United Nationalists Democratic Organizations
Encyclopedia
The United Nationalist Democratic Organization or UNIDO was the main umbrella coalition of the traditional political opposition during the turbulent last years of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
in the mid-1980s. It was formed in January 1980, and was originally known as the United Democratic Opposition from 1980 to 1982. It was initially a union of eight major and minor political parties and organizations with the main aim to oust President Marcos through a legal political process. In April 1982, the coalition changed its name to United Nationalist Democratic Organization, and increased its members to twelve parties. Shortly after the assassination of popular oppositionist Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
, the party was led by Senator Salvador Laurel
of Batangas
.
, former president Diosdado Macapagal
, Assemblyman Cesar Climaco
, Senator Gerardo Roxas
, Assemblyman Lito Atienza
, Antique Governor Evelio Javier
, Mandaluyong Assemblyman Neptali Gonzales
, Pampanga Governor Jose Lingad, Senator John Osmena, Senator Dominador Aytona, Senator and anti-marcos street parliamentarian Lorenzo Tanada
, Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw, Senator Rene Espina, Senator Mamintal Tamano, Senator Domocao Alonto and nephew Abul Kharyl, Assemblyman Raul Gonzales, Assemblyman Homobono Adaza, journalist Abe Sarmiento and all significant parties that contributed to the fall of the Marcos dictatorship
The political groups allied allied with UNIDO were the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan
(PDP-LABAN) represented by Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Bansang Nagkakaisa sa Diwa at Layunin
(BANDILA) led by Agapito Aquino
who is Ninoy's brother to name a few.
UNIDO gained momentum in the last week of November 1985, when President Ferdinand Marcos called for a presidential election due to mounted political pressures. At first, UNIDO supported Senator Salvador Laurel
of Batangas as its standard bearer, but business tycoon Joaquin Roces was not convinced that Laurel or Jovito Salonga
could defeat Marcos in the polls. Roces argued that Corazon Aquino
, the widow of assassinated Senator Aquino, should be the candidate for president. Roces initiated the Cory Aquino for President Movement (CAPM) to gather one million signatures in one week to urge Aquino to run as president, convincing Aquino to do so. Aquino was made the presidential bet of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan party. However, Laurel did not give way to Aquino for the opposition's nomination as President until he was convinced by Cardinal Jaime Sin to run as her running-mate. Aquino had previously approached Laurel with a deal, wherein Aquino would give up her allegiance to the PDP-LABAN party and run as president under the UNIDO banner, with Laurel running for Vice President, effectively uniting the opposition groups against Marcos. Laurel had also previously offered Aquino the Vice Presidential nomination for UNIDO. In any case, Aquino ran for president under the UNIDO banner, with PDP-LABAN endorsing UNIDO coalition.
The campaign was made in the month of January 1986, for the February elections. Although she was officially reported to have lost the election to Marcos, the elections were widely believed to be fraudulent. Both Marcos and Aquino claimed to have won, and held rival inaugurations on February 25, but Marcos then fled in the face of huge popular demonstrations and the refusal of the military to intervene against them.
UNIDO was dissolved after the 1987 Legislative and General elections, when new parties were formed and parties went to their own separate ways. Among the parties formed from UNIDO, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
became the dominant party of the Philippines until 1992.
coalition composed of PDP-LABAN, Lakas ng Bansa, UNIDO, Liberal Party-Salonga Wing, National Union of Christian Democrats, Philippine Democratic Socialist Party, BANDILA and Pinaghiusa.
and PDP-LABAN-Cojuangco Wing joined forces to found a new party that will support Cory's programs Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
or LDP. Thus shaked the anti-Aquino alliance into confusion.
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
in the mid-1980s. It was formed in January 1980, and was originally known as the United Democratic Opposition from 1980 to 1982. It was initially a union of eight major and minor political parties and organizations with the main aim to oust President Marcos through a legal political process. In April 1982, the coalition changed its name to United Nationalist Democratic Organization, and increased its members to twelve parties. Shortly after the assassination of popular oppositionist Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
, the party was led by Senator Salvador Laurel
Salvador Laurel
Salvador Roman Hidalgo Laurel , also known as Doy Laurel, was Vice President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992 under Corazon Aquino. Before that, he briefly served as Aquino's first Prime Minister from February 25 to March 25 of 1986...
of Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
.
Party's History
The political leaders forming UNIDO such as prominent anti-marcos leaders like Former Senator and Assemblyman Salvador LaurelSalvador Laurel
Salvador Roman Hidalgo Laurel , also known as Doy Laurel, was Vice President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992 under Corazon Aquino. Before that, he briefly served as Aquino's first Prime Minister from February 25 to March 25 of 1986...
, former president Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970...
, Assemblyman Cesar Climaco
Cesar Climaco
Cesar Cortez Climaco was a Filipino politician who served as mayor of Zamboanga City for 11 years. A prominent critic of the martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos, he was famed for his toughness in governance and colorful personality. He is also famous for his refusal to cut his hair until...
, Senator Gerardo Roxas
Gerardo Roxas
Gerardo Manuel Roxas y De Leon , better known as Gerry Roxas or Gerardo M. Roxas, was one of two children of former Philippine President Manuel Roxas...
, Assemblyman Lito Atienza
Lito Atienza
Jose Livioko Atienza, Jr. , commonly known by his nickname Lito Atienza, is the former city mayor of Manila and former secretary of the Department of Environment and Resources. He stepped down as mayor of Manila on June 30, 2007, after serving a three-year three-term limit for local government...
, Antique Governor Evelio Javier
Evelio Javier
Evelio Bellaflor Javier was a Filipino lawyer, civil servant, politician, and an oppositionist during the authoritarian regime of President Ferdinand Marcos. Due to these activities, he was assassinated by the regime on February 11, 1986...
