Wednesday, February 22, 2012

EDSA 1986


The People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution and the Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series of nonviolent and prayerful, mass street demonstrations in the Philippines that occurred in 1986. It is sometimes referred to as the Yellow Revolution due to the presence of yellow ribbons during the arrival of Ninoy Aquino. (remember the song "Tie A Yellow Ribbon") These protests were the culmination of a long resistance by the people against the 20 year running authoritarian regime of then current president Ferdinand Marcos and made news headlines as "the revolution that surprised the world". The majority of the demonstrations took place at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue between Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame up to Green Hills area, known more commonly by its acronym EDSA, in Quezon City. Other parts of Metropolitan Manila was also involved and an actively revolving mass of people were going from place to place, this includes areas around Channel 4, Channel 7 areas, the vicinity of Malacañang to include Mendiola bridge, and involved millions of Filipino civilians as well as several political, military, and religious figures, such as Jaime Cardinal Sin.
The protests, fueled by a resistance and opposition of years of corrupt governance by Marcos, occurred from February 22 to 25 in 1986, when Marcos fled Malacañang Palace to the United States and conceded to Corazon Aquino as president of the Philippines. Our EDSA revolution gave a blueprint for the modern non violent revolution and was now sweeping across the Middle East. A revolution by the people wanting freedom from oppression and repression by a government that only catered to a few.
MEDICUS was a part of this revolution and fight for freedom, and our story was never told.
February 22, 1986 Saturday: Medicus members went to a Medical Mission near the Nescaffe factory at Muntinlupa, it was a very fruitful day treating patients. I am a 2nd year medical student then and we did the minor surgical part including circumcisions. Max was our team leader being a 3rd year. There were other several seniors that were guiding us, lunch time was vegetarian. As I remember at 4 pm we have seen the last patient and started to pack our things. It is almost 5 pm when we reached the highway along Paranaque. We saw several military tanks parked on the side of the highway going into Makati. We did not see any problem then and we continued on our way to Caloocan via EDSA. When we reached EDSA in front of Camp Crame, we saw several hundred demonstrators with their placards, we were able to pass through without any problem and continued to Caloocan. Joel Mendoza who lives at Kamias decides to get off at Kamias and went back to stay around Crame and see what's going on. The rest of the group went to MCU, embarked, and went home.
Unknown to us at about 6:30pm, February 22, Enrile and Ramos held a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, where they announced that they have resigned their positions on Marcos's cabinet and are withdrawing support from his government. Apparently a supposed "coup de etat"by RAM spearheaded by DND personel was foiled early that day by the Marcos government around the Malacanang area. Cardinal Sin went on the radio and called for the people to protect these soldiers from harm that night. He asked the people to surround the areas of Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame and serve as buffer so that government forces could not attack. That night people who were holding rallies around Malacañang and other areas trickled down to EDSA in front of the two camps. In the morning people from all over Metro Manila from all walks of life rich and poor, the religious and the not so religious, the "inteligencia" and laborers came and lend a hand. "Kapit Bisig" in front of the camps.

February 23, 1986 Sunday: It is now known that we have a "coup de etat" going on. Joel called several MEDICUS members early that day and updated us on what was going on around Crame. We also heard from the radio that night, that Cardinal Sin was calling for people to support Enrile and Ramos (they were the leaders of a coup de etat). We called other Vincula and asked each other if we will participate in this protest. Me(Alex,) Edwin, Alon, Vic, Joel, Mario, Gilbert, Cris, and the rest of Vincula decides that we will. I remember Alon saying " what will you tell your children or grandchildren when they asked you "nasaan kayo noong EDSA revolution"? We decide to go.


