Faith and revolution in the Philippines

From The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

April 24, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

The episode explores the intersection of faith and revolution in the Philippines through the accounts of key figures involved in a military coup against the Marcos regime.

Forty years ago, a Filipino soldier serving under Ferdinand Marcos Sr, was ordered to attack civilians opposing the corrupt regime. After wrestling with his conscience, Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan found he could not do it. Along with other soldiers who resigned from their posts, he founded the Reform for Armed Forces Movement, and they planned to storm the presidential palace and arrest the Marcoses. The coup, however was foiled when an insider leaked the plan to the government. Honasan and his men retreated back to their headquarters, but they knew the Marcos’s forces were on their way to them. Then, Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin, broadcast an appeal on the Catholic radio station Radio Veritas, calling for support from the public. Hundreds arrived at the camp to form a human shield around the rebel soldiers. They brought guitars and sang to the Marcos military. Meanwhile nuns, among them Sister Mary John Mananzan, handed out flowers. Jay Behrouzi speaks to Senator Gregorio Honasan, now 78 and retired from politics, and 88-year-old Sister Mary John, who is still an activist, to hear their firsthand accounts of that day, and how their faith has sustained them in the years…

People in this episode

Host: Jay Behrouzi

Guests: Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan, Sister Mary John Mananzan

Topics covered

faith
revolution
Philippines
Marcos regime
activism
military coup

Keywords

Philippines
Gregorio Honasan
Sister Mary John
Marcos
coup
faith
activism
human shield
Cardinal Jaime Sin

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Radio Veritas

Places: Philippines, Manila