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Tuesday, June 4, 2019

People Power Revolution

{{hatnote|"EDSA Revolution" redirects here. For other uses, see [[EDSA Revolution (disambiguation)]]. For other uses of "People Power", see [[People Power (disambiguation)]].}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
|title=People Power Revolution
|partof=
|image= EDSA Revolution pic1.jpg
|caption=
|date= February 22–25, 1986
|place=Philippines, primarily [[EDSA (road)|Epifanio de los Santos Avenue]], [[Metro Manila]]
|causes=
*Killing of [[Benigno Aquino Jr.]] in 1983
*Fraud during the [[Philippine presidential election, 1986|1986 Presidential snap elections]]
*Decades of [[Martial law in the Philippines|oppressive and totalitarian rule]]
|goals=Removal of [[Ferdinand Marcos]] and installation of [[Corazon Aquino]] as President
|status=
|result= Revolutionary victory
*Removal of [[Ferdinand Marcos]] from office End of [[History of the Philippines (1965–86)|Marcos era (1965–86)]]
*Marcos exiled to Hawaii
*Start of the [[Fifth Philippine Republic]]
*[[Corazon Aquino]] becomes President of the Philippines
|side1='''People Power revolutionaries''' Political groups: 
*[[United Nationalist Democratic Organization|UNIDO]]
*[[Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan|PDP-Laban]]
*[[Liberal Party (Philippines)|Liberal Party]]
Military defectors:
*[[Reform the Armed Forces Movement]]
*[[Philippine Constabulary|Defected soldiers]]
Others:
*Anti-Marcos civilian protesters
Religious groups:
*[[Archdiocese of Manila]]
*[[Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines|CBCP]]<ref name=convergence>{{cite news|last1=Sison|first1=Jose Maria|title='It was a convergence of various forces'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20060224&id=FFg1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=jiUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1930,4044246|accessdate=August 4, 2014|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=February 24, 2006}}</ref>
*[[Protestantism in the Philippines|Protestant churches of the Philippines]]
Militant groups:
*[[Bagong Alyansang Makabayan]]<ref name=convergence /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Araullo|first1=Carolina|title=Left was at Edsa and long before|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4FU1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=aiUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1015%2C30844986|accessdate=August 4, 2014|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=March 2, 2000}}</ref>
**[[Kilusang Mayo Uno]]
**League of Filipino Students
**Christians for National Liberation
|side2=[[History of the Philippines (1965–1986)|'''Marcos government''']] 
* [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]]
**Forces loyal to Marcos
* [[Presidential Security Group]]<ref name=lastdays>{{cite news|last1=Suarez|first1=Miguel|title=Marcos' last days filled with errors and humiliation|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=csNaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=blkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7096%2C2434617|accessdate=August 4, 2014|work=The Evening Independent|agency=Associated Press|date=February 26, 1986|quote=She (Imelda) did not tell the crowd by that time all but a few thousand soldiers and officers, mostly those in the presidential guard, had by then turn against Marcos to join Mrs. Aquino's "people power" revolution}}</ref>
Government parties:
*[[Kilusang Bagong Lipunan]]
|leadfigures1=[[Corazon Aquino]] [[Salvador Laurel]] [[Juan Ponce Enrile]] [[Fidel V. Ramos]] [[Gregorio Honasan|Gringo Honasan]] [[Jaime Sin|Jaime Cardinal Sin]]
|leadfigures2=[[Ferdinand Marcos]] [[Imelda Marcos]] [[Fabian Ver]]
|howmany1=2,000,000+ protestors
|howmany2= No figures available
|casualties1=
|casualties2=
|fatalities=
|arrests=
|detentions=
|fined=
|casualties_label=
|notes=
}}
{{History of the Philippines}}
{{RegchangePH}}

The '''People Power Revolution''' (also known as the '''EDSA Revolution''' and the '''Philippine Revolution of 1986''' or simply '''EDSA 1986''') was a series of popular [[Demonstration (people)|demonstration]]s in the [[Philippines]], mostly in the capital city of [[Manila]] from February 22–25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of [[civil resistance]] against regime violence and alleged electoral fraud. The [[nonviolent revolution]] led to the departure of dictator [[Ferdinand Marcos]], the end of his 21-year presidential rule, and the restoration of [[democracy]] in the Philippines.<ref name="QUARTET p. 77">{{cite web| url = http://www.stuartxchange.org/DayFour.html| title = The Original People Power Revolution| accessdate = February 28, 2008| publisher = QUARTET p. 77| deadurl = no| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080215175737/http://www.stuartxchange.org/DayFour.html| archivedate = February 15, 2008| df = mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Yellow ribbons turn up on EDSA">{{cite web| url = http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=109889| title = Yellow ribbons turn up on EDSA| accessdate = February 28, 2008| publisher = [[ABS-CBN]]}}{{dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref>

It is also referred to as the '''Yellow Revolution''' due to the presence of yellow ribbons during demonstrations following the [[Assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr.|assassination of Filipino senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.]]<ref name="QUARTET p. 77"/><ref name="Yellow ribbons turn up on EDSA"/> in August 1983. It was widely seen as a victory of the people against two decades of presidential rule by President Marcos, and made news headlines as "the revolution that surprised the world".<ref name="Gandhi">{{Citation |last=Kumar |first=Ravindra |last2= |first2= |publication-date=|title=Mahatma Gandhi at the Close of Twentieth Century|publication-place= |publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. |isbn=978-81-261-1736-9 |page=168 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=lTNpstqGlAMC&pg=PA168&dq=EDSA+Revolution |accessdate= December 2, 2007 |year=2004}}.</ref>

The majority of the demonstrations took place on a long stretch of [[EDSA (road)|Epifanio de los Santos Avenue]], more commonly known by its acronym ''EDSA'', in [[Metro Manila]] from February 22–25, 1986. They involved over two million Filipino civilians, as well as several political and military groups, and religious groups led by [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[Jaime Sin]], the [[Archbishop of Manila]], along with [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines]] President Cardinal [[Ricardo Vidal]], the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu|Archbishop of Cebu]]. The protests, fueled by the resistance and opposition from years of governance by President Marcos and his cronies, culminated with the absolute rule and his family fleeing [[Malacañang Palace]] to exile in [[Hawaii]]. Ninoy Aquino's widow, [[Corazon Aquino]], was immediately installed as the [[List of Presidents of the Philippines|eleventh]] President as a result of the revolution.<ref>
{{cite web| url = http://www.stuartxchange.com/EdsaIntro.html| title = Edsa people Power 1 Philippines| accessdate = December 3, 2007| publisher = Angela Stuart-Santiago| deadurl = no| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071213180847/http://www.stuartxchange.com/EdsaIntro.html| archivedate = December 13, 2007| df = mdy-all}}</ref>

==Background and history==
{{Main|Ferdinand Marcos}}
[[Image:Ferdinand Marcos.JPEG|thumb|[[Ferdinand Marcos]] became the longest-serving [[Philippines|Philippine]] president for 20 years.]]
President Ferdinand E. Marcos was [[Philippine presidential election, 1965|elected president in 1965]], defeating incumbent [[Diosdado Macapagal|President Diosdado Macapagal]] by a margin of 52 to 43 percent. During this time, Marcos was very active in the initiation of public works projects and the intensification of tax collections. Marcos and his government claimed that they "built more roads than all his predecessors combined, and more schools than any previous administration".<ref>{{Harvnb|Lacsamana|1990|p=187}}</ref> Amidst charges from the opposition party of vote buying and a fraudulent election, President Marcos was reelected in the [[Philippine presidential election, 1969]], this time defeating [[Sergio Osmeña Jr.|Sergio Osmeña, Jr.]] by 61 to 39 percent.

President Marcos' second term for the presidency was marred by allegations by the opposition [[Liberal Party (Philippines)|Liberal Party]] of widespread graft and corruption. According to [[leftists]] who rioted during the [[First Quarter Storm]], the increasing disparity of wealth between the very wealthy and the very poor that made up the majority of the Philippines' population led to a rise in crime and civil unrest around the country. These factors, including the formation of the [[New People's Army]] and a bloody Muslim separatist movement in the southern island of Mindanao led by the [[Moro National Liberation Front]], contributed to the rapid rise of civil discontent and unrest in the country.{{citation needed|date = February 2014}}

A [[Constitutional convention (political meeting)|constitutional convention]], which had been called for in 1970 to replace the Commonwealth era [[1935 Constitution of the Philippines|1935 Constitution]], continued the work of framing a new constitution after the declaration of martial law. The new constitution went into effect in early 1973, changing the form of government from presidential to [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] and allowing President Marcos to stay in power beyond 1973. The constitution was approved by 95% of the voters in the [[Philippine constitutional plebiscite, 1973|Philippine constitutional plebiscite]].

President Marcos was barred from running for a third term as president in 1973. On September 23, 1972, by virtue of a presidential proclamation (No. 1081), he declared [[martial law]], citing rising civil disobedience as a justification. Through this decree and after obtaining voters consent through the plebiscite, President Marcos seized emergency powers giving him full control of the Philippines' military and the authority to suppress and abolish the [[freedom of speech]], the [[freedom of the press]], and many other [[civil liberties]]. President Marcos also dissolved the [[Philippine Congress]] and shut down media establishments critical of the Marcos Administration.<ref name="Celoza"/>

President Marcos also ordered the immediate arrest of his political opponents and critics. Among those arrested were Senate President [[Jovito Salonga]], Senator [[Jose Diokno]], and Senator [[Benigno Aquino Jr.]], who Marcos linked with the [[Communists]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Ninoy linked up with the Left to aid presidential ambition|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/198820/news/specialreports/ninoy-networked-with-everyone-reds-included|newspaper=GMA News|date=August 18, 2010|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207014355/http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/198820/news/specialreports/ninoy-networked-with-everyone-reds-included|archivedate=February 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and the man who was groomed by the opposition to succeed President Marcos after the 1973 elections.<ref name="Celoza"/> On November 25, 1977, the Military Commission charged Aquino along with his two co-accused, [[New People's Army|NPA]] leaders [[Bernabe Buscayno]] (Commander Dante) and Lt. Victor Corpuz, guilty of all charges and sentenced them to death by firing squad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Max Soliven recalls Ninoy Aquino: Unbroken|url=http://asianjournalusa.com/max-soliven-recalls-ninoy-aquino-unbroken-p5828-87.htm|accessdate=August 30, 2013|newspaper=Philippines Star|date=October 10, 2008|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016015855/http://asianjournalusa.com/max-soliven-recalls-ninoy-aquino-unbroken-p5828-87.htm|archivedate=October 16, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 1978, while still in prison, Aquino founded his [[political party]], ''[[Lakas ng Bayan]]'' (abbreviated "LABAN"; English: ''People's Power'') to run for office in the [[Interim Batasang Pambansa]] (Parliament). All LABAN candidates lost, including Ninoy himself.

