8 Documentaries and Plays on What *REALLY* Happened During the EDSA Revolution

On February 25, 2022, we celebrate the 36th anniversary of the People Power Revolution when older generations took to the streets to fight for freedom from the Marcos dictatorship. And as the May 2022 election nears, it’s all the more important for us to remember and never forget. If you want to have a better understanding of what happened back then, here’s a list of films, documentaries, and plays you can watch:

EDSA 20 ‘Isang Larawan’

First aired on ABC5 in 2006, this Inquirer-produced documentary was created to mark the 20th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. They invited people who have been involved in the revolution from both sides, including army colonel Gringo Honasan, then-radio anchor June Keithley, former air squadron commander Charles Hotchkiss, singer-songwriter Jim Paredes, and Srs. Terry Burias and Ping Ocariza. This derivative copy of the documentary runs for 52 minutes. Watch it on Youtube.

Inquirer re-released a shorter version of this documentary in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.

The Final Hours: EDSA People Power Revolution

Last year, GMA News released a brief video that explores the final hours of the revolution. In addition to stitches of footage, photographs, and newspaper headlines, they invited historian and defense analyst Jose Antonio Custodio and Professor Ed Garcia, who is one of the framers of the 1987 constitution. The whole video runs for a little over 9 minutes. Watch it on Youtube.

Coup d’Etat: The Philippines Revolt

Produced by Australian network ABC News and Public Affairs, this 57-minute documentary depicts the nonviolent revolt that led to the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos and the end of his long dictatorship. It uses footage from 1986 to stitch together what happened during the People Power Revolution, who participated in it, and how it became successful. Watch it on Youtube.

1986 People Power EDSA History

Produced by the Department of National Defense, this documentary provides a glimpse into the military side of the 1986 nonviolent revolt. Various notable figures share their own accounts of what happened in the People Power Revolution, including Captain Alex Sembrano (son-in-law and military aide to General Fidel Ramos), former minister for national defense Juan Ponce Enrile and his daughter Katrina Enrile, Philippine Navy commodore Rex Robles, and more. It runs for 25 minutes. Watch it on Youtube.

I-Witness: Biyaheng EDSA

Originally aired in February 2006, broadcast journalist Howie Severino explored how much EDSA has changed after 20 years have passed since the People Power Revolution. He travels the length of EDSA to see how much has changed. This documentary provides a good glimpse of how far we’ve come since then — and how important it is that we maintain this hard-gained freedom. It runs for 33 minutes. Watch it on Youtube.

I-Witness also produced another documentary entitled Kagat ng Mosquito Press, which focuses on the history and struggle for Press Freedom during the Marcos dictatorship.

Batas Militar

This 1997 documentary explores different aspects of the 14-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos over the Philippines from the human rights violations to the economy to the personal lives of the Marcoses. The interviewees of Batas Militar include many notable names such as former president Corazon Aquino, former first lady Imelda Marcos, Cardinal Jaime Sin, among others. It is the longest running piece in this list, running at 110 minutes. Watch it on YouTube.

People Power

This foreign documentary film by Israeli director Ilan Ziv explores the use of active non-violence to create social reforms in various countries. It tackles Chile’s Pinochet, the Palestinian intifada, and our own People Power Revolution in the Philippines. American political scientist Gene Sharp lends his insights to better understand nonviolent struggles and how this has led to changes in countries, including the Philippines. It runs for 53 minutes. Pre-order a 24-hour streaming ticket for free on MOOV.

Isang Harding Papel: A Martial Law Play

Based on the children’s book of the same name by Augie Rivera and illustrated by Rommel Joson, the play Isang Harding Papel follows Jenny, a young girl whose mother became a political prisoner, and how she regularly visits her mother in jail. The book and the play tackles the dark days of martial law through the eyes of a child.

The play was originally staged in 2016 at Miriam College, then again in 2017 at the AFP Theater. The Raya School in partnership with Active Vista, Dakila, and Dokyo Power will be streaming a recording of the play on February 26, 2022, Saturday. Watch it on Dakila’s Facebook page.

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