Cory Aquino’s

Speech before the

US Congress
PART 2
By Prof. Jet Castillo
After the EDSA Revolution
• The world saw that a bloodless revolution was
possible.
• Many communist countries staged their own “people
power” revolutions. Most of them were successful
• East Germany in 1989 was the first one.
• Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, etc…
• A new Constitution of the Philippines was drafted and
ratified in 1987.
After
After the
EDSA EDSA Revolution
• The US Congress invited Cory to speak before them, 7
months after the EDSA Revolution.
• Cory started off with how Martial Law devastated her,
Ninoy, and her family.
• Then her speech shifted to the national situation- the
wreck Martial Law left.
• She mentioned that the communist insurgency got
worse under Marcos’ Martial Law.
After the
After EDSA EDSA Revolution
• Then Cory talked about certain issues the nation needs
to address.
• Specifically, Cory talked about what to do with the
foreign debt, how to handle the communist insurgency,
the importance of the US Bases, the lingering issue of
poverty and unemployment, the process of making a
new constitution, the legacy of Ninoy, and the sweet
taste of victory in the EDSA Revolution.
After the
After EDSA EDSA Revolution
• Cory assured the US Congress that she is not a
communist, that the Philippines would continue to be
a US ally, and we would continue to pay our foreign
debt despite our poor economy.
• She also heartfully thanked America for being her
family’s and Ninoy’s refuge.
Life in the 5th Republic
• Not long after Cory sat in power, many got
disappointed with her administration
• Inexperience, inefficiency, too much pro-US
• Failed expectations
• Seven coup attempts
Life in the 5th Republic
• Was EDSA Revolution really a revolution?
• Revolution- total and radical change in the social
structure
• After EDSA – the poor are still poor, rampant graft and
corruption, no genuine land reform, dirty politics still
happen, so many of the old problems still linger.
• We are still waiting for a good and happy ending…
 Cory Aquino’s
Speech before the
US Congress
PART 2
By Prof. Jet Castillo