With practically all of his political opponents were arrested and in exile, President Marcos' pre-emptive declaration of martial law in 1972 and the [[Philippine constitutional plebiscite, 1973|ratification]] of his new constitution by more than 95% of voters enabled Marcos to effectively legitimize his government and hold on to power for another 14 years beyond his first two terms as president. In a [[Cold War]] context, Marcos retained the support of the United States through Marcos' promise to stamp out communism in the Philippines and by assuring the United States of its continued use of military and naval bases in the Philippines.<ref name="Celoza">{{Citation|title=Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines: the political economy of authoritarianism |first=Albert |last=Celoza |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=1997}}</ref>

===Assassination of Ninoy Aquino===
{{main|Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.}}
Despite warnings from the military and other First Lady Imelda R. Marcos, Ninoy Aquino was determined to return to the Philippines. Asked what he thought of the death threats, Ninoy Aquino responded, "The Filipino is worth dying for."<ref>{{cite web|title=Aquino, Corazon Cojuangco • The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation • Honoring greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia|url=http://rmaward.asia/awardees/aquino-corazon-cojuangco/|website=rmaward.asia|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804175243/http://rmaward.asia/awardees/aquino-corazon-cojuangco/|archivedate=August 4, 2017|df=mdy-all|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref>

At that time, Ninoy's passport had expired and the renewal had been denied. Ninoy therefore acquired a plan to acquire a fake passport with the help of [[Rashid Lucman]],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Philippine Star|title=A look back at Ninoy Aquino's murder|date=August 20, 2014|url=http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/2014/08/20/1359731/look-back-ninoy-aquinos-murder|accessdate=March 30, 2016|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828054443/http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/2014/08/20/1359731/look-back-ninoy-aquinos-murder|archivedate=August 28, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Philippine Star">{{cite journal|last=Philippine Star|title=Will Noynoy Aquino be the hero of Muslims in Mindanao?|url=http://www.philstar.com/letters-editor/604043/will-noynoy-aquino-be-hero-muslims-mindanao|date=August 20, 2010|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010224659/http://www.philstar.com/letters-editor/604043/will-noynoy-aquino-be-hero-muslims-mindanao|archivedate=October 10, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The passport carried the alias ''Marcial Bonifacio'' (Marcial for martial law and Bonifacio for Fort Bonifacio, his erstwhile prison).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inq7.net/nat/2003/aug/21/nat_4-1.htm |title=Services – INQUIRER.net |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516180338/http://www.inq7.net/nat/2003/aug/21/nat_4-1.htm |archivedate=May 16, 2006 |deadurl=yes |df=mdy }}</ref>

On August 21, 1983, after a three-year exile in the [[United States]], Aquino was [[assassination|assassinated]] as he disembarked from a [[Taiwan]]ese commercial flight at the [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport|Manila International Airport]] (which was later renamed in Aquino's honor).<ref>{{Citation |editor-last1=Javate-De Dios |editor-first1=Aurora |editor-first2=Petronilo |editor-last2=Bn Daroy |editor-first3=Lorna |editor-last3=Kalaw-Tirol |title=Dictatorship and Revolution: Roots of People's Power |publisher=Conspectus Foundation Incorporated |date=1988 |oclc=19609244 |page=132 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=Nz1yAAAAMAAJ&dq=Dictatorship+and+Revolution%3A+Roots+of+People%27s+Power |asin=B0000EEE8J |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017232007/https://books.google.com/books?ei=_6RFU_T8JYrIyAHwhIDgBA&id=Nz1yAAAAMAAJ&dq=Dictatorship+and+Revolution%3A+Roots+of+People%27s+Power |archivedate=October 17, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}.</ref> His assassination shocked and outraged many Filipinos, most of whom had lost confidence in the Marcos administration. The event led to more suspicions about the government, triggering non-cooperation among Filipinos that eventually led to outright [[civil disobedience]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Schock |first=Kurt |authorlink= |editor= |others= |title=Unarmed Insurrections: People Power Movements in Nondemocracies |origyear= |url= |format= |accessdate= |edition= |series= |date= |year=2005 |month= |publisher= University of Minnesota Press|location= |language= |isbn=978-0-8166-4192-5 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages=56 |chapter=People Power Unleashed: South Africa and the Philippines |chapterurl= |quote= }}</ref> It also shook the Marcos Administration, which was by then deteriorating due, in part, to Marcos' worsening health and ultimately fatal illness ([[lupus erythematosus]]).{{citation needed|date = February 2014}}

The assassination of Ninoy Aquino caused the Philippines economy to deteriorate even further, and the government plunged further into debt. By the end of 1983, the Philippines was in an economic recession, with the economy contracting by 6.8%.<ref>
{{cite web| url = https://www.ualberta.ca/~vmitchel/fw9.html| title = Lakas Ng Bayan: The People's Power/EDSA Revolution 1986| accessdate = December 10, 2007| publisher = [[University of Alberta]], [[Canada]]| deadurl = no| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070808142736/http://www.ualberta.ca/~vmitchel/fw9.html| archivedate = August 8, 2007| df = mdy-all}}</ref>

In 1984, Marcos appointed a commission, led by Chief Justice [[Enrique Fernando]], to launch an investigation into Aquino's assassination. Despite the commission's conclusions, Cardinal [[Jaime Sin]], the Archbishop of Manila, declined an offer to join the commission and rejected the government's views on the assassination.

===Calls for election===
{{main|Philippine presidential election, 1986}}
On November 3, 1985, after pressure from the US government,<ref>
{{cite news| url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1079/is_v86/ai_4188363| title = Election developments in the Philippines – President Reagan's statement – transcript| accessdate = December 3, 2007| publisher = US Department of State Bulletin, April 1986| year=1986}}</ref> Marcos suddenly announced that a snap presidential election would take place the following year, one year ahead of the regular presidential election schedule, to legitimize his control over the country.<ref name="NSM">{{Citation |last=Zunes |first=Stephen |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1999|title=Nonviolent Social Movements: A Geographical Perspective |publication-place= |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |isbn=978-1-57718-076-0 |page=129 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=rlIH-NQbFQgC&pg=PA129&dq=Philippine+People+power+revolution |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |year=1999 |display-authors=1 |author2=<Please add first missing authors to populate metadata.>}}</ref> The snap election was legalized with the passage of Batas Pambansa Blg. 883 (National Law No. 883) by the Marcos-controlled unicameral congress called the [[Regular Batasang Pambansa]].<ref name="Steinberg 2000 144">{{Citation |first=David Joel |last=Steinberg |publisher=Basic Books |year=2000 |page=144 |title=The Philippines: Colonialism, collaboration, and resistance}}</ref>

The growing opposition movement encouraged Ninoy Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, to run for the presidency. United Opposition (UNIDO) leader, [[Salvador Laurel]], who earlier filed his candidacy as an official UNIDO candidate for the presidency, gave way to Cory after a political deal which was later reneged by Cory after the election. [[Salvador Laurel]] eventually ran as Cory Aquino's running mate for vice-president under the United Opposition (UNIDO) party. Marcos ran for re-election, with [[Arturo Tolentino]] as his running mate under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party.<ref name="Steinberg 2000 144"/>

===1986 election===
{{main|Philippine presidential election, 1986}}
The elections were held on February 7, 1986.<ref name="NSM"/> The official election canvasser, the [[Commission on Elections]] (COMELEC), declared Marcos the winner. The final tally of the COMELEC had Marcos winning with 10,807,197 votes against Aquino's 9,291,761 votes. On the other hand, based on returns of 70% of the precincts<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/?id=-1TMCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA384&lpg=PA384&dq=namfrel+7,835,070+aquino#v=onepage&q=namfrel%207%2C835%2C070%20aquino&f=false | title=A Force More Powerful: A Century of Non-Violent Conflict| isbn=9780312240509| last1=Ackerman| first1=Peter| last2=Duvall| first2=Jack| date=2001-10-05}}</ref> of the [[National Movement for Free Elections]] (NAMFREL), an accredited poll watcher, had Aquino winning with 7,835,070 votes against Marcos' 7,053,068 votes.<ref>{{Citation|title=A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict|author1=Peter Ackerman|author2=Jack DuVall|publisher=Macmillan|year=2001|isbn=978-0-312-24050-9|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=OVtKS9DCN0kC&pg=PA384 384]|url=https://books.google.com/?id=OVtKS9DCN0kC|authorlink1=Peter Ackerman|authorlink2=Jack DuVall}}; ^ {{Citation|author=Isabelo T. Crisostomo|title=Cory—profile of a president|publisher=Branden Books|year=1987|isbn=978-0-8283-1913-3|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=iW_ddLowBYkC&pg=PA193 193]|url=https://books.google.com/?id=iW_ddLowBYkC}} (showing a reproduction of NAMFREL's announcement of the results).</ref>

This electoral exercise was marred by widespread reports of violence and tampering of election results, culminating in the walkout of 35 COMELEC computer technicians to protest the deliberate manipulation of the official election results to favor Ferdinand Marcos. The walkout was considered as one of the early "sparks" of the People Power Revolution. The walkout also served as an affirmation to allegations of vote-buying, fraud, and tampering of election results by the KBL.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.pcij.org/i-report/edsa20/william-torres.html| title = iReport EDSA 20th Anniversary Special Issue | Dr. William Castro| accessdate = January 16, 2008| publisher = Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, February 2006| deadurl = no| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080120161749/http://pcij.org/i-report/edsa20/william-torres.html| archivedate = January 20, 2008| df = mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/22582-1986-comelec-walkout-not-about-cory-or-marcos | title = 1986 Comelec walkout not about Cory or Marcos | accessdate = January 12, 2016 | publisher = Rappler | first = Reynaldo | last = Santos, Jr. | date = February 26, 2013 | deadurl = no | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160228042402/http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/22582-1986-comelec-walkout-not-about-cory-or-marcos | archivedate = February 28, 2016 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

Because of reports of alleged fraud, the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines]] (CBCP) through Cardinal [[Ricardo Vidal]] issued a statement condemning the elections. The United States Senate also passed a resolution stating the same condemnation.<ref name="NSM"/> [[US president]] [[Ronald Reagan]] issued a statement calling the fraud reports as "disturbing" but he said that there was fraud "on both sides" of the Philippine election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/02/26/in-crucial-call-laxalt-told-marcos-cut-cleanly/9329b85d-f7b0-4021-884d-5e5e659a4cb0/|title=In Crucial Call, Laxalt Told Marcos: 'Cut Cleanly'|last1=Hoffman|first1=David|last2=Cannon|first2=Lou|last3=Coleman|first3=Milton|last4=Dewar|first4=Helen|last5=Goshko|first5=John M.|last6=Oberdorfer|first6=Don|last7=W|first7=George C.|work=The Washington Post|date=February 26, 1986|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822084009/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/02/26/in-crucial-call-laxalt-told-marcos-cut-cleanly/9329b85d-f7b0-4021-884d-5e5e659a4cb0/|archivedate=August 22, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1079/is_v86/ai_4188363| title = PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT, FEB. 11, 1986| accessdate = December 3, 2007| publisher = US Department of State Bulletin, April 1986| year=1986}}</ref> In response to the protests, COMELEC claimed that Marcos with 53 percent won over Aquino. However, NAMFREL countered that the latter won over Marcos with 52 percent of votes.<ref>{{Citation |last=Schock |first=Kurt |last2= |first2= |publication-date=|title=Unarmed Insurrections: People Power Movements in Nondemocracies |publication-place= |publisher= U of Minnesota Press|isbn= 978-0-8166-4193-2|page=77 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=RRVk5qJpOH8C&pg=PA77&dq=Cory+Aquino+1986+inauguration |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |year=2005}}.</ref>

On February 15, Marcos was proclaimed by COMELEC and Batasang Pambansa as the winner amidst the controversy. All 50 opposition members of the Parliament walked out in protest. The Filipino people repudiated the results, asserting that Aquino was the real victor. Both "winners" took their oath of office in two different places, with Aquino gaining greater mass support. Aquino also called for coordinated strikes and mass boycott of the media and businesses owned by Marcos' cronies. As a result, the crony banks, corporations, and media were hit hard, and their shares in the stock market plummeted to record levels.{{citation needed|date = February 2014}}

===Vidal's declaration===
Cardinal Vidal, after the result of the snap election, issued a declaration in lieu of the Philippine Church hierarchy stating that when "a government does not of itself freely correct the evil it has inflicted on the people then it is our serious moral obligation as a people to make it do so." The declaration also asked "every loyal member of the Church, every community of the faithful, to form their judgment about the February 7 polls" and told all the Filipinos, "Now is the time to speak up. Now is the time to repair the wrong. The wrong was systematically organized. So must its correction be. But as in the election itself, that depends fully on the people; on what they are willing and ready to do."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbcponline.net/documents/1980s/1986-post_election.html|title=POST-ELECTION STATEMENT|publisher=|accessdate=March 15, 2015|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923201056/http://www.cbcponline.net/documents/1980s/1986-post_election.html|archivedate=September 23, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Events==
{{Revolution sidebar}}

===Aborted military coup===
Appalled by the bold and apparent election irregularities, the [[Reform the Armed Forces Movement]] set into motion a coup attempt against Marcos. The initial plan was for a team to assault Malacañan Palace and arrest Ferdinand Marcos. Other military units would take over key strategic facilities, such as the [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport|airport]], military bases, the GHQAFP in [[Camp Aguinaldo]], and major highway junctions to restrict counteroffensive by Marcos-loyal troops.

