The Four Days of Courage: The Untold Story of the People Who Brought Marcos Down

By Bryan Johnson

Book Overview

This eyewitness account of the Philippine revolution includes the motivations behind the defections of Marcos's top officials, the political strategy of Corazon Aquino's supporters, and the true extent of the United States' involvement in the Marcos overthrow.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0029165717
• ISBN13: 9780029165713
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: The Free Press
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 1.0" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

People power and the coup de etat of Enrile and Ramos.

A nice book about the fall of Ferdinand E. Marcos. Marcos was indeed a tyrant and dictator of the old school. His time was over by 1986, and he went through the motions of campaigning for an election. His blatant fraud of the election spurred a group of military leaders on toward a coup de etat. This small group of conspirators planned an assault on the palance and taking the first lady and President captive. When they were discovered prior to the coup, the plotters holed up in an army base. Cardinal Sin urged Fillopinos to support the plotters and in four days the whole rotten edifice of the Marcos regime came tumbling down. Some things I didn't like about this book. There was little mention of the Aquino assassination. This was the beginning of the end of the Marcos regime. Also, one can sense this Canadian author was anti-American, and it shows with his writing. Johnson portrays the Marcos regime as a ruthless dictatorship. I am not sure that this may be the case compared by world standards. The author worked in PR of China and that regime is more ruthless than the Marcos dictatorship. All things are relative. Overall a good read about how a dictator came crashing down in four days.

Contents:

The overthrow of the Marcos regime began with just 200 poorly equipped rebels who declared war on the modern 225,000 man Philippine army. Its success hinged on a contagion of bravery, a brillian "psychowar," and a quixotic combination of conscience and blind luck. Bryan Johnson tells the inside story of what really happened, which up to this point had been unreported in the West. Filled with such colorful portraits as Rambo-like rebel leader Gringo Honasan, moments of hilarious gallow humor and inspiring courage, and a look inside Malacanang, the presidential palace, during Marcos' final bid for power. Also gives a frank assessment of the U.S. role in the Marcos overthrow, and of Corazon Aquino and her supporters.

Great book

I really liked this book. I read it a number of years ago, but really enjoyed the glimpse it gave into the lives of the people in the Phillipines prior to, during and shortly after the turbulent times surrounding the transfer of power and leadership from the Marcos'. I wish the role the U.S. Government played in the unfolding drama had been more courageous and principled, but the courage of the simple people was truly inspiring. It shows how non-violent action can sometimes bring about a peaceful change in government against all odds. I highly recommend it. Jeff