Philippines' History,Chapter 30 (from People Power to a Great Christian Renewal)

CHAPTER 30FROM PEOPLE

POWER TO A GREAT CHRISTIAN REVIVAL

Sem. Jb Cabañeros

THE LONGER PRES. MARCOS

He remained in power, the more his government expressed and impoverished the people.

While our people humbled themselves for divine intervention, and awaiting for the wicked to stumble in their own snares.

SNAP PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1986 Pres. Marcos was forced to call for a special presidential

election in order to prove that he was still in control of the situation.

He is also a superstitious man despite his intelligence, He selected Feb. 7, 1986 as the date for the snap

election, because “7” was his lucky no. The pro-government KBL party proclaimed

Pres. Marcos Assemblyman Arturo M. Tolentino

as their official candidates for pres. and vice-pres. The United Nationalist Democratic Party(UNIDO) and

PDP Laban Party jointly fielded their official candidates..Mrs. Corazon Aquino for presidentSalvador Laurel for vice-p.

TAMA NA, SOBRA NA, PALITAN NA!!!ITULOY ANG LABAN NI NINOY!!!

Marcos had many gimmicks, dirty tricks, and unlimited funds for the election.

Cory Aquino and Do Laurel, drew larger crowds who voluntarily went to their rallies as an expression of popular sympathy and support.

For the first time and most historic elections in the Phillipines history, Mrs. Cory Aquino won for the Pres. Of the Republic.

Secondly, It proved that no matter what the tactics may be

devised by wicked politicians, the will of the people could not be frustrated, thus confirming the maxim, Vox Populi, Vox Dei.

RESULT OF THE SNAP ELECTION As tabulated by the National Citizens Movement for Free

Elections(NAMFREL), the result of the election showed that, despite massive cheating, intimidation and bribery by the government, Aquino and Laurel had a margin of around 800,000 votes.

On Feb. 15,1986, the CBCP issued a pastoral letter to be read in all Catholic churches..

declaring that the government had lost its moral basis due to the electoral fraud and they called on the

people to protest peacefully and for the government to make amends for the irregularities. On Feb. 16,1986(Sunday), a huge rally attended by some

4,000,000 people at Luneta. Mrs Aquino called for a peaceful non-violent civil

disobedience movement and she promised to rally the support of the people to her cause throughout the country.

THE PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION OF FEB. 1986 The people fulfilled one of Rizal’s prophesies in

his book, El Filibusterismo, “When a people reaches that height, God will

provide a weapon, the idols will be shattered, the tyranny will crumble like a house of cards and liberty will shine out like the first dawn.”

Feb. 22,1986 at 6pm of Sat. The Revolution began as a bloodless military revolt

of reform movement in the Armed Forces of the Phil. led by Minister Enrile and Gen. Ramos.

Immediately, priests and nuns led by Cardinal Sin and ordinary citizens inspired by Corazon Aquino,etc. with the merging of these 3 powers- military, church and people power.

THE PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION OF FEB. 1986 Morning of the ff. day, Sun., Feb. 23,1986

Thousands more came and reinforced the human barricade around the 2 camps (Aguinalo and Crame). By nightfall, the situation became critical, as Marcos loyalists troops under the command of Gen. Fabian Ver prepared to attack.

At about 8pm at EDSA, the attacking forces riding in armore tanks and carriers under the command of Brig. Gen. Artemio Tadiar.

After he saw the astonishing scene, Gen. Tadiar ordered a retreat.

During the next 2 days, Feb. 24, 25,1986, The confidence of the people soared because the tide turned

in their favor. Some 85% of the Armed Forces of the Phil., including the Air Force, defected to the side of Gen. Ramos and Min. Enrile

THE PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION OF FEB. 1986 Acc. To Fr. Francisco Araneta,

The events in February were not only people power but also “God power” at work.

Pres. Marcos was doomed. On the night of Tuesday, Feb. 25,1986, he and his family, and some friends including Gen. Ver, fled Malacañang palace and were taken by the US Air Force to Guam and then to Hawaii.

It was OVER…THE PEOPLE HAD WON!!! People everywhere knelt to praise and thank

the Lord for such a powerful demonstration of His miracle.

CORAZON AQUINO, FIRST LADY, PRES. OF THE PHILIPPINES

On the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 25,1986, The last day of the people’s revolution, Corazon

Aquino was inducted into office at Club Filipino as the first lady Pres. Of the Philippines. At the same time, Salvador H. Laurel took his oath of office as V-Pres.

RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Pres. Aquino formed a small Cabinet of 14 ministers, ordered the release of all political prisoners and restored the writ habeas corpus in Region IX and XII in Mindanao.

She threw open the doors of Malacañang Palace to the public, while she herself preferred to work in the small Guest House.

Thousands of People who visited the Palace were shocked at how Marcos and his family had lived in their luxury.

They also saw the examples of the former First Lady, Imelda Marcos, extravagant lifestyle. Her 3000 pairs of shoes More then 1000 gowns Hundreds of perfume bottles and bars of soap Her oversized bed, more luxurious than that of Queen Marie

Antoniette at the Versailles in France.

RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Acc. To US Congress investigators, ex Pres. Marcos and family had stolen money from the Philippines amounting to billions of dollars.

TRANSITORY GOVERNMENT AND PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION

Aquino government was only transitory. Some called it a “revolutionary government”

because it was born during the people’s revolution.

In substance, it was a democratic government, for it was based on the people’s sovereign will and guaranteed human rights of the people.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION (CON-COM)

On June 2,1986, she appointed an independent Constitutional Commission.

All the 48 members of the Con-Com was appointed by the President.

The older member was former Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion, 84, and the youngest was Jose (Chito) Gascon, 22,a student leader.

THE NEW CONSTITUTION On Feb. 2,1987 The people went to the polls and ratified the 1986 Constitution in a

national plebiscite. It was the most peaceful and honest poll in years. Among the salient features of the 1986 Constitution are the ff.

1. A new Bill of Rights which bans abortion, death penalty and use of torture…

2. The creation of a permanent Commission on Human Rights.3. The establishment of a presidential system of government.4. To guard against political dynasties…5. The President’s right to declare martial law..6. The establishment of a bicameral Congress elected by the people..7. Provision is made for laws, constitutional amendments, and impeachment

cases.8. Provision is made for the creation of autonomous regions..9. Provision is made for free education up to high school level…10. The government’s right to incur new loans is subject to freedom of

information & limitations by Congress and the monetary board.

THE NEW CONSTITUTION

On May 11, 1987, new senators and congressmen were elected.

The officers of the New Congress were: Senate President: Jovito Salonga Speaker of the House of Rep.: Ramon Mitra

On January 18, 1988- The people voted for new governors, mayors and

councillors. On March 28,1989

New Brgy. Officials were also elected in separate polls.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE AQUINO ADMINISTRATION (1986-1992)1. The restoration of peace, democracy, freedom and

justice in the Philippines.2. Partial recovery of big sums of money stolen during the

Marcos administration.3. Stability of the government was proven.4. Easier credit terms and better conditions for repayment

of the huge foreign debt of the Philippine, amounting to over US$30 billion.

5. The defeat of the communists.6. Passage of the best agrarian reform law in the

Philippines.7. Improvement of the Phil. Image both at home and

abroad.8. Mobilization of national and international aid for victims

of the various natural calamities which hit the Phil., especially in 1990-1991.

END OF THE AQUINO ERA On May 11,1992- The Philippines held its general elections under the

1986 Constitution There were so many candidates and political parties

who campaigned for the government positions. Some 80,000 candidates ran for the 17,000 posts form

the presidency down to municipal councillors. From May 1 until the proclamation of the winners, the

COMELEC Chairman, Christian Monsod, practically became the most powerful man in the country, even more powerful than the president.

Pres. Aquino added another achievement to her term of office: She left the office of the presidency in a peaceful and graceful way, and obeyed the constitution by not running for presdent again.

THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS

For the President: Fidel Valdez Ramos. For the V- President: Joseph Estrada

1992 elections also installed into office: 24 Senators 200 representatives in the lower house of Congress Governors Vice-governors Provincial board councilors Mayors Vice-mayors Councillors

In 71 provinces, 61 cities and 1,501 towns all over the Philippines

INAUGURATION OF THE FIRST PROTESTANT PRESIDENT On June 30,1992, at the historic Freedom

Grandstand in the Luneta, Manila Fidel Valdez Ramos, 64 years old, was inaugurated as the twelfth president of the Philippines in colourful ceremonies attended by many foreign dignitaries and thousands of people.

President Ramos thus became the first Protestant to became the president of this predominantly Catholic Country. But in his inaugural speech, he declared, “I see myself not as the first Protestant to become

president, but as the twelfth President who happens to be Protestant-and who must be a president of Muslims, Christians and people of all faiths who constitute our national community”.

Estrada was also sworn in as the new Vice-President

A GREAT CHRISTIAN REVIVAL IN THE PHILIPPINES As the second millennium after Christ comes to an end, we

find the Philippines at an historic turning point. For the first time, the lord has praised a leader for this country who comes from a biblical Christian background.

Secondly, a strong Christian revival has swept throughout the length and breadth of this archipelago, especially after the natural calamities and power brown-outs in 1991-1993, By the year 1993 some ten million people had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and made a commitment to follow God’s word and proclaim the gospel.

The Christian Revival turned movie houses, disco bars, factories, offices and garages into churches, Bible Colleges, and Christian Schools.

Many Filipinos in all walks of life-rich or poor, young or old, city dweller or country folk- have a great hunger for the word of God and a need to attend Bible studies, discipleships, Christian Schools, and Sunday schools. Even Filipinos Overseas have organized Bible study groups among their overseas workers communities.

A GREAT CHRISTIAN REVIVAL IN THE PHILIPPINES

No other nation in the world at this time can fill this role better than the Philippines. So if the Filipinos do their part in taking the Gospel of the leadership of Jesus Christ to the other parts of the world, this will fulfil our destiny as the “light of Asia”.