Me and Edwin rode a jeep to Cubao with out water canteens, flashlights, sandwich and jackets (we're ready to spend the night) and from there walked to Santolan. We got there before 9 am and met with Joel, Alon, Vic and some other MEDICUS members. Ramos and Enrile decides to consolidate their position. Enrile with the RAM boys decides to go to Crame which is easier to defend than Aguinaldo. We saw them walking and crossing EDSA.
At lunch time we saw other MCU students from different MCU organization and was informed that MCU doctors were also on their way to provide medical help if necessary and to be a part of the protest under the DOCTORS for CORY banner. Someone with a Volkswagen Combi was there with a tarpaulin and we started building a tent on the corner of EDSA and Santolan. The place used to be a motor shop but was close at that time. The people living in the house above the "talyer" allowed us and welcomed us to stay in front of the house and they gave us water. When the tent was finished, we contribute with what money we have and start buying supplies and calling other brods and sis to bring supplies and equipment that we used mostly for our medical missions. An MCU ambulance came with MCU MD's and this tent becomes the headquarters for the MCU contingent at EDSA. Some doctors from MCU brought medications, sutures, IV's and surgical equipment with them and added to the pool. We made makeshift red cross arm bands out of Marios's (Mario Lopez) lab gown. Armed with first aid equipments we start to do foot patrol around the area ready to give first aid. At 2 pm a lot of "ralyista" coming from different directions of Metro Manila gathered where we were. The road was closed and no cars can pass, we also have our first case. A lady collapsed near Cubao and nobody can reach her, since the roads were now closed.
We were young and full of energy, we grab a gurney and tried to run near Cubao to help the lady in need. Halfway to Cubao that gurney feels like a refrigerator, it was so heavy that we are having a hard time holding on to it. We got to the lady, after what seems to be hours. We put her on the gurney and tried to run back, but we were so tired it ended in a walk back to the camp near Santolan. She was dehydrated, an IV was started and after a few minutes she was up.
The MCU medical unit treated everyone that needs help. We met an old man coming from the Visayas region with a big wound on his foot, he got it from stepping on a broken glass in one of the protest marches. He was in Manila participating on the protest for several days and did not have the money for the wound to be taken care off. He was taken care off at that time and no one asked for any payment or for anything in return. Everything was freely given if it is needed, sometimes even when it is not needed. People who do not know each other gave each other food and water no questions asked. You can see people who do not know each other splitting a little sandwich and sharing drinking from a single cup. We slept that night on that makeshift camp, with newspapers as our beds and cockroaches as our alarm. Side by side people were ready to give and make the ultimate sacrifice for a belief that we are fighting for our freedom, for our children's freedom and that tomorrow will be a better day.

February 24, Monday: I woke up at 2 am after 2 hrs of sleep, only to be told that we are needed at the Santolan going to Libis as the Marines were trying to breach that area. When we got there tear gas was everywhere. People were pulling back, then pushed back as the Marines pulled back after a brief scuffle. First aid was rendered to those who need it. With watering eyes, coughing and in need of help ourselves. We helped those that we can reach and pulled them out of the area.
We want back to the camp and rest. At 5 am I saw an elderly couple driving their van. They stopped across our camp and started to make a fire, with firewood that they brought and boiled water on a big kettle. They made coffee in the middle of EDSA and anyone who want a cup can have one until the whole drum of coffee was gone. They said that it is their small contribution to the cause, they cannot shed blood and life but they can give coffee. A coffee that was very welcome after a sleepless cold night.
Later, during that morning we saw helicopters coming to EDSA. Everyone was tense, thinking that this is it, blood will be spilled all over the place. As it was thought that General Ver ordered an attack that day. Then shouts rung as the helicopters landed inside the camp and unloaded military supplies to the rebels. It turned out to be the 15th Air Force Strike Wing, led by Major General Antonio Sotelo who went to side with the rebel forces.

By lunch time there was a festive spirit. Some MCU students came and then disappear but we were still there. People were donating to our camp, giving food and money to buy medicines. Someone donates 3 crates of fresh egg and up to now I do not know what happen to those eggs (we have no way of cooking those eggs).
February 25, Tuesday: We woke up from our naps that morning thinking that another attack is imminent. I found the old couple again, giving away coffee. The team stays and tried to give help who ever needs help. Cory was inducted as the President and Marcos did the same in Malacanang. I went home to get new clothes and bathe. At 9 pm that day Marcos left Malacang. I was at home taking a bath and getting ready to go back to EDSA, but then decide not to since Marcos left.
agp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooGtSV7UafI&feature=youtu.be