(7 of 7)
As the weekend wore on, the situation in Manila remained surprisingly calm. Since Marcos had hunkered down in the presidential Malacanang Palace, it seemed that it might be up to the opposition to make the next move to break the election deadlock. Aquino's first step in that direction was a mild one. On Saturday she called a press conference to demand that Marcos concede "in the best tradition of democratic politics." Three hours later, the President held a press conference of his own to reiterate his claim to victory, by a new margin of 1.5 million votes. He reminded journalists that the formal naming of a winner was the responsibility of the National Assembly, which he controls, and even raised the vague possibility that he might declare the whole election invalid.
Sadly, the vote that many Filipinos had hoped would improve their country's doleful lot looked as if it would leave the Philippines more divided, more dangerous and angrier than ever.