January 22, 1987 - Tragedy at Malacañang Palace in Manila

[Pete]

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On this day, January 22, 1987, a tragic event unfolded in Manila as Philippine security forces opened fire on a crowd of 10,000–15,000 demonstrators near Malacañang Palace. The protestors were demanding genuine land reform and justice for farmers under President Corazon Aquino’s administration.

The incident, later known as the Mendiola Massacre, resulted in the deaths of 13 people and left dozens injured. The tragedy shocked the nation and became a rallying cry for human rights advocates, further highlighting the tensions between the government and disenfranchised groups during a critical time in the Philippines' post-Marcos era.

Fun Fact: The massacre led to increased scrutiny of the government’s land reform policies and sparked a renewed push for agrarian reform, which remains a contentious issue in the Philippines today.