MODULE 10 :REVISITING CORAZON

AQUINO'S SPEECH BEFORE THE UNITED

STATES CONGRESS
SEPTEMBER 18, 1986
Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino functioned as the symbol of the restoration of democracy and
the overthrow of the Marcos Dictatorship in 1986.
The EDSA People Power, which installed Cory Aquino in the presidency, put the Philippines in
the international spotlight for overthrowing a dictator through peaceful means
HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The gradual downfall of the regime of Ferdinand

Marcos began with the assassination of Ninoy
Aquino on August 21, 1983 moments after the
latter returned in exile.
Protest rallies erupted in the streets of Manila
and other major cities in the provinces calling for
Marcos to resign.
The Philippine economy began to falter amidst
accusations of corruption by Marcos and his
cronies
Rumors circulate that Marcos was sick.
Marcos credibility in the international community
also suffered.

Paired with the looming crisis, Marcos had to

something to proved to his allies in the United
States that he remained to be the anointed
leader of the country.
He called a snap election in February 1986.

Where Cory Aquino was convinced to runs

against Marcos
The opposition field their own candidate

It was decided that Cory Aquino will run for Salvador Laurel for Vice President
President
The canvassing was rigged to Marcos’s favor but the people expressed their protest
against the corrupt and authoritarian government.
Leading military officials of the regime and martial law orchestrators themselves
Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel V. Ramos plotted to take the presidency.
 Civilian headed the call of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal sin and other
Civilian leaders gathered at EDSA

The overwhelming presence of civilians in EDSA turned a

Coup into a civilian demonstration.
THE 1986 PEOPLE POWER
REVOLUTION
 FEBRUARY 25, 1986

AQUINO INAGURATION MARCOS INAGURATION

FEBRUARY 25, 1986
9:05 p.m.
The thousand of people who gathered at EDSA overthrew
Ferdinand E. Marcos from the Presidency after 21 years.
On September 18, 1986 seven months since Cory became
President she went of the United States and spoke before

THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS

Cory was welcome with long applause as she took the podium
and addressed the United Sates about her presidency and the
challenges faced by the new Republic.
 She told of Ninoy’s character, conviction and resolve in opposing
The authoritarianism of Marcos.

She began her speech with her story of her leaving the United
States three years prior as a newly widowed of Ninoy Aquino

She talked of the three times that they have lost them.
The Thefirst time
when Ninoy was
detained
 Ninoy decide to
a hunger strike
and fasted for
40 days
He was tried by a
military court
whose legitimacy
he questioned
 But his death is my
country’s resurrection
Thethen we lost and the courage and
him irrevocably faith by which alone
and more they could be free
painfully.. again..
 “Again as we restore democracy by the ways of
democracy.”

Cory emphasized the importance of the EDSA Revolution

In terms of limited revolution that respected the life and
freedom of every Filipino.
“We are completing the Constitutional Structures
Gives full respects for Human Rights .”
Cory proceeded on her peace agenda with the existing
Communist insurgency aggravated by the dictatorial and
Authoritarian measure of Ferdinand Marcos
 This debt had ballooned during the Marcos Regime
Cory then turned to the controversial topic of the
Philippine foreign debt amounting to 26 billion dollars

Cory expressed her intention to honor those debts despite

mentioning the people did not benefit from such debt.

Unknown to many Filipinos was the fact that there was a

choice of waving such debt because those were the debt
of the dictator and not the country
 Cory ended her speech by thanking America for serving
as her home and to her family for what she referred as the
“three happiest years of our lives together.”

‘three years ago I said Thank you America for the haven
‘today I say Join us America as we build a new home for
from oppression and home you gave Ninoy, Myself and
Democracy.”
my children.”
ANALYSIS OF CORY AQUINO’S SPEECH

Cory Aquino’s speech was an important event in the

political and diplomatic history of the country because
it cemented the legitimacy of the EDSA government in
the international arena.
THE IDEOLOGY AND PRINCIPLES OF THE NEW
GOVERNMENT

Cory was able to draw the sharp contrast between her

government and of her predecessor by commitment to
a democratic constitution drafted by an independent
commission
But despite Cory’s efforts to hoist herself as the exact
Opposite of Marcos her speech still revealed certain
parallelism between her and Marcos government
In terms of continuing alliance between the Philippines and the United States
and effectively implemented a similar foreign policy to that of Marcos
 POSTCRIPT OF CORY AQUINO’S
SPEECH

The task of writing the speech was given to Teodoro Locsin Jr

(Teddy Boy). Who admitted years later that he was unable to finish
the draft and it was Cory who finished the speech.

It ran one hour and half and was interrupted with several applause
and standing ovation.
 Cory you hit a I I hope the bases were
home run loaded

Robert Dole the Senate Majority Leader said

to Mrs. Aquino Five hours later the U.S. Congress voted in
favor of 200 million dollars as emergency aid
to the Philippines.
HANDOG NG FILIPINO SA MUNDO