Beyond Loyola looks back at some of the most influential protests that have shaped history: here and around the world.
FRENCH REVOLUTION
1789-1799
This revolution lasted for ten years and gave birth to the Estates-General, Tennis Court Oath, Assault on the Bastille, Declaration of the Rights of Manand of the Citizen, and March on Versailles. After these events, France was finally freed from monarchs such as King Louis XVI.
THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
1896-1898
Led by first Philippine president Emilio Aguinaldo, the pact in Biak-na-Bato, the American-Spanish war, the establishment of the Philippine Republic and the Philippine-American war took place within a critical two-year revolutionary period in Philippine history. It was these events that led to the Philippine declaration of independence on June 12, 1898.
MARTIN LUTHER KING: March on Washington
1963
After fighting for racial equality and civil obedience, Martin Luther King, along with other protesters, was sent to prison. It was there that King wrote the famous, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” a piece of writing that continues to taint history. As mass protests continued, former U.S. President Kennedy eventually passed a bill on Civil Rights.
THE FIRST QUARTER STORM
January-March 1970
From Divisoria to Tondo, people from all walks of life united and set foot to depose then president Ferdinand Marcos for corruption in the government and his poor performance that led to a lapse in the economy. It was believed that this protest greatly influenced the declaration of Martial Law.
PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION 1
February 25, 1986
Former President Corazon Aquino led the EDSA Revolution armed with yellow ribbons, prayer and a united people. Through this bloodless insurgency, our country attained democracy when former dictator Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown from his 20-year rule.
EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION 2011
January 25 to February 11, 2011
With 300 casualties, the nation’s desire to end former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule turned into a series of mass protests that lasted for almost a month. People occupied Cairo’s Tahrir Square for more than two weeks, eventually leading to the resignation of Mubarak on February 11.
PALEA RALLY
September 16 – Present
United against outsourcing, the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) together with their families and church groups, protested against the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Management. PALEA fought for their jobs from PAL Nichols Gate 2 to Sucat and ended the protest with a prayer rally. To date, PALEA camps are still on going outside the PAL In-flight Center in Pasay City.
OCCUPY WALL STREET (OWS)
September 17 – Present
Commenced by Canadian activist group, Adbusters, a series of protests in Wall Street, the financial district of New York City, have been ongoing. With the slogan “We are the 99%,” the past months have seen protesters demand for equality in socio-economic matters and for a halt in corruption and greed.
