My Tribute to the EDSA People Power Revolution

The country never fails to celebrate the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution that paved the way for the restoration of democracy in the Philippines. This peaceful revolution ended the Marcos dictatorship and catapulted Cory Aquino to the presidency.

On February 25, 2013, the whole nation remembered the heroism, sacrifices and unity of the Fiipinos. This is my philatelic tribute to the men and women who have risked everything for freedom. May the spirit of the EDSA revolution be always in the hearts of every Filipino.

01/14 During martial law, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was imprisoned by President Ferdinand Marcos. In 1980, he was allowed to leave for the United States for a heart operation. He came back to the country but was assassinated in the tarmac of the Manila International Airport (now Ninoy Aquino International Airport) on August 21, 1983...

02/14 Soon after, Ninoy's widow Cory will carry on the fight he wasn’t able to finish. The death of Ninoy was the beginning of the end of the Marcos regime..

03/14 After Ninoy’s death on August 21, 1983, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino returned home to continue her husband's fight for freedom and democracy. A plain housewife, Cory became the unifying force of the opposition. She ran against Marcos in the 1986 Snap Presidential Elections. Marcos defeated her but his victory was marred with widespread gross fraud, intimidation, ballot box stuffing, and falsified tabulation..
 

04/14 Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos, the heroes of EDSA  are featured in this stamp issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation.

05/14 In 1992, with the support of President Cory Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos became the country's 12th President.

06/14 Jaime Cardinal Sin was then Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila. An influential and charismatic leader of the Filipino people, he played a very crucial role in the People Power Revolution. His appeal to the masses drove multitudes of people to come out of the streets and protect the soldiers led by General Fidel Ramos and Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, who defected from the Armed Forces. Tanks, armored vehicles and troops stopped as people went on their knees to pray the rosary while others sang sacred hymns. Soldiers left their posts to join the marchers..

07/14 The People Power Revolution also known as the EDSA Revolution and the Philippine Revolution of 1986 was a popular nonviolent revolution and prayerful mass street demonstration in the Philippines that occurred in 1986. It restored the country's democracy and became a subsequent inspiration for the Revolutions of 1989 that ended communist dictatorships in Eastern Europe..

08/14 The People Power Revolution forced President Ferdinand Marcos and his family to flee the country and went on an exile in Hawaii. Cory Aquino became the new president on February 25, 1986. Her presidency was the start of the transition from authoritarian rule to democracy.

09/14 This one of two pre-stamped envelopes highlighting the 25th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986 was released on February 25, 2011 by the Philippine Postal Corporation.

10/14 The EDSA Revoluton continues to be an inspiration for people in other parts of the world. After the fall of communism and the rise of free nations in the former Eastern Europe bloc, the countries in the Middle East staged their own people power to topple oppressive presidents and regimes.

11/14 The only son of Senator Ninoy and President Cory Aquino, President Benigno Aquino III continues the legacy of EDSA.
 

12/14 This is the latest set featuring the EDSA People Power Revolution released by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) on August 1, 2011. The stamps featured President Cory Aquino and Jaime Cardinal Sin.

13/14 Today, February 25, 2013, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III leads the nation in celebrating the 27th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution...

14/14 Last year, after the flag raising ceremony and the salubungan, a statue of Manila Archibishop Jaime Cardinal Sin was unveiled by President Aquino at the Rizal Park.