Student activism in the Philippines (1965–1972)

Student activism in the Philippines from 1965 to 1972 played a key role in the events which led to Ferdinand Marcos' declaration of Martial Law in 1972, and the Marcos regime's eventual downfall during the events of the People Power Revolution of 1986.

A significant increase in student activism took place towards the end of 1969 and the beginning of 1970, as a result of the 1969 Philippine balance of payments crisis which sprang from the administration's debt-driven spending during Ferdinand Marcos' campaign for his second presidential term University students during this period found themselves attracted to political movements from across the political spectrum, ranging from "moderates" wanted to create change through political reforms, including church groups, civil libertarians, social democrats, and nationalist politicians; and "radicals" who wanted broader, more systemic political reforms, such as student groups associated with labor groups, or with the National Democracy movement. These differences of political orientation became less pronounced in the first three months of 1970, however, as Marcos cracked down on a series of student protests which later became known as the First Quarter Storm.

Unrest continued into the following years, and in the years 1970 and 1971 alone, student activists participated in 214 demonstrations and 39 organized class boycotts.

Marcos eventually suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in 1971, and then finally placed the entire Philippine archipelago under Martial Law in September 1972.

The First Quarter Storm (1970) and pre-Martial Law student activism (1970–1972)

Background causes

When he was first elected president of the Philippines in 1965 and throughout most of his first term in office, Ferdinand Marcos was relatively popular, both among the general public and among students. However, Marcos' ambition to be the first Philippine postwar president to be elected led to his use of extreme measures, including massive borrowing to fund government projects during the 1969 presidential campaign. Marcos spent $50 million worth in debt-funded infrastructure, triggering a balance of payments crisis. The Marcos administration ran to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for help, and the IMF offered a debt restructuring deal. New policies, including a greater emphasis on exports and the relaxation of controls of the peso, were put in place.