Crame & EDSA

EDSA Highway. The place where people lay themselves in front of army tanks begging the soldiers not to fight their fellow filipinos. The place where tens of thousands of people came to the call for People Power and to make their stand for their country's freedom . . .

This picture was taken from the top of the V.V. Sullivan Building which is on the EDSA highway next to Camp Crame. When we were there, there was a large group of journalists up there also taking pictures and watching the amazing sight below. There before any of us had gone to the top were Reformed Army or anti-Marcos soldiers. They were strategically positioned there to for movements by the Loyalist, pro-Marcos soldiers. They could see for miles around us.

Thousands of people, responding to the Cardinal's appeal for the public peoples' protection, begin massing outside the rebel camps (soldiers and officers who are not backing Marcos' claim to the presidency, are positioned at Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame). The public people come to supply food for the soldiers and to be a human barricade from Marcos' Loyalist forces. This is the beginning of "people power."

At the EDSA highway, an armored column of loyalist Marines was sent to attack the rebel forces at Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame (see picture contribution of approaching tanks). The threat is stopped by tens of thousands of people manning makeshift barricades one kilometer from the Camps. Nuns and other people are kneeling in front of soldiers ready to fire on them. They are begging the soldiers not to fight.

The call for "people power" on the radio by Cardinal Sin, Enrile and General Ramos is heeded by more and more. Ramos urges the public to come by saying that the "moral power of an enraged population" will be enough to stop loyalist forces without violence.

After dusk, the loyalist forces do indeed withdraw without having fired one shot or moving an inch further.

Thousands of the public keep vigil watch over the camps by coming both night and day. By protecting the rebel armed forces from Marcos' attacking forces and by showing the world that we don't want Marcos as President any longer, the public knows and hopes at the same time that Marcos must concede sooner or later.

Check out this links for other web sites related to this particular one:

The Loyalist Soldiers and the vision of a beautiful Lady (Cardinal Sin).

These links are no longer available, sorry. (Their files have been taken off-line).

A Chronological Account

BusinessWorld Online Edition - article on the movements of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during this time

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Since April 1996, this website has evolved from

"I Remember People Power. . ."

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"WE Remember People Power: 1986 Philippines."
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