Alay Dangal

Alay dangal, a Filipino term for active nonviolence, means, “to offer dignity.” Although the expression only came into limited use during the Philippines People Power Movement, many of the movement’s actions were quite representative of this ideal. Filipinos who led the uprising treated dictator Marcos’ soldiers as fellow human beings suffering under the same oppressive regime. The People Power Movement offered the soldiers food and water and pleasant conversation, exemplifying the nonviolent drive to connect with the dignity of the “other.”   This action culminated in the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (nonviolent moment).