First Quarter Storm - History

History

It began in January of 1970, when students welcomed Marcos with demonstrations after his speech in the Congress. The movement was led by the student leaders of the University of the Philippines, echoing recent student demonstrations all around the world before 1970. But then, the Moderate demonstration turned into a Radical one, led by the Kabataang Makabayan founder Jose Maria Sison as well as the leader of the New People's Army Bernabe "Kuya Dante" Buscayno. Laborers also took part, protesting against graft and corruption in the government, and the decline in the economy caused by high oil prices and the overkill electoral victory of Marcos for his second term. Some sources stated that the unrest is the plan to overthrow the government through communist as well as socialist support to the masses, as well as students and workers who facilitated the storm. Most of the activists carried Molotov cocktails and pillbox bombs to counter the policemen attacks at Malacañan Palace.

The storm ended violently when the police used tear gas and arms to quell the demonstrators. Students tried to counter using Molotov cocktails and pillbox bombs while retreating. Those who were slow enough were beaten with rifle butts and fists of the police. The storm extended to Divisoria district in Tondo, Manila. After the failed protest, some of the surviving radical students, mostly from the University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the University of the East, became avowed Marxists, and took up arms, engaging in guerrilla and urban warfare.

The First Quarter Storm was one of the factors that led President Ferdinand Marcos to declare Martial Law two years later in 1972.