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People Power Revolution Facts & Worksheets

The People Power Revolution was a movement that aimed to regain the country’s freedom from martial law.

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The People Power Revolution was a remarkable historic event that took place in the Philippines from September 1972 to February 1986. It was a movement that aimed to regain the country’s freedom from martial law. The revolution was a peaceful movement that succeeded in gaining the country’s freedom.

See the fact file below for more information on the People Power Revolution or alternatively, you can download our 26-page People Power Revolution worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Background and Causes

  • The People Power Revolution was ignited by a number of political events that occurred beforehand. The principal cause dates back to September 1972, 14 years before the revolution, when former President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. 
  • The declaration of martial law led to a series of economic and social degradations.
  • The economy collapsed because of the enormous debt the Marcos administration harbored (approximately $26 billion). Innocent civilians were punished for speaking up against the government. The Filipinos were put under a harsh dictatorship that caused them to yearn for democracy from a new leader.
  • One of the events that ignited the revolution was the assassination of Ninoy Aquino on August 21, 1983. 
  • Benigno Simeon “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was a prominent figure during the martial law period. He publicly spoke against the dictatorship Marcos led. He was revered for his immense patriotism and nationalism. His saying “the Filipino is worth dying for” still lives on to this day as it reflects his love for the Philippines. 
  • He was imprisoned for accusations of murder and subversion. He then self-exiled to the United States for 3 years. 
  • Upon arriving in Manila on August 21, 1983, he was assassinated. His assassination broadened the scope of the government opposition. His assassination also thrust his wife, Maria Corazon “Cory” Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino, into the public eye.

Snap Elections and Revolution

  • On November 3, 1985, Ferdinand Marcos announced that a snap presidential election would take place in 1986 to legitimize his rule. 
  • The opposition, United Opposition, elected Corazon Aquino to run for president. Salvador Laurel ran as her vice president under the United Opposition Party. Ferdinand Marcos ran for re-election and had Arturo Tolentino run as his vice president. Marcos and Tolentino ran under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party.
  • On February 7, 1986, the snap election took place. The Commission on Elections declared Marcos the winner. Meanwhile, the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) declared Aquino as the winner.
  • News of violence and vote tampering were reported. This resulted in a walkout of 30 COMELEC computer technicians. They walked out as a form of rebellion against the intentional manipulation of the election results for Marcos to appear the victor.
  • The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) condemned the results of the election. 
  • Even the United States Senate, under the administration of former President Ronald Reagan, issued a statement condemning the results of the elections.
  • On February 15, 1986, the COMELEC and Batasang Pambansa declared Marcos the official winner of the snap elections despite opposition from several members of parliament.
  • On February 16, 1986, Cory Aquino held the Tagumpay ng Bayan rally at Luneta Park wherein she encouraged her supporters to boycott all corporations associated with the Marcos administration.
  • The Reform the Armed Forces Movement planned a coup against Marcos, however, Marcos ordered the arrest of the leaders of these groups.
  • Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile feared his own imprisonment. He approached Fidel Ramos, who was the FP Vice Chief of Staff at that time.
  • Enrile and Ramos both resigned from their positions and withdrew their support for Marcos’ administration.
  • They then approached Cardinal Jaime Sin for help to gain support from the masses.
  • Cardinal Sin appealed to the masses to gather on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue to support the members of the opposition.
  • The radio station Radio Veritas was the main broadcasting station used to impart information to the public during that time.
  • The public continued to gather. They came unarmed and brought only prayers, food, and support. 
  • The public gathered and sang songs such as “Bayan Ko” and flashed the “Laban” symbol (forming an L with the thumb and index finger) to show support for the opposition.

Inauguration of the New President and Marcos’ Exile

  • By the morning of February 25, two inaugurations were done. Cory Aquino’s inauguration was held at Club Filipino. She was sworn in by Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee.
  • An hour later, Marcos was sworn in as President at Malacañang. 
  • Despite being sworn in as President, Marcos and his family were preparing to flee the country.
  • Marcos requested to spend a few days in his hometown, Ilocos Norte. They then flew to Hawaii. They brought with them their servants, millions of dollars, and jewelry.
  • The People Power Revolution was successful in deposing a dictator. After 14 years, the Philippines was once again a democratic state.

People Power Revolution Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the People Power Revolution across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about the People Power Revolution which was a peaceful movement that succeeded in gaining the country’s freedom from Martial Law.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • People Power Revolution Facts
  • The Search
  • Compare and Contrast
  • You’re Bluffing
  • Story Time
  • On Air
  • The Perfect Match
  • You’ve Got Mail
  • Puzzling
  • Time’s Up
  • Trailblazer

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Link will appear as People Power Revolution Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 6, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.