However, after Marcos learned about the plot, he ordered their leaders' arrest,<ref>{{Citation |last=West |first=Lois A. |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1997
|title=Militant Labor in the Philippines |publication-place= |publisher=Temple University Press |isbn=978-1-56639-491-8 |pages=19–20 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=KcaOhzm8gAQC&pg=PA20&dq=Philippine+People+power+revolution |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |year=1997}}.</ref> and presented to the international and local press some of the captured plotters, Maj. Saulito Aromin and Maj. Edgardo Doromal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuartxchange.org/DayOne.html|title=Day One (EDSA: The Original People Power Revolution by Angela Stuart-Santiago)|publisher=|accessdate=March 15, 2015|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807094913/http://www.stuartxchange.org/DayOne.html|archivedate=August 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Threatened with their impending imprisonment, Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and his fellow coup plotters decided to ask for help from then AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen [[Fidel Ramos]], who was also the chief of the [[Philippine Constabulary]] (now the Philippine National Police). Ramos agreed to resign from his position and support the plotters. Enrile also contacted the highly influential Cardinal Archbishop of Manila [[Jaime Sin]] for his support.

At about 6:30 p.m. on February 22, Enrile and Ramos held a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, where they announced that they had resigned from their positions in Marcos' cabinet and were withdrawing support from his government. Marcos himself later conducted his own news conference calling on Enrile and Ramos to surrender, urging them to "stop this stupidity".<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness">{{Citation |last=Paul Sagmayao |first=Mercado |authorlink= |first2=Francisco S.|last2=Tatad |title=People Power: The Philippine Revolution of 1986: An Eyewitness History |publisher=The James B. Reuter, S.J., Foundation |year=1986 |location=[[Manila]], [[Philippines]] |pages= |url= |oclc=16874890}}</ref>

===Sin's appeal===
After Cardinal Vidal's condemnation of the snap election's fraudulent result, a message was aired over [[Radio Veritas]] at around 9 p.m., Cardinal Sin exhorted Filipinos in the capital to aid rebel leaders by going to the section of EDSA between [[Camp Crame]] and [[Camp Aguinaldo|Aguinaldo]] and giving emotional support, food and other supplies. For many this seemed an unwise decision since civilians would not stand a chance against a dispersal by government troops. Many people, especially priests and nuns, still trooped to EDSA.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

Radio Veritas played a critical role during the mass uprising. Former [[University of the Philippines]] president Francisco Nemenzo stated that: "''Without Radio Veritas, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to mobilize millions of people in a matter of hours.''" Similarly, a certain account in the event said that: "''Radio Veritas, in fact, was our umbilical cord to whatever else was going on''."<ref name="McCargo">{{Citation |last=McCargo |first=Duncan |last2= |first2=|publication-date=2003|title=Media and Politics in Pacific Asia |publication-place= |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-23375-0 |page=20|url=https://books.google.com/?id=CuGJ575iLLAC&pg=PA20&dq=Radio+Veritas+1986+Philippine+revolution |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |year=2003}}</ref>

===Rising mass support===
[[File:EDSA Revolution pic1.jpg|thumb|300px|During the height of the revolution, an estimated three hundred to five hundred thousand people filled EDSA from Ortigas Avenue all the way to Cubao. The photo above shows the area at the intersection of EDSA and Boni Serrano Avenue, just between Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo.]]
At dawn, Sunday, government troops arrived to knock down the main transmitter of Radio Veritas, cutting off broadcasts to people in the provinces. The station switched to a standby transmitter with a limited range of broadcast.<ref name="McCargo"/> The station was targeted because it had proven to be a valuable communications tool for the people supporting the rebels, keeping them informed of government troop movements and relaying requests for food, medicine, and supplies.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

Still, people came to EDSA until it swelled to hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians. The mood in the street was actually very festive, with many bringing whole families. Performers entertained the crowds, nuns and priests led prayer vigils, and people set up barricades and makeshift sandbags, trees, and vehicles in several places along EDSA and intersecting streets such as Santolan and Ortigas Avenue. Everywhere, people listened to Radio Veritas on their radios. Several groups sang ''[[Bayan Ko]]'' (My Homeland),<ref>{{Citation |last=Taylor |first=Robert H. |last2= |first2= |publication-date=2002
|title=The Idea of Freedom in Asia and Africa |publication-place= |publisher= Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-4514-7 |page=210 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=RfbSlkGP8TEC&pg=PA210&dq=Bayan+Ko+in+1986+Philippine+revolution |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |year=2002}}.</ref> which, since 1980, had become a patriotic anthem of the opposition. People frequently flashed the 'LABAN' sign,<ref>{{Citation |last=Crisostomo |first=Isabelo T. |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1987|title=Cory, Profile of a President: The Historic Rise to Power of Corazon |publication-place=|publisher=Branden Books |isbn=978-0-8283-1913-3 |page=217 |url=https://books.google.com/id=iW_ddLowBYkC&pg=PA217&dq=LABAN+signs+during+EDSA+I |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |year=1987}}.</ref> which is an "L" formed with their thumb and index finger. 'Laban' is the Tagalog word for 'fight', but also the abbreviation of [[Lakas ng Bayan]], Ninoy Aquino's party.

After lunch on February 23, Enrile and Ramos decided to consolidate their positions. Enrile crossed EDSA from [[Camp Aguinaldo]] to [[Camp Crame]] amidst cheers from the crowd.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

In the mid-afternoon, [[Radio Veritas]] relayed reports of [[Philippine Marine Corps|Marines]] massing near the camps in the east and [[LVT-5]] tanks approaching from the north and south. A contingent of Marines with tanks and armored vans, led by Brigadier General Artemio Tadiar, was stopped along Ortigas Avenue, about two kilometers from the camps, by tens of thousands of people.<ref>{{Citation |last=Lizano |first=Lolita |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1988|title=Flower in a Gun Barrel: The Untold Story of the Edsa Revolution |publication-place= |publisher= L.R. Lizano|isbn= |page=|url=https://books.google.com/?id=Bm0yAAAAIAAJ&dq=EDSA+Revolution&q=EDSA+Revolution |accessdate= December 2, 2007 |year=1988}}.</ref> Nuns holding rosaries knelt in front of the tanks and men and women linked arms together to block the troops.<ref>{{Citation |last=Merkl |first=Peter H. |last2= |first2=|publication-date=2005|title=The Rift Between America And Old Europe: the distracted eagle |publication-place= |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-35985-6 |page=144 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=WavpuvE2HA4C&pg=PA144&dq=EDSA+Revolution |accessdate= December 2, 2007 |year=2005}}.</ref> Tadiar asked the crowds to make a clearing for them, but they did not budge. In the end, the troops retreated with no shots fired.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

By evening, the standby transmitter of Radio Veritas failed. Shortly after midnight, the staff were able to go to another station to begin broadcasting from a secret location under the moniker [[DZRJ-AM|"Radyo Bandido"]] (Outlaw Radio, which is now known as [[DZRJ-AM]]). June Keithley, with her husband [[Angelo Castro, Jr.]], was the radio broadcaster who continued Radio Veritas' program throughout the night and in the remaining days.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness"/>

===More military defections===
At dawn on Monday, February 24, the first serious encounter with government troops occurred. Marines marching from Libis, in the east, lobbed tear gas at the demonstrators, who quickly dispersed. Some 3,000 Marines then entered and held the east side of Camp Aguinaldo.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

Later, helicopters manned by the 15th Strike Wing of the [[Philippine Air Force]], led by Colonel Antonio Sotelo, were ordered from Sangley Point in Cavite (South of Manila) to head to Camp Crame.<ref name="Crisostomo">{{Citation |last=Crisostomo |first=Isabelo T. |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1987
|title=Cory, Profile of a President: The Historic Rise to Power of Corazon |publication-place= |publisher= Branden Books|isbn= 978-0-8283-1913-3|page=226 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=iW_ddLowBYkC&pg=PA226&dq=Col.+Antonio+Sotelo+to+camp+crame |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |date=April 1, 1987}}.</ref> Secretly, the squadron had already defected and instead of attacking Camp Crame, landed in it, with the crowds cheering and hugging the pilots and crew members.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

A [[Bell 214]] helicopter piloted by Major Deo Cruz of the 205th Helicopter Wing and [[Sikorsky S-76]] gunships piloted by Colonel Charles Hotchkiss of the 20th Air Commando Squadron joined the rebel squadron earlier in the air. The presence of the helicopters boosted the morale of Enrile and Ramos who had been continually encouraging their fellow soldiers to join the opposition movement.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" /> In the afternoon, Aquino arrived at the base where Enrile, Ramos, RAM officers and a throng were waiting.<ref name="Crisostomo"/>

===The capture of Channel 4===
At around that time, [[June Keithley]] received reports that Marcos had left Malacañang Palace and broadcast this to the people at EDSA. The crowd celebrated and even Ramos and Enrile came out from Crame to appear to the crowds. The jubilation was however short-lived as Marcos later appeared on television on the government-controlled [[DWGT-TV|Channel 4]],<ref>{{Citation |last=Maramba |first=Asuncion David |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1987
|title=On the Scene: The Philippine Press Coverage of the 1986 Revolution |publication-place= |publisher=Solar publishing Corp. |isbn= 978-971-17-0628-9|page=27 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=2QAeAAAAMAAJ&dq=Channel+9+tower+in+1986+revolution&q=Channel+4 |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |year=1987}}.</ref> (using the foreclosed [[ABS-CBN (television network)|ABS-CBN]] facilities, transmitter and compound) declaring that he would not step down. It was thereafter speculated that the false report was a calculated move against Marcos to encourage more defections.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

During this broadcast, Channel 4 suddenly went off the air. A contingent of rebels, under Colonel Mariano Santiago, had captured the station. Channel 4 was put back on line shortly after noon, with [[Orly Punzalan]] announcing on live television, "Channel 4 is on the air again to serve the people." By this time, the crowds at EDSA had swollen to over a million. (Some estimates placed them at two million.)<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

This broadcast was considered the "return" of [[ABS-CBN (television network)|ABS-CBN]] on air because this was the time when former employees of the network were inside the complex after 14 years of closure since Marcos took it over during the Martial Law of 1972. [[DZRJ-AM|"Radyo Bandido"]] ended broadcasting that afternoon, while Radio Veritas resumed transmissions, this time from the [[ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center]]'s radio studios.

