ABSTRACT
On January 16, 2001, at about nine o’clock at night in the Senate House, Manila, the fatal vote was taken in the impeachment trial of corrupt Philippines president Joseph Estrada and precipitated the so-called People Power demonstrations that resulted in his resignation a few days later. Even as the speeches were made for and against opening the envelope containing the evidence that would prove or disprove Estrada’s theft of the nation’s money, outside the chamber plans were put in place for the demonstrations that would form if the Estrada camp of politicians managed to prevent the opening of the envelope, which they did. The demonstrations began with a walkout from the viewers’ gallery at the Senate House. The outrage of these witnesses to the perversion of justice by the national leaders carried from the halls and elevators of the building onto the roads and across the nation. Particularly, they were focussed where the people and the dissident leaders gathered beneath the imposing statue of the Blessed Mother at EDSA shrine. The images were broadcast around the Philippines and launched the nationwide protest. The Vice-President, Gloria Macagapal-Arroya, went to EDSA. After two emotionally-charged days, the military leaders joined the crowd at EDSA. The next day ‘Erap’ Estrada resigned and Philippines People Power had triumphed for the second time.
