The Philippines in 1986: Democratic Reconstruction in the Post-Marcos Era

Abstract

Like the mythical phoenix, the Philippines has been resurrected from its languid state of socio-political and psychological torpor. The four-day EDSA Revolution' halted the frenzied advance to the brink of civil war at precisely that point when all seemed lost, when hope was facing its death knell. However, the crisis is far from over. Less than a year old, the government of President Corazon Aquino has been tried and tested beyond measure. Aside from the inherited problems of economic dislocation, unbridled corruption and wildfire insurgency, the Aquino government has had to contend with three coup attempts, labor unrest, political disturbances in provincial governments, sequestration anomalies, and to top it all, a divided and bickering Cabinet. In the face of all these, President Aquino has proven herself to be more than a simple housewife as her critics suggest. Against all odds, she has, with political savvy, consolidated her hold over government and the military, thereby proving her capability to govern a nation of 55 million souls. With adroit determination she is implementing far-reaching reforms in the effort to steer the country back to normalcy. The most recent crisis led to a revamping of the Cabinet and the setting of a deadline on cease-fire talks with the communist insurgents. As the year closed, national attention was focused on the February 2, 1987, plebiscite on the draft constitution, the May 11, 1987, national elections, and the second phase of the cease-fire