In the late afternoon, rebel helicopters attacked [[Villamor Airbase]], destroying presidential air assets. Another helicopter went to [[Malacañan Palace|Malacañang]], fired a rocket, and caused minor damage. Later, most of the officers who had graduated from the [[Philippine Military Academy]] (PMA) defected. The majority of the Armed Forces had already changed sides.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

===Marcos orders not to shoot===
{{listen| filename=Marcos_-_ver.ogg|title="Marcos' finest hour" | description=[[President of the Philippines|President]] [[Ferdinand Marcos]] and General [[Fabian Ver]] during a press conference in Malacañan Palace. | format= [[Ogg]]}}

Prior dialogues to stop the revolution have not succeeded with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which was led by General Fabian Ver. AFP was ready to mount an air strike on the day but was halted under orders of Marcos.

The actual dialogue on TV between Marcos and then AFP Chief of Staff General Fabian Ver went as follows:<ref>[https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=LK9EbyPGBm0C&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&dq=They+are+massing+civilians+near+our+troops+and+we+cannot+keep+on+withdrawing.+You+asked+me+to+withdraw+yesterday&source=bl&ots=H-FcP3f00u&sig=c99PrGDPwrBS77fvNQ3RDtxcya8&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=They%20are%20massing%20civilians%20near%20our%20troops%20and%20we%20cannot%20keep%20on%20withdrawing.%20You%20asked%20me%20to%20withdraw%20yesterday&f=false Butterfly Mind: Revolution, Recovery, and One Reporter's Road to Understanding China] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113030712/https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=LK9EbyPGBm0C&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&dq=They+are+massing+civilians+near+our+troops+and+we+cannot+keep+on+withdrawing.+You+asked+me+to+withdraw+yesterday&source=bl&ots=H-FcP3f00u&sig=c99PrGDPwrBS77fvNQ3RDtxcya8&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y |date=January 13, 2017 }} By Patrick Brown. Google Books.</ref>

{{quote|Fabian Ver: The Ambush there is aiming to mount there in the top. Very quickly, you must immediately leave to conquer them, immediately, Mr. President. 
Ferdinand Marcos: Just wait, come here. 
Ver: Please, Your Honor, so we can immediately strike them. We have to immobilize the helicopters that they've got. We have two fighter planes flying now to strike at any time, sir. 
Marcos: My order is not to attack. No, no, no! Hold on. My order is not to attack. 
Ver: They are massing civilians near our troops and we cannot keep on withdrawing. You asked me to withdraw yesterday- 
Marcos (interrupting): Uh yes, but ah... My order is to disperse without shooting them. 
Ver: We cannot withdraw all the time... 
Marcos: No! No! No! Hold on! You disperse the crowd without shooting them.}}

===Two inaugurations===
[[File:Corazon Aquino inauguration.jpg|thumb|300px|Corazon Aquino was inaugurated as the 11th president of the Philippines on February 25, 1986 at Sampaguita Hall (Now Kalayaan Hall).]]
On the morning of Tuesday, February 25, at around 7 a.m., a minor clash occurred between loyal government troops and the reformists. Snipers stationed atop the government-owned Channel 9 tower, near Channel 4, began shooting at the reformists. Many rebel soldiers surged to the station,<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" /> and a rebel S-76 helicopter later shot the snipers at the broadcast tower. The troops later left after a V-150 was blocked by the crowd assembled.

Later in the morning, [[Corazon Aquino]] was inaugurated as President of the Philippines in a simple ceremony at [[Club Filipino]]<ref>{{Citation |last=Crisostomo |first=Isabelo T. |last2= |first2= |publication-date=|title=Cory, Profile of a President: The Historic Rise to Power of Corazon |publication-place= |publisher= Branden Books|isbn= 978-0-8283-1913-3|page=257 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=iW_ddLowBYkC&pg=PA257&dq=Cory+Aquino+in+Club+Filipino |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |date=April 1, 1987}}.</ref> in Greenhills, about a kilometer from Camp Crame. She was sworn in as President by Senior Associate Justice [[Claudio Teehankee]], and Laurel as Vice-President by Justice Vicente Abad Santos. The Bible on which Aquino swore her oath was held by her mother-in-law Aurora Aquino, the mother of [[Benigno Aquino, Jr.|Ninoy Aquino]]. Attending the ceremonies were Ramos, who was then promoted to General, Enrile, and many politicians.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

Outside Club Filipino, all the way to EDSA, hundreds of people cheered and celebrated. ''[[Bayan Ko]]'' (''My Country'', a popular folk song and the unofficial National Anthem of protest) was sung after Aquino's oath-taking. Many people wore yellow, the color of Aquino's campaign for presidency.

An hour later, Marcos held the inauguration at [[Malacañang Palace]]. Loyalist civilians attended the ceremony, shouting "''Marcos, Marcos, Marcos pa rin!'' (Marcos, Marcos, still Marcos!)". On the Palace balcony, Marcos took the Oath of Office, broadcast by [[Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation|IBC-13]] and [[GMA Network|GMA-7]].<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" /> None of the invited foreign dignitaries attended the ceremony, for security reasons. The couple finally emerged on the balcony of the Palace before 3,000 KBL loyalists who were shouting, "Capture the snakes!"<ref name="Ellison">{{Citation |last=Ellison |first=Katherine |last2= |first2= |publication-date=2005|title=Imelda: Steel Butterfly of the Philippines |publication-place= |publisher=iUniverse |isbn=978-0-595-34922-7 |page=244 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=Dfl53AtDM0oC&pg=RA1-PA244&dq=Dahil+Sa+sang+by+Imelda+Marcos |accessdate= December 3, 2007 |year=2005}}.</ref> Rather tearfully,<ref name="Ellison"/> First Lady Imelda Marcos gave a farewell rendition of the couple's theme song – the 1938 ''[[kundiman]]'' ''"[[Dahil Sa Iyo]]"'' (Because of You) – chanting the song's entreaties in [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]]:

<blockquote>
Because of you, I became happy 
Loving I shall offer you 
If it is true I shall be enslaved by you 
All of this because of you.<ref name="Ellison"/>
</blockquote>

The broadcast of the event was interrupted as rebel troops successfully captured the other stations.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

By this time, hundreds of people had amassed at the barricades along [[Mendiola]], only a hundred meters away from Malacañang. They were prevented from storming the Palace by loyal government troops securing the area. The angry demonstrators were pacified by priests who warned them not to be violent.<ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness" />

===Marcos' departure===
At 3:00 p.m. ([[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]) on Monday, President Marcos phoned [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] [[Paul Laxalt]],<ref name="Ellison"/> asking for advice from the [[White House]]. Laxalt advised him to "cut and cut clean",<ref>{{Cite book|title = Reagan: the life|last = Brands|first = H W|publisher = Doubleday|year = 2015|isbn = 9780385536400|location = New York|pages = |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wHd5BAAAQBAJ&lpg=PT617&vq=laxalt%20marcos%20cut%20and%20cut%20clean&dq=laxalt%20marcos%20cut%20and%20cut%20clean&pg=PT617#v=onepage&q=laxalt%20marcos%20cut%20and%20cut%20clean&f=false|deadurl = no|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160105160957/https://books.google.com/books?id=wHd5BAAAQBAJ&lpg=PT617&vq=laxalt%20marcos%20cut%20and%20cut%20clean&dq=laxalt%20marcos%20cut%20and%20cut%20clean&pg=PT617#v=onepage&q=laxalt%20marcos%20cut%20and%20cut%20clean&f=false|archivedate = January 5, 2016|df = mdy-all}}</ref> to which Marcos expressed his disappointment after a short pause. In the afternoon, Marcos talked to Minister Enrile, asking for safe passage for him, his family, and close allies such as General Ver.

At midnight [[Philippine Standard Time|PHT]], the Marcos family boarded a [[United States Air Force]] HH-3E Rescue [[helicopter]]s<ref name="Halperin">{{Citation|last=Halperin|first=Jonathan J.|title=The Other Side: How Soviets and Americans Perceive Each Other|url=https://books.google.com/?id=H1so7Od--csC&pg=PA63&dq=Marcos+departure|page=63|publication-date=1987|year=1987|publication-place=|publisher=Transaction Publishers|isbn=978-0-88738-687-9|accessdate=December 3, 2007|last2=|first2=}}.</ref> and flew to [[Clark Air Base]] in [[Angeles City]] 83 kilometres north of Manila.

At Clark Air Base, Marcos asked to spend ''a couple of days'' with his family in Ilocos Norte, his native province. Aquino vetoed the request. President Reagan privately derided Cory Aquino for denying Marcos a last look at his home province.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/19/magazine/reagan-and-the-philippines-setting-marcos-adrift.html?pagewanted=all |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2017-02-11 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111001104/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/19/magazine/reagan-and-the-philippines-setting-marcos-adrift.html?pagewanted=all |archivedate=January 11, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The deposed First Family and their servants then rode US Air Force [[DC9|DC-9 Medivac]] and [[C-141 Starlifter|C-141B]] planes to [[Andersen Air Force Base]] in the north of the United States territory of [[Guam]], then flying to Hickam Air Force Base in [[Hawaii]] where Marcos finally arrived on February 26. The United States Government documented that they entered the United States with millions of dollars in jewelries, gold, stocks, and cash. <ref name="Gandhi"/><ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness"/>

When news of the Marcos family's departure reached civilians, many rejoiced and danced in the streets. Over at [[Mendiola]], the demonstrators stormed the Palace, which was closed to ordinary people for around a decade. Despite looting by some angry protesters, the majority wandered about inside through rooms where national history was shaped, looking at objects extravagant and mundane that the Marcos clan and its court had abandoned in their flight.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

In other countries, people also rejoiced and congratulated Filipinos they knew. [[CBS]] anchorman [[Bob Simon]] reported: "We Americans like to think we taught the Filipinos democracy. Well, tonight they are teaching the world." <ref name="peoplepower_eyewitness"/>

Some authors say that Marcos prevented civil war similar to the [[Syrian Civil War]] by refusing to use guns notwithstanding the insistence of his top general, and by agreeing to step down during the EDSA revolution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manilatimes.net/level-duterte-drop-scourge-syrian-civil-war/291350/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2017-01-10 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112181957/http://www.manilatimes.net/level-duterte-drop-scourge-syrian-civil-war/291350/ |archivedate=January 12, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thestandard.com.ph/opinion/columns/hail-to-the-chair-by-victor-avecilla/226306/why-the-reds-hate-marcos-20170110.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2017-02-24 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112181419/http://thestandard.com.ph/opinion/columns/hail-to-the-chair-by-victor-avecilla/226306/why-the-reds-hate-marcos-20170110.html |archivedate=January 12, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The White House said "By leaving the Philippines at a critical juncture in his nation's history, Mr. Marcos permitted the peaceful transition to popular, democratic rule."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/29/obituaries/ferdinand-marcos-ousted-leader-of-philippines-dies-at-72-in-exile.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2017-02-11 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112181330/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/29/obituaries/ferdinand-marcos-ousted-leader-of-philippines-dies-at-72-in-exile.html |archivedate=January 12, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==Aftermath==
{{main|Presidency of Corazon Aquino}}
{{wikisource|Provisional Constitution of the Philippines (1986)|Proclamation № 3: Provisional Constitution of the Philippines (1986)}}

Immediately after her accession, Aquino issued Proclamation № 3, a [[provisional constitution]] which established a [[revolutionary government]]. The edict promulgated the 1986 Freedom Constitution, which retained or superseded various provisions of the 1973 Constitution that was in force up to that point. This allowed Aquino to wield both executive and legislative powers; among her first acts was to unilaterally abolish the [[Batasang Pambansa]] (the unicameral legislature [[Philippine parliamentary election, 1984|duly elected in 1984]]), pending a plebiscite for a more permanent Constitution and the establishment of a new Congress by 1987.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Joaquin G. Bernas]] |title=The Intent of the 1986 Constitution Writers|publisher=Rex Book Store|location=Manila, Philippines|year=1995|pages=2–4 }}</ref>

