The power of...
For most of the people crowding EDSA, they were aware that they were powerless against the armed government forces. However, the people had become unstoppable and undaunted by the threats of the government soldiers.
“Prayers were what we held on to. We knew that there could’ve been a violent dispersal from the military but we just didn’t want to give up. We strongly believed that God was there and that a big miracle would happen. And it did,” Elena enthuses.
From the night of February 22, nuns have led a non-stop prayer vigil on EDSA. “Most of us who joined the prayer vigil almost had no sleep. Some who lived nearby would go home to take some rest and a quick nap, then come back to EDSA to continue with the prayer vigil. Some hardly had any sleep, and would only go home to freshen up and change clothes. Everyone prayed deeply and there were even some nonCatholics who joined us in our prayer vigil,” says Elena.
For Elena, one of the biggest highlights of the Revolution happened on February 23, 1986. This was their encounter with the armed forces, who attempted to clear the crowds at EDSA , approaching them with tanks and armored vehicles . Nevertheless, the civilians showed their defiance by linking their arms together to barricade the troops, while nuns knelt before the tanks holding their rosaries. Despite warnings by the troops, they resisted until the armed men fled back without any violent action taken against the crowd.
“We were at the height of our emotion back then. I felt
“Prayers were what we held on to. We knew that there could’ve been a violent dispersal from the military but we just didn’t want to give up. We strongly believed that God was there and that a big miracle would happen. And it did.”
like I was ready to take any bullet they’d shoot at me and that I could’ve died any second. But God is so good. I really believed that there was divine intervention that happened right at that very moment,” says Elena.
“Miracles” continued to happen from then on. Albeit the military’s attempts to disperse the revolutionists, the people remained united and unshaken.
“When we heard that Col. Antonio Sotelo’s group had also withdrawn their support for the government, our hopes kept rising. We felt like the universe was conspiring,” says Elena.
On February 24, 1986, the helicopters operated by the 15th Strike Wing of the Philippine Air Force, which was headed by Colonel Sotelo, were directed to invade Camp Crame from Sangley Point in Cavite. However, Sotelo’s squad abandoned their support to the government and did not attack the crowd. Upon landing in Camp Crame, they were welcomed by the people with joyous cheers and some even gave the crew members some warm hugs. This further signaled the forthcoming victory by the people on EDSA.
As more military leaders surrendered their positions and support for the Marcos government, the people continued their glorious celebration on that momentous highway, cheering and merrymaking. Many of them were emotional and simply awed by the miraculous events they were experiencing during that time.
For them, victory had never been as glorious and as worth fighting for as this one. They fought a bloodless and peaceful revolt. This was something that would not only become a milestone in Philippine history, but it would also mark as an inspiration to the rest of the world.