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Marcos elected President
Ferdinand Marcos was elected as the Philippine president in 1965. The majority of the Philippine people were happy of the outcome of that election but by the second election, they were not happy. He was elected because he promised the people an improvement in economic and social conditions. The country was already stricken with poverty, corruption, and crime. -
Marcos Re-election
Marcos was re-elected as president for his second term but many people were unhappy with the results because they thought that his first term was marked by violence, as well as there were bribes being done to buy votes for the election. There was much controversy during this election, because they were unsure of the President's actions. -
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First Quarter Storm
On January 26,1970 the First Quarter Storm was an important mark in history that showed some symptoms of a revolution. The protest was lead by youth and students (middle class) that waited outside the House of Congress and boycotted his re-elections. In an attempt for the protesters to fight back with stones, the police had fought back, leaving some protesters severely injured. -
Battle of Mendiola
Along the street of Mendiola towards the Malancañang Palace, they attempted to ram the gate of the Malacañang with a firetruck. Four students were killed, but should the police have been there to shoot and kill or are they there to maintain peace? -
First Constitutional Convention
By holding this event, it was evident for Marcos to implement a parliamentary system in order to keep running as a president. By implementing the parliamentary system, Marcos will be able to keep his power. Unfortunately for Marcos, this proposal was voted down. Marcos would then try to implement this again in 1973. -
Bombing in Plaza Miranda
This bombing was during the political campaign rally of the Liberal Party at Plaza Miranda. Ferdinand Marcos response to this event was the suspension of Habeas Corpus. -
Arrest of Ninoy Aquino/ Jose Diokno
The two strongest critics of the Marcos government were the two Filipino senators named Ninoy Aquino and Jose Diokno. By eliminating these people, he would be eliminating powerful oppositions against his mission. Marcos threw them in jail because they had "challenged the government's ways". -
Declaration of Martial Law
Marcos had officially declared martial law. There was a ban against any expression or manifestation of people power in order to "protect democracy". His main source of strength was the military, to keep their loyalty, they bribed them or used propaganda.There was a "restored society" increase moral boost, increase of stocks. There was also police brutality, torture, rape, death, and violation of multiple human rights. He still needed the vote of the people in order for it to be approved. -
Marcos Constitution Ratified (approved)
After this being voted down in 1971, Marcos tried again because the delegates had been arrested, it was an easier chance for it to pass. Not only that but the voting body had changed and gave him better odds because there was no opposition to him. His alterations to the constitution from a presidential to a parliamentary allowed him to keep his power for as long as possible. -
LABAN Party Founding
Marcos held his first elections under martial law in 1978. Despite it being a corrupted election, the LABAN party ran in the elections. What made it unusual was that the LABAN candidate (Ninoy Aquino) was in jail at the time. If he had won the election he would be released, in which is what the Filipino people wanted. -
Noise Barrage
There was a new form of protest in Metro Manila on April 6, 1978. The noise barrage was an unprecedented form of protest that was widespread around Metro Manila. This protest included lots of loud noises from anything useful the night before the 1978 elections until dawn. These protesters were the supporters of the LABAN party to spread awareness. -
Aquino Heart Attack/ Sent to US
Ninoy Aquino suffered a heart attack in prison, and was allowed to travel to the US for a heart bypass surgery. Marcos was convinced to release Marcos from Fort Bonifacio prison in order to gain more liking from the people. The people would think that Marcos is generous because he allowed his political opponent to fly to the US for surgery. -
Marcos elections (1981), boycotted by opposition
Ferdinand Marcos held another "Presidential Election" in 1981 allowing himself to win another six-year term. Oppositions had boycott against Marcos, so he had ran against random politicians to try and make this election at least seem slightly legitimate. -
Aquino Assassination
After a long journey of travelling to avoid any attention, Ninoy Aquino had tried to come back to the Philippines. Unfortunately as soon as he landed, he was shot despite having a bulletproof vest. He knew the precautions of coming back to the Philippines, but he chose to come back to continue defecting Marcos. -
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Confetti Revolution
After the death of Ninoy Aquino on August 21, 1983 there was a new form of protest that was unprecedented. In the Confetti Revolution, businessmen, upper and lower class all involved themselves in this protest. Most revolutions involved majority of middle class (college students), but this was different, making this protest different than previous movements. -
Marcos calls for snap elections
Marcos had gotten criticism from a reporter in a US interview along with many international organizations. He announced on November 3, 1985 to hold snap elections allowing only 60 days for opponents to campaign. One million people sign to nominate Cory Aquino to run against Marcos. Cory was the primary opponent of Marcos leading the LABAN party along with vice president Doy Laurel. -
The Snap Election of 1986
The two main parties of the snap elections were the KBL and LABAN party with figureheads Ferdinand Marcos and Cory Aquino. According to the COMELEC, Marcos had won the elections, but it is believed that he had committed fraud. According to a volunteer group NAMFREL, the counted votes were in favour of Aquino. The COMELEC workers had even joined the protest against Marcos' win. -
Enrile and Ramos Defect the Marcos Regime
The crisis stage of this revolution was when Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel Ramos had defected against the Marcos government. They had barricaded themselves in Camp Crame among 500 soldiers. Cardinal Sin had broadcasted a message to Metro Manila saying to support the rebel soldiers in their efforts to make Marcos leave. This caused the EDSA Uprising that ended the Marcos regime. -
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EDSA Uprising
Cardinal Sin had called upon Filipinos to support the rebel soldiers in Camp Crame on his religious radio. This struck a nationwide movement, Filipinos flooded the street with no guns or armour, only the soul linking of arms among the people. What made this movement unique to any other revolution was the fact the the army had joined with the people and chose to not defect the people. -
Marcos family flees Philippines
Shortly after the EDSA revolution, overwhelmed with millions of people, Marcos had stepped down and left the Malacañang palace without pushing against it. With the help of the US, he fled the Philippines to Guam. He could've pushed through this movement but he had chosen to give up and leave the Malacañang Palace. Thus, making this revolution an unprecedented event in history. This was a very unusual situation that almost never occurs in revolutions.