The revolution had an effect on [[democratization]] movements in such countries as [[Taiwan]] and [[South Korea]]; other effects include the restoration of the freedom of the press, abolition of repressive laws enforced by the previous regime, the adoption of the [[1987 Constitution]], and the subordination of the military to civilian rule, despite several coup attempts during Aquino's rule.<ref name="aftermath">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12567320 |title=People Power at 25: Long road to Philippine democracy |first=Kate |last=McGeown |work=BBC.co.uk |date=February 25, 2011 |accessdate=February 25, 2011 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226073508/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12567320 |archivedate=February 26, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The revolution provided for the restoration of democratic institutions after thirteen years of totalitarian rule and these institutions have been used by various groups to challenge the entrenched [[Political family|political families]] and to strengthen Philippine democracy.<ref>{{Citation |last=Putzel |first=James |authorlink= |year=Spring 1999 |month= |title=Survival of an imperfect democracy in the Philippines |journal=Democratization |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=198–223 |id= |url=http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a782511206~db=all |accessdate=December 4, 2007 |quote= |doi=10.1080/13510349908403603 |postscript=. |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217155840/http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a782511206~db=all |archivedate=February 17, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

But, the biggest gatherings in the world, a few months after the 1986 revolution, like the anniversary celebration of [[Catholic Charismatic Renewal]] group [[El Shaddai (movement)|El Shaddai]] headed by [[Mike Velarde|Bro. Mike Velarde]] in August and the [[Evangelical charismatic movement|Evangelical Charismatic Christian]] group [[Jesus is Lord Church]] to coincidence with the birthday celebration of televangelist [[Eddie Villanueva|Bro. Eddie Villanueva]] in October at the [[Quirino Grandstand]], a few years before the January 12-16, 1995 Manila visit of [[Pope John Paul II]] for the [[World Youth Day 1995|10th World Youth Day 1995 (Manila)]], when the largest papal crowd in history and the [[Independence_Day_(Philippines)#Centennial]] celebration on June 12, 1998 attended by more than four million people and the [[Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines|State Visit and Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Philippines 2015]] closing mass on January 18, 2015, both are the biggest and the largest gatherings in the world, not only in the Philippines.<ref>[http://www.asianews.it/newsen/The-Philippines,-1995:-Pope-dreams-of-the-Third-Millennium-of-Asia-2947.html PHILIPPINES – TRIPS IN ASIA – AN OVERVIEW The Philippines, 1995: Pope dreams of "the Third Millennium of Asia" – Asia News]</ref>

==Legacy==

The People Power Revolution has inspired a call for change of government through peaceful protests rather than bloodshed. Many similar revolutions have followed since then, taking the Philippine example of nonviolent regime change, such as that in [[Fall of the Berlin Wall|East Germany]] and many other former Soviet Bloc countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/24/comment-remembering-philippines-people-power-revolution |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2017-05-16 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221214001/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/24/comment-remembering-philippines-people-power-revolution |archivedate=December 21, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The EDSA Revolution Anniversary is a special [[public holiday in the Philippines]]. Since 2010, the holiday has been a special non-working holiday.<ref name="pn295">[http://www.gov.ph/2011/11/24/proclamation-no-295-s-2011/ Proclamation No. 295: Declaring 2012 National Holidays] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117171806/http://www.gov.ph/2011/11/24/proclamation-no-295-s-2011/ |date=January 17, 2013 }}, December 12, 2011, Official Gazette of the Philippines</ref><ref name="p1841">{{cite web |url=http://www.laborlaw.usc-law.org/download/pdf/2010_Holidays.pdf |title=Proclamation No. 1841 |date=July 21, 2009 |website=Philippine Labor Laws |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010145524/http://www.laborlaw.usc-law.org/download/pdf/2010_Holidays.pdf |archivedate=October 10, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
[[File:People Power Revolution commemorative 10-peso coin obverse and reverse.png|right|thumbnail|10-peso coin commemorating the People Power Revolution]]

Rampant corruption during the term of President [[Joseph Estrada]] led to the similar [[Second EDSA Revolution]] leading to his resignation from the presidency.

On January 19, 2001, the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]], seeing the political upheaval throughout the country, decided to withdraw its support from the president and transfer its allegiance to the vice president, [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]]. The following day, the Supreme Court declared that the seat of presidency was vacant.

At noon of January 20, 2001, the Supreme Court declared that Estrada "constructively resigned" his post and the Chief Justice swore in the constitutional successor [[Vice President of the Philippines|Vice President]] [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo|Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] was sworn into office by [[Supreme Court of the Philippines|Supreme Court]] Chief Justice [[Hilario Davide Jr.|Hilario G. Davide Jr.]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://opinion.inquirer.net/92289/sc-arroyo-takeover-constitutional|title=SC: Arroyo takeover constitutional|last=Panganiban|first=Artemio V.|date=January 24, 2016|work=Inquirer|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/01/27/1417225/erap-resigned-president-cant-run-again-lawyer|title=Erap resigned as president, can't run again — lawyer|last=Diaz|first=Jess|date=January 27, 2015|website=Philstar|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref>

In 2003, the ''Radio Broadcast of the Philippine People Power Revolution'' was inscribed in the [[UNESCO]] [[Memory of the World Register]], the official documentary heritage list of the [[United Nations]]' educational and scientific body.<ref>http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/flagship-project-activities/memory-of-the-world/register/full-list-of-registered-heritage/registered-heritage-page-7/radio-broadcast-of-the-philippine-people-power-revolution/#c188230 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824190648/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/flagship-project-activities/memory-of-the-world/register/full-list-of-registered-heritage/registered-heritage-page-7/radio-broadcast-of-the-philippine-people-power-revolution/ |date=August 24, 2015 }}</ref>

On September 12, 2007, [[Trial of Joseph Estrada|Estrada was found guilty of plunder]] beyond reasonable doubt by the [[Sandiganbayan|Philippine anti-graft court]] and sentenced to life imprisonment.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/84269/estradas-plunder-conviction-remembered|title=Estrada’s plunder conviction remembered|last=Rodis|first=Rodel|date=August 28, 2013|work=Inquirer|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/60117/erap-guilty-of-plunder-sentenced-to-reclusion-perpetua/story/|title=Erap guilty of plunder, sentenced to reclusion perpetua|last=|first=|date=September 12, 2007|work=GMA News Online|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Sturcke"/> He was pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on October 25, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-philippines-estrada-idUKMNB0007120071025|title=Former Philippine president Estrada pardoned|last=Mogato|first=Manny|date=October 25, 2007|work=Reuters|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

==Timeline==
{{main|Timeline of People Power Revolution}}

==See also==
*[[EDSA (road)|Epifanio de los Santos Avenue]] for more information about the road
*[[Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo]]
*[[EDSA Shrine]]
*[[People Power Monument]]

'''General:'''
* [[Timeline of the Marcos Dictatorship]]

'''Similar events:'''
*[[EDSA II]]
*[[EDSA III]]
*[[Protests against Rodrigo Duterte]]
* [[Gdańsk Agreement]] of 1980 and [[Polish Round Table Agreement|Round Table Agreement]] of 1989, both induced by peaceful protests in Poland by [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]]
*[[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]]
*[[Romanian Revolution]]
*[[Velvet Revolution]], in Czechoslovakia
*[[8888 Uprising]], in Burma (now Myanmar)
*[[May 1998 riots of Indonesia]]
*[[Iranian Revolution]]
*[[Tunisian Revolution]]
*[[Egyptian Revolution of 2011]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Commons category}}

==Bibliography==
*Baron, Cynthia S. and Suazo, Melba M. ''Nine Letters: The Story of the 1986 Filipino Revolution.'' Quezon City, Philippines. Gerardo P. Baron Books. 1986.
*Johnson, Brian. ''The Four Days of Courage: The Untold Story of the People Who Brought Marcos Down.'' Toronto, Canada. McClelland and Stewart, 1987.
*Mendoza, Amado, '"People Power" in the Philippines, 1983–86', in [[Adam Roberts (scholar)|Adam Roberts]] and [[Timothy Garton Ash]] (eds.), [http://web.archive.bibalex.org/web/20111208132001/http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199552016.do ''Civil Resistance and Power Politics: The Experience of Non-violent Action from Gandhi to the Present''], Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-19-955201-6}}. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110629175120/http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Politics/ComparativePolitics/?view=usa&ci=9780199552016 ''US edition'']. [https://books.google.com/books?id=BxOQKrCe7UUC&dq=Civil+resistance+and+power+politics&source=gbs_navlinks_s ''On Google''].
*Mercado, Paul Sagmayao, and Tatad, Francisco S. ''People Power: The Philippine Revolution of 1986: An eyewitness history.'' Manila, Philippines. The James B. Reuter, S.J., Foundation. 1986.
*Schock, Kurt. ''Unarmed Insurrections: People Power Movements in Nondemocracies.'' Minneapolis, USA. University of Minnesota Press. 2005.
{{Martial EDSA |state=expanded}}
{{Fall of Communism}}
{{Cold War}}
{{Corazon Aquino}}
{{PhilippinePresElections}}
{{Philippines topics}}
{{Philippine national holidays}}

[[Category:People Power Revolution| ]]
[[Category:1986 in the Philippines]]
[[Category:1980s coups d'état and coup attempts]]
[[Category:20th-century revolutions]]
[[Category:Armed Forces of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Battles and conflicts without fatalities]]
[[Category:Colour revolutions]]
[[Category:Presidency of Ferdinand Marcos]]
[[Category:History of the Philippines (1965–86)]]
[[Category:History of Metro Manila]]
[[Category:Imelda Marcos]]
[[Category:Military history of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Nonviolent revolutions]]
[[Category:Protests in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Presidential elections in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Rebellions in the Philippines]]
[[Category:February 1986 events]]

Monday, June 3, 2019

QTV - Giant Reach

QTV Stations Nationwide:

Channel 11 Manila
Channel 33 Cebu and Davao
Channel 31 Laoag
Channel 24 Baguio
Channel 27 Santiago
Channel 42 Dagupan
Channel 28 Pampanga
Channel 28 Batangas
Channel 31 Palawan
Channel 33 Naga
Channel 22 Iloilo
Channel 34 Bacolod
Channel 3 Tacloban
Channel 33 Zamboanga
Channel 23 Dipolog
Channel 35 Cagayan de Oro
Channel 28 General Santos
Channel __ Butuan
Channel 29 Cotabato

Relay stations:

