough, how many times in your lifetime will you be able to have an eyewitness account of history at such a close range?
This is the case for those who were fortunate enough to partake in one of the world’s most peaceful revolutions — the People Power Revolution in February 1986. On this defining moment in our nation’s history, people from all walks of life — the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the influential and the powerless — joined hands to topple the dictator that had been in power for 20 years. But most of all, Filipinos proved to the world that if we all stand together as one, we can truly bring about change.
Photo courtesy of http://www.philstar.com
On that fateful day on Feb. 25, 1986, the Philippines has never been more proud as a nation. Twenty-five years later, the following people share the experience that defined their personal convictions and political stand:
Ballsy Aquino-Cruz
Eldest daughter of Ninoy and Cory Aquino
My sister Viel, my son Jiggy (then a baby) and me were in Times St. Mom called from Cebu and all our conversations were coded because during martial law we learned to speak in codes. I didn’t even know about FVR (Fidel V. Ramos) and (Juan Ponce) Enrile until she told me in codes. She said, “So you better move and go to…” even where to go was coded. She made me go to her sister’s house but not mentioning the sister. She just said, “The lola of…” She just wanted not to worry about us anymore because Times St. is so accessible. And at least if she were sure that we were out of Times St. and safe with her sister then she could go about what she thought would be best. Because during that time there were so many people telling her what to do. There was one group telling her to go south, to take a boat going south. Some people were saying, “No, there’s a plane that can take you out.” But then she said “No, why should I leave the Philippines? I’m not leaving the Philippines, I just want to go back to Manila and be there.” And she was insistent on going to EDSA. Finally she was able to go as far as that POEA building. And I remember Cardinal Sin was teasing her, “Cory you love to sing ‘Ama Namin’ but you can’t carry the tune.”
Mom always felt, how can you go wrong by praying? That’s why I really believe more than ever in the power of prayer.
During the snap elections, I said, “How will you win, Mom? No way. Unless there is a miracle.” Then somebody was saying, what miracle do you want? What would a miracle be to you? I said, maybe if Marcos leaves. That was way before Feb. 25. So during EDSA, I said, there really was a miracle. How can somebody that strong, that powerful, just leave the country? Whoever thought of making people go to EDSA? You know months before, who would have thought that people themselves shall protect the military?
Penk Ching
Award-winning pastry chef
My tito picked up my mom, my sister and me and we headed to EDSA. We were on that super crowded street in Ortigas; that’s the closest I got to be. I was awed when I saw the crowd. It was huge that I can’t even go near. We stayed for four hours then went home to just watch the events on TV because my mom didn’t feel well after a long day. I felt like a winner being part of history fighting for freedom.
Val Rodriguez
The Philippine STAR chief photographer
On the duration of the EDSA Revolution, I was with Mrs. Cory Aquino in the Carmelite monastery in Cebu where she stayed overnight during the tense hours of the eve of the People Power Revolution. I was still an AP photographer that time and was covering her campaign. We went back to Manila and I even slept in EDSA. I was there to cover and witness a momentous event when Mrs. Aquino took her oath as President of the Republic of the Philippines in Club Filipino. When reports came out that Marcos left Malacañang, I was already outside the Palace. The end of the Revolution made me sigh in relief, as I would finally be able to rest since covering the strenuous campaign for almost a month.
June Keithley (†)
Broadcaster, author and producer of Marian documentary films
On the day Marcos fled, I was in the TV station on Bohol Avenue that used to be Channel 4 and is now back to being ABS-CBN. I was the one who tearfully announced (headband and all) that Marcos had finally left Malacañang and on his way out of the country. On the screen with me were Maan Hontiveros and Bong Lapira.
Adolf Azcuna
Former Supreme Court Justice and Justice Secretary under the Cory Aquino administration
I was at EDSA with my wife and kids. We partly walked and partly rode with friends. It was a day of trepidation and rejoicing. We saw tanks and airplanes and nuns and a sea of Filipinos. And God was surely, palpably with us and Our Lady, now named after the miraculous event. It was a day to remember and to measure our lives upon thereafter.