, Mandaluyong Assemblyman Neptali Gonzales
Neptali Gonzales
Neptali A. Gonzales, Sr. was the President of the Philippine Senate from 1992 to 1993, 1995 to 1996, and 1998.-Early Life and Career:...
, Pampanga Governor Jose Lingad, Senator John Osmena, Senator Dominador Aytona, Senator and anti-marcos street parliamentarian Lorenzo Tanada
Lorenzo Tañada
Lorenzo Martinez Tañada was a Filipino politician. Elected to the first Philippine Senate in 1947, he was the longest-serving senator in Philippine history. He served as a Philippine senator for 24 years.-Early life:...
, Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw, Senator Rene Espina, Senator Mamintal Tamano, Senator Domocao Alonto and nephew Abul Kharyl, Assemblyman Raul Gonzales, Assemblyman Homobono Adaza, journalist Abe Sarmiento and all significant parties that contributed to the fall of the Marcos dictatorship
The political groups allied allied with UNIDO were the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan
Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan
The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or the Philippine Democratic Party-People's Power, more commonly known as PDP Laban, is a government political party in the Philippines. It is governed by current Vice President Jejomar C...
(PDP-LABAN) represented by Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Bansang Nagkakaisa sa Diwa at Layunin
Laban
Laban may refer to:* Laban , a character in the Book of Genesis.* Laban , a character in The Book of Mormon.* Laban , a 1980s Eurodance duo....
(BANDILA) led by Agapito Aquino
Agapito Aquino
Agapito Aquino Aquino II , more popularly known as Butz Aquino, is a former Senator of the Philippines and congressman from Makati City. He was born to former senator Benigno Aquino, Sr., and Aurora Aquino-Aquino. He is the brother of former senators Benigno Aquino, Jr. and Tessie Aquino-Oreta. He...
who is Ninoy's brother to name a few.
UNIDO gained momentum in the last week of November 1985, when President Ferdinand Marcos called for a presidential election due to mounted political pressures. At first, UNIDO supported Senator Salvador Laurel
Salvador Laurel
Salvador Roman Hidalgo Laurel , also known as Doy Laurel, was Vice President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992 under Corazon Aquino. Before that, he briefly served as Aquino's first Prime Minister from February 25 to March 25 of 1986...
of Batangas as its standard bearer, but business tycoon Joaquin Roces was not convinced that Laurel or Jovito Salonga
Jovito Salonga
Jovito "Jovy" Reyes Salonga is a Filipino nationalist politician and lawyer, as well as a leading opposition leader during the Marcos regime from 1972, when Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, until 1986, when Marcos was deposed as a result of a bloodless revolution...
could defeat Marcos in the polls. Roces argued that Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
, the widow of assassinated Senator Aquino, should be the candidate for president. Roces initiated the Cory Aquino for President Movement (CAPM) to gather one million signatures in one week to urge Aquino to run as president, convincing Aquino to do so. Aquino was made the presidential bet of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan party. However, Laurel did not give way to Aquino for the opposition's nomination as President until he was convinced by Cardinal Jaime Sin to run as her running-mate. Aquino had previously approached Laurel with a deal, wherein Aquino would give up her allegiance to the PDP-LABAN party and run as president under the UNIDO banner, with Laurel running for Vice President, effectively uniting the opposition groups against Marcos. Laurel had also previously offered Aquino the Vice Presidential nomination for UNIDO. In any case, Aquino ran for president under the UNIDO banner, with PDP-LABAN endorsing UNIDO coalition.
The campaign was made in the month of January 1986, for the February elections. Although she was officially reported to have lost the election to Marcos, the elections were widely believed to be fraudulent. Both Marcos and Aquino claimed to have won, and held rival inaugurations on February 25, but Marcos then fled in the face of huge popular demonstrations and the refusal of the military to intervene against them.
UNIDO was dissolved after the 1987 Legislative and General elections, when new parties were formed and parties went to their own separate ways. Among the parties formed from UNIDO, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
The Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino is a political party in the Philippines founded in 1988.There are no results available of the last elections for the House of Representatives, but according to the website of the House, the party holds 7 out of 235 seats . The party is divided into two factions...
became the dominant party of the Philippines until 1992.
1987 Philippine Legislative Elections
The Lakas ng BayanLakas ng Bayan
Lakas ng Bayan was a political party in the Philippines formed by Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. for the 1978 Interim Batasang Pambansa regional elections. The party had 21 candidates for the Metro Manila area, all of whom lost due to widespread election fraud...
coalition composed of PDP-LABAN, Lakas ng Bansa, UNIDO, Liberal Party-Salonga Wing, National Union of Christian Democrats, Philippine Democratic Socialist Party, BANDILA and Pinaghiusa.
1988 Crisis
The PDP-LABAN was split into Pimentel and Cojuangco Wings. The Lakas ng Bansa headed by Ramon MitraRamon Mitra
Ramon Mitra III is the son of The Late former speaker Ramon Mitra, Jr.-Early life:Born Ramon "Mon-Mon" Blanco-Mitra III on October 28, 1964 in Puerto Princesa City, he is the son of The Late Ramon Mitra, Jr. and Cecilia Blanco...
and PDP-LABAN-Cojuangco Wing joined forces to found a new party that will support Cory's programs Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
The Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino is a political party in the Philippines founded in 1988.There are no results available of the last elections for the House of Representatives, but according to the website of the House, the party holds 7 out of 235 seats . The party is divided into two factions...
or LDP. Thus shaked the anti-Aquino alliance into confusion.