Laoag
San Nicholas
Solsona
Vigan
Bantay
Tuguegarao
Aparri
Ballesteros
Santiago
Basco
Ilagan
Cauayan
Bayombong
Cabarroguis
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Agoo
Bangued
Buguias
Banaue
Tabuk
Bontoc
Sagada
Tuba
Dagupan
Alaminos
Urdaneta
Cabanatuan
Gapan
Guimba
San Jose City
Baler
Olongapo
San Antonio
Subic
Iba
Botolan
San Fernando, Pampanga
Tarlac City
Balanga
Malolos
Plaridel
San Miguel (Bulacan)
Obando
Meycauayan
San Jose del Monte
Cavite City
Tagaytay
Tanza
Cainta
Rodriguez
Morong
San Mateo
Jalajala
Antipolo
Binangonan
Binan
Calamba
San Pablo
Batangas City
Lipa
Padre Garcia
Lemery
Lucena
Atimonan
Calauag
Catanauan
Gumaca
Infanta
Lopez
Lucban
Puerto Princesa
Brooke’s Point
Coron
Cuyo
Bataraza
El Nido
Narra
Quezon
Rio Tuba
Rizal (Palawan)
Roxas (Palawan)
Sofronio Española
Taytay
Sablayan
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
Calapan
Bongabong
Najuan
Pinamalayan
Roxas (Oriental Mindoro)
Boac
Sta. Cruz (Marinduque)
Romblon
Odiongan
Looc
Daet
Labo
Paracale
Santa Elena
Naga
Iriga
Buhi
Sipocot
Calabanga
Baao
Tinambac
Goa
San Jose (Camarines Sur)
Legaspi
Malilipot
Polangui
Tabaco
Casiguran
Irosin
Pilar
Sorsogon
Caramoran
Panganiban
San Miguel (Catanduanes)
Virac
Masbate City
Placer
Aroroy
Boracay Island
Kalibo
San Jose de Buenavista
Bagacay
Caluya
Hamtic
Miagao
Pavia
Calinog
Oton
Guimbal
Pototan
Guimaras
Roxas
San Carlos, Negros Occidental
Cadiz
Sagay
Kabankalan
Victorias
Hinigaran
Hinoba-an
Binalbagan
Murcia
Sipalay
Barili
Daanbantayan
Madridejos
Pinamungajan
Toledo
Samboan
Tagbiliran
Jagna
Ubay
Dumaguete
Bacong
Guihulngan
Tanjay
Bacong
Tacloban
Ormoc
Baybay
Maasin
Sogod
Naval, Biliran
Capoocan
Isabel
Basey
Calbayog
Catbalogan
Borongan
Guiuan
Oras
Catarman
Allen
Laoang
Zamboanga
Dipolog
Dapitan
Liloy
Buug
Sindangan
Molave
Margosatubig
Pagadian
Buug
Ipil
Malvar
Cagayan de Oro
Gingoog
Oroquieta
Ozamis
Iligan
Marawi
Malaybalay
Manolo Fortich
Maramag
Valencia
Mambajao
Panabo
Tagum
Santo Tomas (Davao del Norte)
Baganga
Governor Generoso
Lupon
Manay
Mati
Digos
Malita
Nabunturan
General Santos
Koronadal
Polomolok
Surallah
Kidapawan
Bakaoan
Alabel
Kiamba
Lebak
Isulan
Tacurong
Butuan
Bayugan
Prosperidad
San Francisco
Surigao
Tandag
Bislig
Dinagat Island
Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Shariff Aguak
Jolo
Tawi-Tawi

Mendoza: K to 12 is here to stay

IT IS the goal of the K to 12 Curriculum of the Department of Education to develop and enhance the knowledge, skills, attitude and values of the graduates and to prepare them to be ready to the four exits of the said program namely, work, further training, entrepreneurship and college education.

While CHEd is planning to review and change the system for its K to 12 Transition Program, it should not be misinterpreted as a plan to scrap it. I am publishing her in toto the Department of Education official statement on the alleged plan to repeal K to 12 Program. Here it is:

Sentiments and questions on social media pertaining to the supposed plan to scrap the K to 12 Basic Education Program are clearly based on misinformation and lack of critical discernment.

The claims circulating online came after news of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHEd) plan to “review and change” the system for its K to 12 Transition Program was misconstrued to mean the implementation of the entire K to 12 Program. These two are not one and the same.

The implementation of the K to 12 Program has seen numerous gains for the basic education system, which include the initial results of the Senior High School (SHS) Program surpassing expectations in enrollment and transition rates and in providing free or highly subsidized SHS education to more than 2.7 million learners in public and private schools two years after the SHS Program implementation.

It is also important to remind the public that the Department of Education’s (DepEd) implementation of the K to 12 Program is mandated by law, under Republic Act No. 10533, otherwise known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.”

Therefore, DepEd, as an executive arm of the government, cannot arbitrarily discontinue the Program. As with any law, the implementation, amendment, expansion, or repeal of the K to 12 Program is within the ambit of the legislative branch of the government comprised of the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives.

Nevertheless, the Department maintains its stand that the K to 12 Program is a prompt necessity that pushing it back might prove detrimental to the accelerating and increasing demands on education. The challenges still abound but the support of the national and local government, and of stakeholders in the private sector and the community, has been overwhelming that it silences doubts and strengthens the resolve to move forward with change today.

Lastly, DepEd calls on the public to make a habit of consulting the official website and social media accounts of the Department before spreading assertions and engaging discussions on its policies, programs, and projects that may influence the opinion, decision, or action of our primary stakeholders - our learners.

This Corner hopes that with this statement released by DepEd, everybody will be clarified that CHEd is only reviewing their K to 12 Transition Program and DepEd is not scrapping the K to 12 Curriculum.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1808262

‘18th Congress must focus on economic reforms above all’

THE 18th Congress must prioritize the passage of economic reform bills to encourage more foreign direct investments and guarantee the country’s economic takeoff.

Leyte Rep.-elect Martin Romualdez made the statement shortly after arriving home from the Japan trip with President Duterte.

Romualdez said the 18th Congress’s urgent task is to pass important legislative measures that reform the country’s relatively restrictive and less competitive economic policies.

The congressman tagged one of the frontrunners in the speakership race cited in particular the amendments to the Foreign Investments Act, the Public Service Act and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act—all meant to encourage investments in industry and services, and boost private construction.

“We, the incoming members of the 18th Congress, are faced with the important task of pursuing vital economic legislation needed to sustain higher productivity growth. Global industrial giants see a great potential in us, but we just have to work hard to gain their trust and confidence,” said Romualdez.

“The President has issued the marching orders, and we need to follow if we all want to become a prosperous middle-class country free from poverty by 2040. The way I see it, we need to focus more on institutionalizing reforms that will encourage the influx of more investments, the creation of more jobs, improvement in human capital investment and the building of better infrastructure,” Romualdez added.

Citing Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, he said a total of 26 business deals—with a total estimated investment value of $5.5 billion or P288 billion and seen to generate 82,737 jobs —were signed between the Philippines and Japan just before President Duterte addressed the Japanese businessmen at 25th Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo. The deals cover infrastructure, manufacturing, electronics, medical devices, business-process outsourcing, power, electricity, transport, automotive, food manufacturing and marine manpower industries.

“We also need new pieces of scientific legislation alongside improvements in communication, technology, entry of foreign investors, total expenditure on research and development, easing of start-up procedures, implementation of public sector contracts, knowledge transfer, total public expenditure on education, and development and application of technology,”
Romualdez said.

Anti-red tape

Aside from enacting economic measures, Romualdez said the 18th Congress must exercise its oversight function to ensure the swift implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Act, the implementing rules and regulations of which have yet to be issued one year after its passage.

This law, which includes the organization of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta), is seen to simplify procedures and establish timelines in securing permits and other transactions with the government, he said.

Republic Act 11032, also known as the EODB Law, was signed by Duterte last year to reduce processing time of transactions, simplify steps for securing documentation requirements, boost interconnectivity infrastructure and create the Arta.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/06/03/18th-congress-must-focus-on-economic-reforms-above-all/

Sunday, June 2, 2019

TV5 CEO Chot Reyes to leave network

Vincent “Chot” Reyes, the veteran basketball coach who transformed TV5 into a news and sports platform, is stepping down as the television network’s chief executive officer (CEO) after a three-year run.

In an interview on Saturday, Reyes confirmed the news that first appeared on the Fashion Pulis blog that he will be leaving TV5 and that Jane Basas, president of affiliate Cignal TV, will be taking his place.

The movement, which also hints at closer links between TV5 and Cignal TV in terms of business strategy, is the latest in a senior management shakeup within the PLDT Group, which owns TV5 via the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund.

In his case, Reyes said he was approached by PLDT chair and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan the previous week “about moving to another company within the group.”

Reyes said he declined the transfer.

“I’ve been here more than five years and, you know, I’m really not the corporate type,” Reyes told the Inquirer as he referenced his time as head of Media5, the sales arm of TV5.

“I asked if I could opt for early retirement,” he said.

He said they have yet to discuss a specific timetable for when he will step down.

“Maybe July or August,” Reyes said.

The abrupt nature of the news fuelled speculation of a falling out between Reyes and Pangilinan. Insider accounts said the two also did not see “eye to eye” over certain business and sports issues and that internal corporate politics played a role in his departure.

In the interview, Reyes brushed aside those speculations and said disagreements were nothing but normal.

“It’s part of the basketball culture,” he said.

Reyes was TV5’s third CEO in the decade since the broadcast network was acquired by the PLDT Group in 2009.

Similar to his predecessors, Reyes was tasked with stemming financial losses while growing revenues amid tough competition with TV giants ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. Those challenges went hand in hand with dealing with the structural change in the media landscape given the shift to online platforms.

One of Reyes’ earliest moves was to cut expensive entertainment shows that were unprofitable. He also engineered TV5’s dramatic shift that would see it focus on its core strength in news programming and his own expertise in sports.

In 2017, it announced a partnership with ESPN Inc. in a bid to dominate local sports TV.

Reyes’ tenure also saw painful layoffs at TV5 as management sought to control costs. Reyes said in January that losses last year narrowed by 30 percent but he admitted it would be “very difficult” for the company to end 2019 with a profit— missing an earlier established goal by Pangilinan.

Reyes said on Saturday that TV5 is now in the midst of a transition as he prepares to step down.

Cignal’s Basas, who previously held other key positions within the group such as Media5 president and Smart Communications’ prepaid marketing head, was described by insiders as a competent manager “who can get things done.”

Reyes said he plans to focus on his personal business investments for now.

He owns Coachcom Inc., which offers executive coaching services.

His group also holds the country franchise for British hairdressing chain Toni & Guy, which he is taking nationwide, apart from plans to open an affordable dialysis center in Novaliches.

https://business.inquirer.net/271856/tv5-ceo-chot-reyes-to-leave-network

Saturday, June 1, 2019

IS THERE A DOWNTREND OF FULL BLOCKTIME AGREEMENTS WITH THIRD-PARTY BROADCASTERS?

GMA NEWS TV, for the Metro Manila viewers and its neighboring provinces, is not anymore on Channel 11.

After 14 years (eight, under the current identity), the blocktime agreement with ZOE Broadcasting Network (the owner of Channel 11) has ended.

Beginning Monday (June 3), aside from being the start of classes in public elementary and secondary schools, GMA News TV will move to Channel 27 — a frequency held by their network’s subsidiary, Citynet Network Marketing and Productions, Inc. for 24 years would be awake from the 18 years of dormancy.

For media enthusiasts and critics, this is “long overdue,” since it was “unfair” and “imbalanced” for a major national network to operate two VHF frequencies. For From the Tube‘s perspective, it is perhaps the same sentiment after his publication regarding the holding of that inactive UHF frequency almost four years ago.

However, that is not their primary reason. It had something to do with increasing lease payments for the past three years to ZOE, according to the media entity’s 2018 financial report.

Program-wise, there will be a major cleanup of their offerings after they realize that they aired non-essential programs (such as Wagas), movie blocks and home shopping.

On that Monday, DZBB will launch new programs for the extension of days and hours Dobol B sa News TV (from weekday morning to daily morning and noon), which it will be simulcast the following day.

Nonetheless, this case is not new. Well, under the standpoint of viewers (fawning fans or independently thinking).

Almost exactly a year ago almost this date, Solar Entertainment’s 2nd Avenue ended their free-to-air broadcast on RJTV Channel 29. When it expired, RJTV ended its analog broadcast and resume their airing of their own programs according to their own time.

Back to the main question: Is there really a downtrend of full block time deals with third-party broadcasters?

Well, there is.

It is based on business decisions of both parties, which in turned are based by external and internal environments:

For one, the market segment veers away from the traditional television to video-on-demand services (e.g. Netflix, iFlix and HOOQ).

Another one is the sense of urgency from respected authorities. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has set the mandate that the digital television transition across the country must be completed by 2023.

