This February 25th marks the 36th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. Other than just having a free day off from work and school, we should use this time to look back and remember this momentous occasion in our country’s history.
There are so many resources out there to educate and remind us about what EDSA People Power was all about. It is our responsibility as Filipino citizens to educate ourselves about the facts and the true causes and effects of this powerful peaceful revolution.
Books
There are many children’s books to help us educate younger generations about the truth surrounding the Martial Law era and the harsh reality that people had to live through during this time. It may be difficult to explain such a dark topic to a child, but just imagine how confusing it may have been to be a child during this time
Among these books is the Modern Heroes for the Filipino Youth series which are biographies of real people. This series features people like William “Billy” Claver, Susan Fernandez-Magno, and Ninoy Aquino. We must continue to remember their names and their contributions to our freedom that some of them were not able to see for themselves.
Edsa by Russell Molina is a counting book with the four days of the revolution as its theme and setting.
For more mature audiences books like Dekada ’70 by Lualhati Bautista and Salingkit: A 1986 Diary by Cyan Abad-Jugo tackle heavier topics relating to Martial Law and the EDSA People Power Revolution through the lens of a female lead.
Older readers who were young at the time of the revolution may relate to teen Kitty Eugenio in Salingkit while now empathizing with the complex feelings and strong familial bond Amanda Bartolome feels in Dekada ’70.
You can also read the poem that national hero Ninoy Aquino, wrote himself in prison, entitled God is Everywhere But is He Really? Aquino describes the brutal torture used in the time of Martial Law, also naming inspirational people who died for the cause.
Documentaries and archived news
EDSA 30- Inquirer documentary special, is a documentary released by INQUIRER.net in 2016 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.
Documentaries like Batas Militar and The Kingmaker go deeper into specific aspects of the Martial Law era. Batas Militar takes first-hand accounts from those who experienced the harsh regime, while The Kingmaker dives into Imelda Marcos and the effects of her actions and relationships.
Preen.ph has also released a list of documentaries in 2019 that all center on former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. for Aquino Day. These documentaries remain greatly relevant even during EDSA Day as Ninoy Aquino is one of the most important names relating to the fight against Martial Law.
Foreign publications also released articles centering on the Philippine situation during the Martial Law era and the iconic peaceful and bloodless revolution that was the EDSA People Power Revolution.
The Los Angeles Times released an article entitled ‘An Eyewitness History, The Philippine Revolution of 1986‘ on August 31, 1986. While The Atlantic tries to pin down a deeper underlying issue in their article ‘A Damaged Culture‘ which was published in November of 1987.
Other resources
The Martial Law Museum is an online educational resource that hopes to change the way that Martial Law is taught and understood in schools. The site offers resources and lesson plans starting from Marcos’ election into presidency and even till the latter effects that this and the EDSA People Power Revolution have today.
Written and composed by singer-songwriter Jim Paredes of the APO Hiking Society, ‘Handog Ng Pilipinas Sa Mundo’s lyrics and video were meant to encapsulate the feelings of hope and idealism that the People Power Revolution evoked as the Filipino people came together peacefully to achieve one common goal: freedom.
It’s important to remember and learn from our past to ensure that we don’t make these same mistakes again. Looking back at our dark past will help equip us in creating a brighter future.
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