Local History

 PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION  (Edsa Revolution)

  The People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution and the Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that occurred in 1983-86. The methods used amounted to a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud. This case of nonviolent revolution led to the departure of President Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of the country's democracy. It is also referred to as the Yellow Revolution due to the presence of yellow ribbons during the demonstrations and the arrival of Benigno Aquino, Jr.. It was widely seen as a victory of the people against the 20-year running authoritarian, repressive regime of then president Ferdinand Marcos and made news headlines as "the revolution that surprised the world".
The majority of the demonstrations took place on a long stretch of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, more commonly known by its acronym EDSA, in Metropolitan Manila from February 22–25, 1986 and involved over two million Filipino civilians as well as several political, military, and including religious groups led by Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Archbishop of Manila. The protests, fueled by the resistance and opposition from years of corrupt governance by Marcos, culminated with the departure of the dictator from Malacañang Palace to the United States state of Hawaii. Corazon Aquino was proclaimed as the legitimate President of the Philippines after the revolution.




  Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr

The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport. Aquino, also a longtime political opponent of Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, had just landed in his home country after a 3-year self exile in the United States when he was shot in the head while being escorted from an aircraft to a vehicle that was waiting to transport him to prison. Also killed was Rolando Galman, who was later implicated in Aquino's murder.
Aquino was elected to the Philippine Senate in 1967 and shortly thereafter began speaking out against Marcos' authoritarian rule. He was imprisoned on trumped up charges shortly after Marcos' 1972 declaration of martial law. In 1980, he suffered a heart attack in prison and was allowed to leave the country two months later by Marcos' wife, Imelda. He spent the next three years in exile near Boston before deciding to return to the Philippines.
Aquino's assassination is credited with transforming the opposition to the Marcos regime from a small, isolated movement into a nationally unified crusade. It is also credited with thrusting Aquino's widow, Corazon, into the public spotlight and her running for president in the snap election of 1986. Though Marcos was officially declared the winner of the election, widespread allegations of fraud and illegal tampering on Marcos' behalf is credited with sparking the People Power Revolution, which resulted in Marcos fleeing the country and conceding the presidency to Corazon Aquino.



 Kagitingan (Valour)

At dawn, 9 April 1942, against the orders of Generals Douglas MacArthur and Jonathan Wainwright, Major General Edward P. King, Jr., commanding Luzon Force, Bataan, Philippine Islands, surrendered more than 76,000 (67,000 Filipinos, 1,000 Chinese Filipinos, and 11,796 Americans) starving and disease-ridden men.
The majority of the prisoners of war were immediately robbed of their keepsakes and belongings and subsequently forced to endure a 90-mile (140 km) march in deep dust over vehicle-broken macadam roads and crammed into rail cars to captivity at Camp O'Donnell. En route, thousands died from dehydration, heat prostration, untreated wounds, and wanton execution.
Those few who were lucky enough to travel on trucks to San Fernando would still have to endure more than 25 additional miles of marching. Prisoners were beaten randomly and often denied promised food and water. Those who fell behind were usually executed or left to die; the sides of the roads became littered with dead bodies and those moaning for assistance.
On the Bataan Death March, approximately 54,000 of the 72,000 prisoners reached their destination. The death toll of the march is difficult to assess because thousands of captives were able to escape from their guards. All told, approximately 5,000-10,000 Filipino and 600-650 American prisoners of war died before they could reach Camp O'Donnell.



Bataan Death March

Because of World War II, plans of Philippine independence were derailed and the Commonwealth government was abolished. During the war which saw destruction of the whole Philippine islands, both Filipino and American soldiers that were captured by the Japanese invaders were forced to participate in a march that will cover 60 miles from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac. The physical abuse added with the heat and the hardships of marching for nearly a week without food or water killed 18,000 Filipino and American soldiers.


Dr. Jose Rizal's Death

MANILA, Philippines - As we commemorate tomorrow the 114th year of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal’s execution at the Luneta, there are some details that may not be known to many – for instance, why he refused to be blindfolded and demanded that he face his executioners.

Or that only one bullet, from the guns of the firing squad, actually ended the life of the Filipino martyr that further fueled the Philippine revolution.

The court-martial of Rizal commenced on Dec. 26, 1896. Even before the death verdict was handed down, Rizal knew he was a dead man since his trial had been a moro-moro (sham).

By 6:30 of the morning of Dec. 30, Rizal, dressed in a black suit with vest, began his march to the field of his execution in Bagumbayan, now the Luneta, from his prison cell in Fort Santiago.

Rizal was accompanied by his military appointed counsel Lt. Taviel de Andrade, and Fathers Estanislao March and Jose Villaclara.

Holding a rosary in his right hand, Rizal was tied at the elbows as his group walked behind four advance guards armed with bayonets.

Historical accounts showed that six to eight Filipino volunteer troops composed the firing squad designated by Spanish authorities to execute Rizal.

A descendant of one of the executioners, Adolfo Pastor Quetcuti, related that only one of the rifles was loaded with a live bullet while the rest were blanks.

This is to ease the guilt of Rizal’s executioners who knew he was innocent, he explained.

Another group of peninsular troops also stood behind them as an additional measure just in case the Filipino troops decided to back out.

Rizal refused to be blindfolded and insisted on facing his executioners, but this was denied.

Rizal wanted to show he was no traitor and that he was willing to die for his country.

Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, who took Rizal’s vital signs and pulse rate before the execution, was amazed to find that the national hero was calm and unafraid.

Upon hearing the squad commander’s shout of “Fuego (Fire),” Rizal turned to face the firing squad.

Rizal fell face up and was able to see the dawn breaking before he uttered in his final breath: “Consummatum est (It is finished).”

In 1898, the first Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo issued his first decree marking Rizal’s death anniversary on Dec. 30 rather than his birthday on June 19 to commemorate his heroism and sacrifice for the country.