“The true legacy of EDSA lies not in repeatedly returning to the streets but in building democratic institutions strong enough”
NEARLY four decades after the historic 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution and a quarter century after EDSA Dos in 2001, many have once again asked a familiar question: Can another People Power uprising succeed today?
Recent calls from various political groups closely aligned with the Dutertes and the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) urging Filipinos to gather once more along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue have generated considerable discussion.
Yet despite the rhetoric, the anticipated groundswell has not materialized.
EDSA has remained largely what it was intended to be—a major thoroughfare serving millions of commuters rather than the epicenter of another political revolution. The reason is simple.
History does not merely repeat itself. It demands the convergence of extraordinary circumstances that are absent today.
The 1986 People Power Revolution was not the product of a single issue nor the handiwork of a single leader. It emerged from years of political upheaval, economic decline, public outrage following the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr., the disputed snap elections, and the unprecedented unity of the Filipino people.
It brought together political opposition, the Catholic Church, business leaders, civil society organizations, reformist elements of the military led by then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and AFP Vice Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos, and millions of ordinary Filipinos united by one common aspiration—to peacefully restore democracy.
It was the convergence of moral authority, institutional support, and overwhelming public participation that made EDSA possible.
I write about those historic events not merely as a student of history but also as one privileged to help preserve its lessons.
Together with former MWSS Admustrator and first Special Action Force Commander Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco and former DILG Secretary Rafael M. Alunan III, I co-authored Silver Linings: The Continuing Saga of the 1986 People Power Revolution.
The book carries special significance because former President Fidel V. Ramos served as Chairman of its Editorial Board.
Drawing from his firsthand experience as one of the principal figures of EDSA, President Ramos reminded us that the revolution was never meant to become a recurring political template. Rather, it was an extraordinary response to extraordinary times.
The book’s central message remains relevant today: the true legacy of EDSA lies not in repeatedly returning to the streets but in building democratic institutions strong enough that future generations need not.
Fifteen years later came EDSA Dos. Again, history witnessed another rare convergence.
Public outrage intensified after the impeachment proceedings against President Joseph Estrada collapsed in the Senate.
Civil society organizations mobilized. Religious leaders spoke with moral clarity. The business community expressed growing concern. Political leaders crossed party lines.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos once again lent his moral authority and statesmanship to the movement.
The military and the police ultimately withdrew their support from the sitting President, paving the way for the Constitutional succession of then Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Like its predecessor, EDSA Dos succeeded not because of slogans but because multiple institutions moved together.
Today, under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., those same conditions simply do not exist.
Political disagreements certainly persist—as they do in every democracy—but there is no singular national crisis that has united an overwhelming majority of Filipinos behind one cause.
The political opposition remains fragmented. Civil society organizations pursue diverse advocacies rather than a single coordinated movement.
Religious institutions have generally exercised prudence in political engagement.
Equally significant, both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police continue to emphasize their Constitutional mandate of remaining professional and non-partisan. Perhaps the greatest difference lies with the Filipino people themselves.
The generation that stood on EDSA in 1986 had experienced martial law firsthand.
Freedom was not an abstract concept; it was something they were prepared to defend with extraordinary courage.
Today’s generation confronts a different set of realities. Inflation, food security, employment, education, healthcare, housing, and economic opportunity occupy the minds of most Filipino families. They seek solutions that improve daily life.
Many may express dissatisfaction online, but translating digital conversations into sustained mass mobilization is an altogether different proposition.
Social media has also fundamentally altered political engagement. In 1986, radio stations connected a nation. Today, millions of smartphones amplify countless voices simultaneously. Outrage trends quickly. Hashtags rise and disappear.
Viral posts create the perception of momentum, yet virtual engagement does not necessarily translate into physical participation. Equally important is the country’s growing appreciation for stability.
Filipinos understand that prolonged political uncertainty carries economic consequences. Investors hesitate.
Businesses postpone expansion. Tourism suffers. Jobs are affected. Families ultimately bear the cost. Increasingly, citizens prefer that political contests be resolved through constitutional institutions, free elections, judicial processes, and democratic dialogue rather than through extra-constitutional upheavals. None of this diminishes the greatness of EDSA.
The 1986 People Power Revolution remains one of the world’s most inspiring examples of peaceful democratic change.
It restored democratic institutions, rekindled hope, and inspired freedom movements beyond our shores. But honoring EDSA does not require endlessly attempting to recreate it.
Its greatest triumph should be measured not by how often Filipinos gather on one historic highway, but by whether the institutions it restored continue to function as democracy intended.
As President Fidel V. Ramos often reminded us, democracy is not a destination but a continuing journey. Its strength is measured not by the frequency of revolutions but by the resilience of its institutions, the integrity of its leaders, and the vigilance of its citizens.
That, perhaps, is the enduring silver lining of EDSA. The highest tribute we can pay to the heroes of 1986 and 2001 is not another People Power Revolution.
It is ensuring that the democratic freedoms they helped secure continue to flourish through constitutional governance, responsible leadership, and an engaged citizenry. For when democracy matures, the most meaningful victories are won not on the streets, but through the institutions that safeguard the people’s sovereign will.
(The writer, president/chief executive officer of Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. and president/executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc., a non-government outfit advocating tree-planting and environmental protection, is the official biographer of President Fidel V. Ramos.)
