Since the dawn of civilizations, revolutions have always been written in blood. A dictator forced out of power always passed through the path of violence – the cry of battle, ending with the fall of the dictator.
Yet in the Philippine Capital, history took a revolutionary turn, as the Filipino People reclaimed their liberty without going down the path of violence, as history has continuously shown us.
What was their secret? How did a fourteen-year rule suddenly come to a halt?
History will always remember the 21st day of September, 1972, as the day when Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law as a way to quell communist and islamic insurgencies. Noble as it sounded, it quickly turned for the worst, as it ushered in a Period of authoritarian rule.
During this time, civil liberties were suspended. Many people were subject to human rights violations, with many others forcefully abducted, usually ending up dead.
As a result, the country was on the brink of civil war – tensions were high between the military and civilians – raids and revolts took place all over the capital. Even within the military, a coup was set to be staged against the Marcoses.
It was the voice of one shepherd, Jaime Cardinal Sin, which resonated on Radio Veritas, that called the Filipino People to gather at EDSA to take a stand, avoiding violence and bloodshed. “My dear people, I wish you to pray because it’s only through prayer that we may solve this problem,” Cardinal Sin said on Radio Veritas on Feb. 22, 1986, encouraging the faithful to “pray to our Blessed Lady to help us in order that we can solve this problem peacefully.”
A day after Cardinal Sin made his appeal, the government came and destroyed the main transmitter of Radio Veritas, which hindered the station’s broadcasts. Yet, people began to move towards EDSA, responding to the call of the good Cardinal.
Nuns, Priests, Seminarians, and almost two million civilians gathered at EDSA from 22-25 February 1986, in response to Cardinal Sin’s call. Faithful to the good Cardinal’s request, they came bearing not arms, but rosaries, flowers, and images of the Blessed Mother. As the military began to advance towards them, they responded not with violence, but with prayers.
In that time of darkness and uncertainty, the Holy Rosary was their weapon, and the Hail Mary became their battlecry. Eyewitnesses and Historical Accounts would attest that the soldiers who were given orders to disperse the crowds openly defied the orders given to them and joined the people in prayer.
The EDSA Revolution is a reminder for every Filipino, not only of the value of freedom and liberty, but also of the power of the intercession of Mary, the Queen of the Holy Rosary. In times of hopelessness and despair, we are called to look to Our Blessed Mother, and call on her through the praying of the Holy Rosary, trusting that every Hail Mary we utter is a blessing, and every time we cry to her, she will never hesitate to turn her ear to our cries.