Former President Corazon C.

Aquino Speech to the United States

Congess on September 18, 1986
Content and Context Analysis

I.History Context of Sources

II. The Background Of The Author

Corazon Aquino was born as Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuanco into a wealthy, politically
prominent family based on Tarlac province, North of Manila. She was born on January 25, 1933
in Paniqui, Tarlac. She graduated from Mount St. Vincent College in New York city in 1954 but
abandoned further studies in 1955 to marry Benigno Simeon Aquino Jr., who was then a
promising young politician. Her husband, who had become a prominent opposition politician,
was jailed by Marcos for eight year, from 1972 to 1980, and Corazon accompanied him into exile
in the United States in 1980. Benign was assassinated upon his return in the Philippines in
August 1983. This event galvanized opposition to the Marcos government. When Ferdinand E.
Marcos unexpectedly called for presidential elections in February 1986, Corazon Aquino became
the unified opposition’s presidential candidate. Though she was officially reported to have lost
the election to Marcos, Aquino and her supporters challenge the result, charging widespread
voting fraud. High officials in the Philippine military soon publicly renounced Marcos’s continued
rule and proclaimed Aquino the Philippines rightful president. On February 25, 1986, both
Aquino and Marcos were inaugurated as president by their respective supporters, by that same
day Marcos fled the country.

Corazon Cojuanco Aquino became the 11th President and First female President of the
Philippines. She was named Timed Magazine’s woman of the year 1986. During her term, she
faced numerous challenges, including coups, insurgencies, and economic difficulties. However,
her administration successfully organized free and fair elections, which led to a peaceful transfer
of power. Corazon Aquino served as president from 1986 to 1992 and passed away from colon
cancer in August 1, 2009 at the age of 76. She is remembered for her role in the People Power
Revolution and her commitment to democracy and human rights. She was widely accredited as
the “Mother of Asian Democracy “.

III. The Relevance of the Source in the Present