The Revolution : Let the Chaos Begin!

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" . . . I have the power to destroy this rebellion if I feel enough is enough. I am not sick. I am strong. I will not resign. I will even lead the troops against Enrile and Ramos. I smell gunpowder like an old war horse."

Ferdinand E. Marcos
(In a radio broadcast early Monday morning)

S O U N D C L I P 1 Various statements from different personalities during the revolution.
M A G K A I S A Original Tagalog lyrics by Tito Sotto and Homer Flores, melody by Tito Sotto and Homer Flores.

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The Revolt

To the outside world, the revolution was a symbol of the power held in the hands of the people. The white cassocks of the priests and nuns along with the faceless thousands who had poured into the streets, hands clutched while praying the rosary, the air of defiance in the face of a superior adversary was for a time etched into the eyes of the world. A triumph for the spiritual will of the people against he whims of a dictator.

Saturday, February 22, 1986

15:00 Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, alarmed by reports of impending mass arrests of numerous Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) officers and opposition leaders, gather nearly 400 men in defensive position at ministry headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

therevolution.article1.image1.jpg (19206 bytes) Vice Chief of Staff Lt. General Fidel V. Ramos agrees to join the rebellion. He calls on the Armed Forces to join them in their rebellion.

18:45 Enrile and Ramos calls a press conference to announce their break from the Marcos camp. Also revealed during the press conference are the incidents of massive cheating during the past elections. Ramos and Enrile declare that Corazon Aquino is the rightful president of the republic.

Enrile contacts the United States Ambassador Stephen Bosworth and Jaime Cardinal Sin. Enrile asks Sin for support.

Ninoy Aquino’s brother Agapito "Butz" Aquino arrives during the press conference and pledges support.

20:00 Cory Aquino is contacted by Enrile in the central Philippine city of Cebu during a rally and is informed of the developments taking place in Manila.

Uncertain of Enrile’s motives and possible reactions, Aquino goes into hiding in a missionary convent. There had been reports that attempts would be made on her life.

therevolution.article1.image2.jpg (15034 bytes) Aquino refuses an American offer of safe transport. She had been offered passage to any destination she would have wanted to go.

Retired General Rafael Ileto, acting on behalf of the rebels, extracts a promise from General Fabian Ver. Ver promises to delay any sort of retaliation up until Sunday morning.

21:00 The Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin airs an appeal over Radio Veritas asking the people to support "our two good friends."

23:00 President Marcos tells the rebel faction to surrender in a televised press conference. He claims to have uncovered an assassination plot against him by the reform movement. He produces an army captain allegedly involved in the plot. He urges the rebels to "stop this stupidity."

Enrile, on Radio Veritas, responds to Marcos’ claims defiantly saying, "Your time is up!"