From January 1, 1965 to February 25, 1986, or a period of more than twenty-one (21) years, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. was the undisputed Leader and later on, Dictator of the Philippines. His fall from power came about with the People’s Power EDSA Revolution led by the “Widow in Yellow”, Cory Aquino.
With the declaration of Martial Law by Pres. Marcos, Sr. On September 21, 1972, immediately arrested and placed in solitary confinement was the leading opposition leader, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. His solitary detention lasted for seven (7) years until he was sent for medical treatment in U.S.A. Before leaving the Philippines, Sen. Aquino was already sentenced to death by firing squad by a military commission which found him guilty of the crimes of treason and sedition. Sen. Aquino died on August 21, 1983 not from a firing squad but from a military soldier’s bullet upon his return at the Manila International Airport. Thirty (30) months later, his “Widow in Yellow” would be inaugurated as the first woman President of the Philippines, and Time Woman of the Year, Pres. Corazon Aquino for the years, 1986 to 1992. Then, Sen. Aquino and Pres. Aquino has a son, President Benigno Aquino III elected for years, 2010 to 2016. From the Aquino’s political downfall from 1972 to 1985, they were all-time high in 1986 to 1992 (and even during Pres. Ramos presidency, 1992 to 1998) until Pres. Aquino III presidency, 2010 to 2016.
Then, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte came for the years, 2016 to 2022. The cursing Pres. Duterte lorded it over for six (6) years in the Philippines. However, on March 11, 2025, three (3) years later, he was ordered to board a plane going to the Netherlands ICC Jail on a Warrant of Arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Crimes against Humanity. From a powerful president to a helpless detention prisoner, after nine (9) years.
On June 30, 2022, Pres. Marcos, Sr.’s son and namesake, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. was inaugurated as the 17th President of the Philippines (when in 1986 or 36 years ago, the Marcos name was hated in the People’s Power Revolution, and the Marcoses could not return to the Philippines from their flight to Hawaii, U.S.A.). Pres. Marcos Jr. is still in power as of this writing, or for a period of already three (3) years.
The “feverish” Marcos presidencies had been in power for twenty-four (24) years in the Philippines. While the “Yellowish” Aquino presidencies coupled with Ramos presidency for eighteen (18) years. The “pro-Chinese” Duterte presidency lasted for six (6) years.
On the shifting sand, these presidencies had become. Sometimes on high ground, then flat on the ground. Riding on top of the world, then fall. On rebound, then crash. Political shifting sand in the Philippines really proves that what goes up must come down.
On the international scale, British history of the 15th century had its shifting sand when boy-king Protestant Edward VI, he was succeeded by his Protestant cousin, Lady Grey who was queen only for nine (9) days and guillotined by order of next Queen, Mary I, Catholic, who also ordered the incarceration of her half-sister, Elizabeth. Catholic May I ruled England only for five (5) years for she got sick and died, without an heir. Succeeding her was her imprisoned half-sister Queen Elizabeth I, Protestant, who ruled England for forty-five (45) years, with challenge from Mary, Queen of Scots, Catholic, her cousin, whom she guillotined after sentenced of treason.
Queen Elizabeth I died, without an heir. So the son of Mary Queen of Scots, King James I, succeeded, uniting England and Scotland.
Such is the wheel of fortune of life, on a shifting sand. We learn in history, even in our personal lives that we cannot be on top forever. The sand shifts and one finds himself at the bottom. So be good and kind to all you meet along the way. Pray and glorify God for He’s the Only Constant Way.
