If you’re a regular reader of this series, by now you know that People Power covers the political history of the Philippines post-Martial Law until the beginning of the Corazon Aquino administration. This 5-year period was full of activity and many pivotal moments, which are the focus of the scenarios in People Power. The main scenario covers the period after the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, while the extended scenario allows players to experience the full 5-year narrative of the fall of Marcos.

The main scenario is where most players will start. This scenario begins in 1983, immediately after the assassination of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino upon his return from exile and is playable in 2 hours or less. After Ninoy’s assassination, a wave of protest flooded the country, especially in Metro Manila. To reflect this, the Reformer player begins this scenario with a Protest in Manila, creating a hotspot that the Government must immediately deal with. Additionally, the Reformers are riding a wave of public sympathy after Ninoy’s murder, which is reflected in the Election card that begins in play. Election cards function in the same way as Propaganda cards in other COIN volumes – they trigger an interphase round where players have the opportunity to position for the next campaign and perform certain actions in a prescribed order. Election cards remain in play for the following campaign, giving a constant effect to one faction. Ninoy Aquino Murdered gives the Reformer player an especially powerful effect – their Protest Operation is able to set spaces directly to Opposition, skipping Neutral. That enables the Reformers to quickly create a powerful position and establish the Opposition needed to win. However, the Reformers have to move quickly to take advantage of this effect, as it is replaced when the next Election card is revealed from the deck.

The Government begins the 1983 Scenario at the peak of their power, with their forces near-fully deployed. Besides the Protest in Manila that has to be dealt with, the Government player will need to find ways to establish Control beyond the Cities and generate Patronage to keep their strong position. While there is no Opposition or Resistance on the map at the beginning of this Scenario, the Government will have to pick their battles to ensure that they retain their strong position. Knowing where to let the NPA or Reformers contest Control and Support is a key part of a strong Government strategy. Meanwhile, the NPA begins with a strong presence in Mindanao with bases in Western Mindanao and Davao. The main strategic question for the NPA in the early going will be whether to focus on building a strong position in Northern Luzon, or establishing NPA Control of Mindanao.

The 1983 Scenario covers only 2 Campaigns, leaving out the buildup from 1981 to 1983 in the wake of Martial Law. This is covered in the extended 1981 Scenario, which begins when Martial Law ends. Marcos lifted Martial Law in January 1981, due in part to the visit of Pope John Paul II, and in part due to a desire to establish better relations with the United States. After lifting Martial Law, Marcos called for elections in June 1981. The result was the most lopsided election in Filipino history, with Marcos winning 88% of the vote. Correspondingly, the Government has the initiative in the 1981 Scenario: the Reformers and NPA will have to build quickly to attack their common enemy, or the Government player will likely win on the first Election card. The Reformers begin this scenario with no pieces in play (opposition parties were illegal for most of the Martial Law period), while the NPA begins with a single stronghold in Mindanao. However, the sparse deployment of Government forces will allow for significant growth in both NPA and Reformer ranks during the first campaign. Playtesters have been able to play the extended Scenario in 2 to 3 hours.

No matter which Scenario is played, the game ends with the 1986 Snap Election. Since the election was not expected, the final Election round is truncated, and there is no final opportunity to shift Support, Opposition or Resistance. Good players will jockey for that final turn (hopefully not waiting too long!) and set up their strategy from the beginning. Shorter Campaigns and simple Election rounds make People Power an accessible entry point into the COIN series. For veterans of the COIN series, People Power includes two modules which can be added to either Scenario to add variety and strategic avenues to explore. The Personalities module adds Momentum effects for each player and adds a colorful cast of characters to the game. The Acts of Desperation module extends the story of the game beyond the final Election card and gives players one last opportunity to change the outcome of the game, and history. We’ll take a deeper look at these modules during our final two articles.

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Previous Articles:

Laban! Chapter 1: Corruption and Patronage in People Power

Laban! Chapter 2: Support, Opposition, and Resistance in People Power

Laban! Chapter 3: Violence and Nonviolence in People Power

Laban! Chapter 4: The Reformers in People Power

Laban! Chapter 5: The New People’s Army in People Power

Laban! Chapter 6: The Government in People Power

Laban! Chapter 7: The Events in People Power

Laban! Chapter 8: Hand Gestures in the People Power Revolution