Gunn Roque
Kamiseta president and CEO
In the morning after President Cory was inaugurated in Club Filipino, I called two of my barkada to meet in Ateneo (we were sophomore college students then) after which we all drove our cars to EDSA. We had to stop in Katipunan corner Santolan because there was a blockade and we could see military presence around. We walked towards White Plains Avenue and finally to EDSA.
There was quite a number of people but what I can remember is that no one was really scared or nervous, people were just walking around, giving food and drinks and you greet your friends along EDSA as if no worries. In the afternoon, I went home and listened to the radio and watched TV.
Suzette Hahn-Lopez
Businesswoman
For many years now I have been waiting for someone to ask me this question. And finally, I’m proud to say that I was witness to history. I was one of only three very privileged to be inside the room of then General Fidel V. Ramos and Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile answering calls. I was with my dad Alfred Hahn and one man (I’m not sure who he was). I was instructed to tell all callers to come and gather inside Crame. Everyone was afraid to be in Crame because the rumor was that the place might be bombed anytime soon. I surely won’t forget that day since it was also my parents’ wedding anniversary and ironically, a bad day for my mom who was so angry at my dad for risking her youngest daughter’s life.
Ronnie Henares
Talent manager, director and businessman
I was helping out at the ABS-CBN Studios and was with June Keithley. I remember how nervous we were when we heard that the complex was going to be attacked. I remember having my back against a wall and praying hard. Also that day, I remember how we cried and fell on our knees in prayer when we heard Marcos had fled. It was most memorable for me because my wife Ida had just delivered a son a few months before that and I can’t imagine, as I look back, how their lives would have been if something untoward happened to me. I even have a picture of Ida and my son with a newspaper headlining Marcos had left.
Pepper Teehankee
Columnist
During the morning of Feb. 25, 1986, my father woke me up and brought my mom and sister to Club Filipino. He got a call from his cousin that Lolo Dingdong (Associate Supreme Court Justice Claudio Teehankee) was going to swear in Cory Aquino as President of the Philippines. We arrived in Club Filipino but security was tight. My dad was spotted by more Teehankee relatives who were there and told security to let us in since we were relatives. In less than an hour, Lolo Dingdong was swearing in Cory Aquino as President. I was literally six feet away from them when I witnessed history. It was surreal. How could I have been so close witnessing something so historic?
Frankie de Leon
Fashion designer
I was in my hometown in Sorsogon during the EDSA Revolution. I was just in my first year in high school but I was already so politically aware. I was worried about what was going on in Manila. I remember we were stuck on our transistor radio just to get updated on every single news. The least I could do was to pray the rosary over and over. It was very memorable for it awakened my interest on political issues at the age of 13.
Mayor Len Alonte-Naguiat
Biñan City, Laguna
During the EDSA Revolution, I was just in Grade 6. We had no school that day because the Canossian Sisters fully supported the Revolution and some of the nuns were actually on site and part of the People Power praying a n d supporting the late President Aquino. At a young age, I knew what was happening and the essence of it because my dad was one of the campaign leaders in Laguna for Cory and Doy. So I was at home helping my mom and our housemaids making thousands of sandwiches to give to the supporters of the People Power Revolution.
Khristine Gabriel
Ever Bilena Cosmetics business development manager and spokesperson
I was nine at the time the EDSA Revolution changed Philippine history. My mother, who hails from Tarlac, is an avid Cory supporter. She took the whole family to EDSA. To my young mind, I knew we were going to EDSA for two things: to pray, as explained by my mother; and to look out for cute guys in nearby La Salle Greenhills, as my sisters told me. We brought food and prayers. It was a morning like no other. By the sidewalk, I was seated with a nun and a young lady who questioned my presence amidst a throng of principled adults. I told her I was there to pray for Cory and for the country. True, there were guys, but they were armed with guns and they weren’t cute as I expected. Later on, both the young lady and the guys near our area realized my purpose that day when their stomachs rumbled and I had food to offer them. These childhood experiences molded my character later in life. It made me ready for any circumstance I get into. I’m proud to be born out of the true EDSA revolution. I’m proud to be an EDSA baby.
(Published in the February 2011 issue of People Asia magazine and April 16, 2011, The Philippine Star)
