KATHLENE M.

CAGAS

BSBA – HRDM 1

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS: CORAZON AQUINO’S SPEECH BEFORE THE US

CONGRESS

Former President Corazon Aquino, recognized as the Philippines' first female president and
the president who restored democracy to the country, promulgated a new constitution, and served
until 1992, had a speech before the US Congress in 1986. She had a huge impact on how women in
power were viewed in her country and around the world. She's been dubbed the "Mother of Philippine
Democracy" as well as the "housewife who led a revolution." She has also received significant
international awards, including the United Nations Silver Medal, the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights
Award, and the Women's International Center International Leadership Living Legacy Award, both
during and after her lifetime.

President Corazon Aquino had a magnificent performance in front of an audience of US

legislators in 1986. Her fashion sense screamed female independence and power. By the way she
walked, delivered her speech, smiled at the audience, and waved to the crowd -- she demonstrated
what a great speaker should be. Her demeanour demonstrated her professionalism and demonstrated
that she is well-liked. The way she presented herself by maintaining a good posture, taking deep
breaths that allow her voice to project, and employing hand gestures to enhance her point. Finally,
she has a simple smile that makes the audience feel at ease.

The address began with President Corazon Aquino sharing her family's grief at the death of
her husband, Ninoy Aquino, as well as how the entire nation lost trust in its future as a result of what
happened. In her address, she expresses both fury and anguish as she recounts how many times they
felt they had lost Ninoy Aquino because of the government's attempts to break him through indignities
and errors. When she spoke about the people of the Philippines' triumph in restoring democracy and
the moment when the people turned out in the streets and named her President of All People, the
speaker's emotions changed to one of delight. President Corazon Aquino's statement to the United
States Congress was full of mixed emotions as she expressed her regret, pain, and joy.

Former President Aquino spoke about how much our country has been through, from the
slums of the country where people should have been begging for food but instead were begging for
democracy; she promised to help our people because that is what her husband would have wanted;
she also mentioned the huge foreign debt and how much the old congress has profited from it but has
not once considered how it has benefited our people; she also mentioned the huge foreign debt and
how much the old congress has profited from it but has not once considered how She clinched the
deal by welcoming the Americans into our country.

The delivery of speech is effective because Cory used moral, persuasive, and emotive
strategies. Cory Aquino's speech was noted for the numerous references to her significant other,
former Senator Ninoy Aquino, whom the Filipino country had relegated as the banner person against
Marcos' developments. Her speech was intended to connect Ninoy's struggle with that of the entire
country, while also connecting their family's ancestry to the country's fate.

In that way, I'm both nostalgic and proud of her for rising above the death of her spouse. At
the same time, I hear an emotive voice since she appears to be in the guise of her husband—overall,
the speech effectively transmitted the point through this inventiveness. Inferring from the speech, the
Philippines' situation at the time the speech is delivered is already free. Cory is full of hope, optimism,
and the determination to start over as she has paved the way for outsiders to help the Philippines.
The EDSA insurgency that she sparked has inspired people all across the world to rise up against
injustice, and the Philippines has achieved independence.

The speech was far from a mystical arrangement — the serene public figure of the yellow
woman, whose uprisings will never die and whose legacy will endure.