Forty years ago, volunteers from the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) gathered in the La Salle Green Hills gymnasium to monitor votes during the 1986 snap elections. The site served as headquarters for Namfrel's 'Operation Quick Count,' which showed opposition candidate Cory Aquino leading then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos by over 700,000 votes. This effort contributed to the events leading to the EDSA People Power Revolution.
In Manila, Philippines, Rappler revisited the La Salle Green Hills gymnasium, where the tally board from the 1986 snap elections remains on display. This venue became the headquarters for Namfrel volunteers conducting their 'Operation Quick Count' during the elections. Their unofficial tally indicated that opposition candidate Cory Aquino was ahead of then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos by more than 700,000 votes. In contrast, the Commission on Elections' count led the Batasang Pambansa to declare Marcos and his running mate Arturo Tolentino as winners. Weeks later, crowds assembled at EDSA to oust the dictator. Rappler reporter Iya Gozum returned to the site to highlight its significance on the 40th anniversary of People Power. The video was produced by Camille Zarate, supervised by JC Gotinga and Beth Frondoso, with editing by Jaene Zaplan.