In the current case with GMA, this should have happened and formulated their master plan a long time ago if they did not smug over their ratings and looked on the constant problem of video output of pan-and-scan 4:3 glory.

Follow-up, though: What would happen to Channel 11?

Some say it will be rendered obsolete as GMA’s digital television broadcast will have to broadcast on UHF Channel 15 (479.143) — now under testing phase.

We are not sure but we’ll see about it on Monday.

https://timowsturf.wordpress.com/2019/06/01/is-there-a-downtrend-of-full-blocktime-agreements-with-third-party-broadcasters/

Scene from Dekada '70: The National Anthem (Eksena mula sa Dekada '70: Ang Pambansang Awit)

Emmanuel went on stage to lead his fellow activists to sing the Lupang Hinirang.

The national anthem was sung; Bayan Ko was sung; an artist got up on the small stage and proceeded to lead the crowd in hurling good matured and quite scandalous abuse at Estrada and the 11 senators of by now, more-than-ill repute. It was as if every time the fuse was lit, the protesters made a deliberate effort to snuff it out. They even called for cheers for the policemen. The policemen looked embarrassed.

According to Luigi Penalba: "LUPANG HINIRANG yan, yung sariling music video na ginagamit sa ABS-CBN at GMA, tapos BAYAN KO, patriotic anthem ng makasaysayang EDSA Revolt (EDSA Uno-1986 at EDSA Dos at Tres-2001), yung PILIPINAS KONG MAHAL, dating ginagamit sa DENR advertisement at AKO AY PILIPINO has the exact same chords/tune/music as Andraé Crouch's "My Tribute (To God Be The Glory)."

Sinulat ito noong nais ng mga Pilipinong maging malaya sa pananakop ng ibang bansa.

Kinatha ni Julian Felipe ang tugtugin ng "Lupang Hinirang." Isinulat naman ni Jose Palma ang mga titik nito. Una itong tinugtog nang itinaas ang ating watawat. Nangyari ito noong Hunyo 12, 1898. Ginanap ito sa Kawit, Cavite.

Ang ating pambansang awit ay nagpapahayag ng pagmamahal sa bansa. Inilalahad din nito ang pagtatanggol sa bansa. Ito rin ba ang ibig mo sa inyong bansa?

Tignan ang mga bata sa larawan. Tignan kung paano ipinakikita ang kanilang paggalang habang umaawit ng “Lupang Hinirang.”

Matapos umawit, ito ang mga binibigkas. Ito ay “Panatang Makabayan” at “Panunumpa sa Watawat.” Binibigkas mo rin ba ang mga ito?

Panatang Makabayan

Old version

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas,
Ito ang aking lupang sinilangan,
Ito ang tahanan ng aking lahi,
Ako'y kanyang kinukupkop at tinutulungan.
Upang maging malakas,
Maligaya at kapaki-pakinabang.
Bilang ganti ay diringgin ko
Ang payo ng aking mga magulang;
Susundin ko ang mga tuntunin ng aking paaralan,
Tutuparin ko ang mga tungkulin ng
Isang mamamayang makabayan
At masunurin sa batas.
Paglilingkuran ko ang aking bayan
Nang walang pag-iimbot at nang buong katapatan.
Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino
Sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa.

New version

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas,
aking lupang sinilangan,
tahanan ng aking lahi;
kinukupkop ako at tinutulungang
maging malakas, masipag at marangal.
Dahil mahal ko ang Pilipinas,
diringgin ko ang payo
ng aking magulang,
susundin ko ang tuntunin ng paaralan,
tutuparin ko ang tungkulin
ng mamamayang makabayan:
naglilingkod, nag-aaral at nagdarasal
nang buong katapatan.
Iaalay ko ang aking buhay,
pangarap, pagsisikap
sa bansang Pilipinas.

Panunumpa sa Watawat

Old Version

Ako’y nanunumpa sa watatwat ng Pilipinas
At sa republikang kanyang kinakatawan.
Isang bansang pinapatnubayan ng Diyos,
Buo at di mahahati,
Na may katarungan
At kalayaan para sa lahat.

New version

Ako ay Pilipino
Buong katapatang nanunumpa
Sa watawat ng Pilipinas
At sa bansang kanyang sinasagisag
Na may dangal, katarungan at kalayaan
Na pinakikilos ng sambayanang
Maka-Diyos
Maka-tao
Makakalikasan at
Makabansa.

CORONATION THEME

Where did you get those lovely eyes?

This pretty lady

And that exciting winsome smile

This binibini?

Where did you learn to move like

Graceful palm trees in the breeze?

What’s magic does she have?

What miracle is this?

Who wouldn’t love the way her skin is kissed

By golden sunlight?

And fascinating gem so rare!

She’s the perfect symbol of the people,

Rich in heritage and love,

What lovely, pretty

Captivating, so exciting,

Girl will surely win your heart,

Binibining Pilipinas!

Maganda, mayumi at tunay na ligaya

Beware little world

She's out to win your heart

Who wouldn’t love the way her skin is kissed

By golden sunlight?

And fascinating gem so rare!

She’s the perfect symbol of the people,

Rich in heritage and love,

What lovely, pretty

Captivating, so exciting,

Girl will surely win your heart,

Binibining Pilipinas!

Music and Lyrics by: Nonong Pedero
Performed by Martin Nievera and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Friday, May 31, 2019

RLC to build 200-ha township in Clark

Betting big on the fast-growing Clark corridor, Gokongwei-led property developer Robinsons Land Corp. is set to develop a 200-hectare idle land near the former American air base in Pampanga into a new township.

As the consortium that includes RLC parent conglomerate JG Summit, Changi airport and the Gotianun group bagged a 25-year concession to operate and maintain the Clark airport, RLC hopes to pursue projects near this international gateway.

“I anticipate that Robinsons Land will participate in that development,” RLC president Frederick Go told reporters after the company’s stockholders meeting on Wednesday. He said RLC would also be interested in building an airport hotel in the area.

“We really believe in the future of Clark so we deliberately went out there to look for land,” Go said.

About a year ago, RLC bought a 200-ha idle land close to Clark, which will be developed into a mixed-use estate called “Montclair.”

“We think that will be an important integrated township for the company,” Go said, adding that this estate would have residential subdivisions, commercial developments like office and retail outlets, hotels and industrial/logistics zones.

RLC is also banking on improved connectivity to Clark, especially with the construction of a railway connecting to Subic Freeport, Go said.

Meanwhile, RLC expects a big surge in contribution from the residential development business over the near term as it rolls out new inventory at an unprecedented pace. At least P12 billion worth of residential inventory will be launched in four projects under its homegrown brands this year—three in Pasig and one in Parañaque.

Two more residential upscale projects under joint venture deals—one in BGC under “Aurelia,” a venture with Shang Properties and “Velaris” in Bridgetown East in Pasig under a partnership with Hongkong Land—will also be launched in the second half of the year, adding P6 billion in new residential inventory.

All in all, RLC expects to roll out 4,000 residential units this year. Go thus sees RLC’s pre-selling sales take-up to reach another record high this 2019, outpacing last year’s P15.32-billion take-up.

Furthermore, RLC has sold 100 percent of the units in its first overseas project in Chengdu, China, as of end-March.

https://business.inquirer.net/271672/rlc-to-build-200-ha-township-in-clark

Thursday, May 30, 2019

LOOKING FORWARD: The New Multiply

We are a leader in social networking services, archive photo and video services.

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

DHSUD eyes P50B annual housing fund

THE IMPLEMENTING rules and regulations (IRR) of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Act will be signed by June 15, according to Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Eduardo D. del Rosario.

In an interview at the Palace on May 20, Mr. del Rosario told BusinessWorld that the final draft of the IRR will be signed by the HUDCC, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), and other concerned agencies by June 15.

“Nagsimula na kaming gumulong ‘yung (We have started moving along with the) six months [transition period]. Three months for the completion of the implementing rules and regulations, so it will be completed and signed by June 15,” he said.

“After that, we will have our organizational structure and staffing pattern para ‘yung (so that the) different bureaus and regional offices will be defined with their corresponding heads,” he added.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11201, also known as the DHSUD Act, on Feb. 14. Mr. del Rosario said the HUDCC and the HLURB are now crafting a roadmap for the new department, which will be operational beginning 2020.

“So it depends now on the budget, we presented our proposed budget for 2020 to the DBM (Department of Budget and Management),” he said, which “at the moment” will be “about P50 billion a year.”

Most of the budget, he explained, will go to the informal settler families nationwide.

“Those living in areas whose lots are not theirs and those living in hazard areas,” he said.

“We would like to achieve our housing need. They call it backlog, I call it housing need of 6.5 million from 2017 to 2022. In order to achieve that, we need about a minimum of P35 to P40 billion. But the budget for the housing sector for this year alone is only P2.7 billion. How could we possibly achieve that? So it is very timely that the department is created so that in 2020, we can possibly scale up,” he said.

Mr. del Rosario also noted that the current housing agencies are drafting a proposed bill to address the country’s housing needs.

He said the bill is “for the housing production so that there will be an allocation of at least P50 billion a year to construct for over 20-year period… about two million housing units.”

“We are now drafting the proposed bill. Once the next Congress resumes, we will request a senator or a congressman to sponsor the bill so that we can have a yearly budget allocated for housing. Because previously, it’s about P30 to P33 billion already. It ran down to P2.7 billion this year,” he added. — Arjay L. Balinbin

https://www.bworldonline.com/dhsud-eyes-p50b-annual-housing-fund/

National Flag Days start today

By Anthony Giron

IMUS, Cavite – The 15-day period that is known as National Flag Days starts today, May 28, and will be until June 12, Philippine Independence Day.

The Department of Interior and Local Government and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) have called on government offices, business establishments, schools and other institutions and private homes to display the Philippine flag during the period.

The declaration of the 15-day National Flag Days is contained in Republic Act No. 8491 or the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines” and House Bill 5224 which were approved by Congress.

The 15-day Flag Day period is also declared in Executive Order 179 issued by President Fidel V. Ramos.

The EO had set the extension of the commemoration of the national flag from May 28 to the days leading to Freedom Day on June 12. It also called on officials and residents to display the Philippine flag distinctly during the period.

The Flag Day is being celebrated on May 28 in Imus district, which was where the new Philippine flag was first raised and waved in victory by the revolutionaries, according to Philippine history.

The flag, designed by Aguinaldo, was sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, a niece of Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Battle of Alapan

The “Battle of Alapan” on May 28, 1898 was a hard-fought encounter of the revolutionaries under General Emilio F. Aguinaldo against the Spanish force prior to the proclamation of the Philippine independence on June 12, 1898.

The battle in Barangay Alapan I was a victory for Aguinaldo and the revolutionaries after the return of the general to the Philippines on May 18, 1898 from exile in Hong Kong.

Aguinaldo and the other revolutionaries also displayed the Philippine flag at Teatro Caviteño in Cavite Nuevo (now Cavite City) following the capture of more than 270 Spanish soldiers in the “Battle of Alapan.”

PH Independence Day

The flag was also waved in victory by Aguinaldo and the other revolutionaries by the window (now a veranda) at the General’s residence in Kawit during the proclamation of independence.

The country commemorated the Flag Day and anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12 from 1941 to 1964.

In 1965, President Diosdado Macapagal ordered the commemoration of the day of the flag moved to the date when it was first unfurled – May 28 – through Proclamation No. 374.

Flag Display Festival

Imus is the only city which had commemorated Flag Day with pomp and colorful program with its own “Wagayway” (Flag Wave or Display) Festival.

Imus was tagged as “Flag Capital of the Philippines” citing the historical Alapan encounter with the revolutionaries and the Philippines flag at the fore.

Officials said that some 3,000 Philippine flags would be displayed in Imus’ plaza, roads and public edifices, during the Flag Day celebration.

Organizers in Imus have set a month-long program of activities for the celebration, which started May 5.

The flags will remain on display in the city until June 12.

Nationalism and patriotism

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday assured that it will continue to strengthen initiatives that will instill nationalism and patriotism among learners.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that the DepEd continues to ensure that students are educated about the country’s history so they will have better appreciation of the greatness of the Filipino race.

DepEd enjoined all schools to display the Philippine Flag in the respective classrooms, offices and residences of all teaching and nonteaching personnel from May 15 to June 30, 2019.

In particular, these special discussions should take place when teaching subjects such as Sibika at Kultura, HEKASI, Araling Panlipunan, Values Education, Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH), Filipino and English at least once a week for the whole school year.

Flag Campaign in Schools

Earlier, DepEd – in partnership with Ayala Foundation Inc., Chooks-to-Go of Bounty Agro Ventures Inc., and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) – also distributed 163 Philippine flags to the Schools Division of Quezon City to kick off the #MagingMagiting Flag Campaign.

10,000 flags

The NCR Flag Campaign is the first of 17 on-ground flag distribution events that will be done in all 17 regions nationwide. The goal of the campaign is to distribute 10,000 flags to public schools nationwide by 2019. (With a report from MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT)

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/27/national-flag-days-start-today/

Monday, May 27, 2019

Duterte signs Sagip Saka Act

By Genalyn Kabiling

A new law establishing a farmers and fisherfolk enterprise development program has been signed by President Duterte in a bid to boost their income and productivity.

In Republic Act No. 11321 or the “Sagip Saka Act,” the government will extend assistance to farmers and fishermen by improving their production and productivity, enhancing access to credit grants and crop insurance as well as improved technologies, among others.

To promote and support the country’s farmers and fisherfolk, the law also mandates national and local government agencies to purchase agricultural and fishery products from accredited farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and enterprises. Such procurement will be exempted from bidding process and instead undergo a negotiated procurement.

“It is declared policy of the State to achieve sustainable modern agriculture and food security by helping the agricultural and fishing communities to reach their full potential, increasing farmers’ and fishermen’s incomes, and bridging gaps through public-private partnerships, thereby improving their quality of life,” the law read.

“In pursuant of this policy, the State shall strengthen the farmers and fisherfolk enterprise development program by establishing a comprehensive and holistic approach in the formulation, coordination and implementation of enterprise development initiatives, consolidating the roles of different government agencies involved in farmers and fisherfolk enterprise development, and intensifying the building of entrepreneurship culture among farmers and fisherfolk,” it added.

The new law, signed by the President last April 17, has mandated the Department of Agriculture (DA) to be the implementing agency of the “Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Program.” It will work with concerned government agencies for technical support and assistance.

Under the program, the government seeks to promote the development of enterprises involving agricultural and fishery products, particularly use science-based technologies to identify and prioritize these products.

The forms of assistance include agricultural extension services, skills development, provision of production units, equipment, facilities and infrastructure for production and post-production activities; improvement of access to financing; provision of access to improved technologies through research and development; provision of business support and development services such as marketing and networking.

The beneficiaries of the program are existing producers of priority commodities, farmer and fisherfolk, producer group or cluster of growers, and micro, small and medium scale processors and exporters.

The law also stated that partnerships or alliances between farmers and fisherfolk and the private sector may be formed to improve market aces of producer groups.

Also approved by the law are certain tax incentives and exemptions such as exemption of gifts and donations of real and personal properties for donor’s tax.

The local government units will also exempt structures, buildings and warehouses for storage of farm inputs and outputs from real property tax provided the value of the property does not exceed P3 million.

The Land Bank of the Philippines will also provide preferential rates and special window to accredited framers and fisherfolk enterprises.

The government will also grant income tax exemption arising from the operations of the enterprises provided the farmer and fisherfolk cooperatives and enterprises are registered barangay micro-business enterprises.

Under the law, a Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Council is also created to oversee the implementation of the program. It will be chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture.

The agriculture department will also keep an information system that contains the registry of agricultural and fisheries enterprises and a roster of private companies engaged with these enterprises.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/27/duterte-signs-sagip-saka-act/

Senate approves franchise extension for RJ Jacinto’s network

THE Senate has approved on second reading the bill extending the franchise of Rajah Broadcasting Network, Inc. (RBN), owned by presidential adviser Ramon “RJ” P. Jacinto, for another 25 years.

The chamber approved on Wednesday House Bill No. 8177, whose enactment will renew RBN’s franchise a second time. It was first granted on June 19, 1965, under Republic Act No. 4505, and later renewed on July 9, 1995 through Republic Act No. 8104. The franchise was set to expire on July 9, 2020.

RBN’s flagship radio station is RJ100.3 FM, which operates ten stations in key cities nationwide. The RBN also broadcasts through its AM radio station, DZRJ 810 AM Radyo Bandido.

Aside from RBN, Mr. Jacinto, currently serves as the presidential adviser for economic affairs and information technology communications, also owns other companies under the RJ Group.

If enacted, the measure will allow RBN to “construct, install, establish, operate and maintain” radio or television broadcasting stations. This, however, may b revoked upon failure of RBN to operate continuously for two years.

Moreover, it shall require the RBN to offer at least 30% of its outstanding capital stock to Filipinos, in compliance with the constitutional provision, promoting public participation in public utilities.

It shall also allot a maximum of 10% of paid commercial time to public service time, as needed by the government.

RBN shall also be prohibited from the “sale, lease, transfer, grant of usufruct, or assignment of franchise,” without the approval of Congress.

The network is also required to submit an annual report to Congress on or before April 30 of every year. Non-compliance will subject RBN to a fine of P500 per working day. — C.A.Tadalan

https://www.bworldonline.com/senate-approves-franchise-extension-for-rj-jacintos-network/

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Cabaero: House online poll

THE House of Representatives started last week an online poll on the question of same-sex marriage.

The poll makes no assurance that the results would guide legislators on their vote, and a survey is not really the best way to get the people’s sentiment because all issues cannot be threshed out in one question with two or three options for an answer.

An online poll is a way to get the public’s opinion. But an online poll can be limiting as only those who take it can have a “voice,” and it can be manipulated as when digital warriors are told to answer the question.

If House members were serious in taking this route of using online tools to measure public sentiment, they should conduct more than an online poll. Technology allows for interaction with an audience beyond an online survey. Legislators can have social media discussions and can do video, infographics or animation to let the public understand the issue. Maps can show the prevailing sentiment per congressional district.

The question posted on the House of Representatives website at www.congress.gov.ph is this: Are you in favor of the proposal in the House of Representatives which legalizes same-sex unions as civil partnership in the country? Voters have three options:

* Yes, because this will give equal civil rights to same-sex couples. The bill provides such couples with legal partnership status that will govern their property rights, custodial rights over children and adoption rights.

* No, because the underlying intention is to legalize marriage between members of the same sex and I personally believe this is wrong.

* I am undecided.

As of 4:20 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019, the yes votes reached 204,869 or 52 percent; no totaled 185,704 or 47 percent, and those undecided were 1,789. All votes totaled 392,362.

The timing of the poll is not a surprise. Last May 24, Taiwan became the first Asian country to grant same-sex couples the right to get married. The coming month, June, is also known as World Pride Month that celebrates lesbians, gay people, the bisexual and transgender.

The House bill legalizing civil partnerships whether by same-sex marriage or live-in arrangements was first discussed in 2018. House Bill 6595 authored by then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez seeks to grant these couples the same benefits given to married couples.

The issue reached the Supreme Court when a petition in 2015 asked to nullify provisions of The Family Code of the Philippines which defines and limits marriage as “between man and woman.” Oral arguments before the court in 2018 had then Solicitor General Jose Calida saying same-sex couples can live happily together but they cannot marry, while one justice reportedly was “more inclined” to dismiss the petition.

There is still time to discuss the proposal. Legislators can use an online poll but it does not replace reaching out to constituents to get their sentiment.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1807182

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Leviste power firm awaits approval by the Senate of 25-year franchise

By Vanne Elaine Terrazola

The Senate is poised to grant a 25-year franchise to the solar power corporation owned by Leandro Leviste, son of outgoing Senator Loren Legarda.

The chamber already approved on second reading the House Bill 8179, which seeks to grant the Solar Para Sa Bayan Corporation (SPSB) a congressional franchise to be able to “construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain distributable power technologies and minigrid systems throughout the Philippines”.

But Senate President Vicente Sotto III allayed fears over its approval, saying the Upper House’s version does not grant the firm a “mega-franchise”, as dubbed by oppositors.

“Hindi na ‘mega’. Pumasa sa amin sa second reading pero napakadaming amendments. Kasi ‘yon nga ang iniiwasan, ‘yong ‘mega’ (It’s not ‘mega’ anymore. We passed it on second reading but we made several amendments. Because that’s what we are preventing, for it to be a ‘mega’ franchise),” Sotto said in a radio interview.

“Doon sa version na pumasa sa amin, franchise na lang, hindi na ‘mega’ (In the Senate’s version, it is a mere franchise, not a ‘mega-franchise’),” he stressed.

Before its approval, HB 8179, sponsored by Senator Grace Poe’s Committee on Public Services, faced the grilling of senators during their interpellations last Wednesday.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson questioned the need to grant the solar firm a congressional franchise when it is engaged in power generation and is not considered a public utility operation.

He cited Section 6 of the Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) which states that power generation and electricity supply need not secure a national franchise.

In response, Poe said SPSB uses micro-grid technology and is also engaged in transmission and distribution of energy, which, under the EPIRA, requires congressional approval.

“While it is true generation does not require a national franchise, It is significant to note that micro-grid does not only involve generation, but also transmission and distribution of electric power for which a franchise is required,” Poe explained.

“Moreover, when EPIRA was enacted in 2001, they could not have envisioned the micro-grid technology, considering that such technology is relatively new in the Philippines” she added, to which Sen. Francis Escudero, who was already a member of Congress then, agreed.

Lacson also raised that the EPIRA prohibits cross-ownership in power generation and distribution, which Leviste’s SPSB might violate.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon likewise raised the need for franchise when SPSB is already authorized by the Department of Energy (DOE) to operate without a legislative franchise.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, co-sponsor of the measure, said the bill seeks to permit the company to operate not only in remote and unviable areas, but in unserved and underserved parts of the country, or those not supplied with electricity 24/7.

The Senate’s version of the bill states that the SPSB can operate in barangays, municipalities and cities of Aurora, Batangas, Bohol, Cagayan, Camiguin, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Isabela, Masbate, Misamis Occidental, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Tawi-Tawi.

Gatchalian assured that the firm cannot operate outside the enumerated provinces.

The proposed franchise, he added, does not grant the SPSB the exclusive rights over these areas. He said that it still has to go through a competitive selection process along with other private firms before being allowed to operate in these areas.

Senators also made sure that the DOE will not encroach on Congress’ authority in granting franchises to public utility companies.

After its second reading approval, the Senate is expected to pass HB 8179 in third and final reading next week.

The Senate and House of Representatives would then have to reconcile their versions before ratifying in their respective chambers, and transmitting it for the President’s signature.

Amid concerns over the possible conflict of interest, Sotto clarified that they merely acted on the House-approved measure and did not railroad the passage of the bill.

He said oppositors may take to court the granting of the franchise to SPSB.

“As far as we are concerned, we take it as it is. ‘Yong constitutional interpretation they can take to the court, the proper court to address that. Kasi sa samin, aaksyunan namin kung ano ang dumating sa amin,” the Senate leader said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/25/leviste-power-firm-awaits-approval-by-the-senate-of-25-year-franchise/