Chapter 2.5 Revisiting Corazon Aquino’s Speech Before the U.S Congress

Summary

In this video, Buhari discusses the historic speech by Corazon Aquino before the US Congress on September 18, 1986, seven months after she became the President of the Philippines following the People Power Revolution. Aquino, a political novice from a wealthy family, became a symbol of resistance after her husband, Benigno Aquino Jr., was assassinated. Her speech highlighted her husband's fight against Marcos' dictatorship, the fraudulent snap election, and her commitment to restoring democracy and peace. She also addressed the communist insurgency and thanked America for their support during her exile, emphasizing the importance of the US-Philippines alliance.

Takeaways

• 👤 Corazon Aquino delivered her speech before the U.S. Congress on September 18, 1986, seven months after becoming the president of the Philippines following the People Power Revolution.
• 💪 Aquino emphasized the contributions and sacrifices of her husband, Ninoy Aquino, who was a strong opponent of Ferdinand Marcos and was assassinated, which led to widespread protests against Marcos.
• 📜 The People Power Revolution in 1986, backed by the Catholic Church, overthrew the Marcos dictatorship, leading to Corazon Aquino assuming the presidency.
• 📅 The Snap election in February 1986, between Corazon Aquino and Ferdinand Marcos, was highly controversial, with claims of widespread electoral fraud.
• 🕊️ In her speech, Aquino highlighted her desire to restore democracy and end authoritarian rule in the Philippines, which she believed was central to her husband’s ideals.
• 👥 Corazon Aquino credited the death of her husband as a key catalyst for the peaceful People Power Revolution, which restored freedom and democracy in the country.
• 📢 Aquino discussed the insurgency of communist groups like the CPP-NPA during Marcos’ rule and her attempts at peace by releasing political prisoners.
• 🤔 Despite Aquino’s efforts to negotiate peace with communist groups, insurgencies such as the CPP-NPA, MNLF, and MILF continued during and after her presidency.
• 🇺🇸 Aquino expressed gratitude to the U.S. for offering her family asylum during their exile and reinforced her commitment to maintaining the U.S.-Philippines relationship.
• 🏛️ In conclusion, Aquino outlined her vision for a peaceful democratic government in the Philippines, with freedom and rights for all citizens, contrasting it with the authoritarianism of Marcos.

Q & A

Who is Buhari Pasandalan and what is the main topic of the discussion?

Buhari Pasandalan is the speaker in the transcript, and the main topic of the discussion is the Corazon Aquino speech delivered before the US Congress on September 18, 1986.

When did Corazon Aquino become the President of the Philippines?

Corazon Aquino became the President of the Philippines after the People Power Revolution, which occurred in February 1986, and she assumed the presidency around seven months prior to her speech on September 18, 1986.

Who was Corazon Aquino's husband and what was his significance in Philippine politics?

Corazon Aquino's husband was Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr., a former senator and one of the strongest opposition figures against the former President Ferdinand Marcos. His assassination played a significant role in galvanizing opposition to Marcos's regime.

What was the People Power Revolution, and how is it connected to Corazon Aquino's presidency?

The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution, was a series of nonviolent protests in 1986 that led to the end of Ferdinand Marcos's presidency. It is connected to Corazon Aquino's presidency because it resulted in her assumption of the presidency after Marcos fled the country.

What was the significance of Corazon Aquino's speech to the US Congress?

Corazon Aquino's speech to the US Congress was significant as it emphasized the importance of democracy, human rights, and the restoration of freedom in the Philippines after the People Power Revolution. It also served to establish her administration's commitment to these principles and to seek international support.

What was the role of the Catholic Church in the People Power Revolution?

The Catholic Church, particularly Cardinal Sin, played a crucial role in the People Power Revolution by urging people, including Catholics, nuns, priests, and seminarians, to participate in the protests, which contributed to the peaceful overthrow of the Marcos regime.

What did Corazon Aquino discuss in her speech regarding the death of her husband, Ninoy Aquino?

In her speech, Corazon Aquino discussed the suffering and death of her husband, Ninoy Aquino, at the hands of the Marcos regime. She portrayed his death as a catalyst for the country's resurrection and a symbol of the struggle for freedom and democracy.

How did Corazon Aquino's background and family history influence her political career?

Corazon Aquino came from a wealthy family, the Cojuangcos, who owned vast land and sugar plantations. Her family's political influence and her husband's political legacy played significant roles in her rise to the presidency, despite her lack of prior political experience.

What was Corazon Aquino's stance on the communist insurgency in the Philippines as mentioned in her speech?

In her speech, Corazon Aquino expressed a desire for peace and aimed to address the communist insurgency in the Philippines through peaceful means.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Introduction to Corazon Aquino's Speech

The paragraph introduces the topic of discussion, which is the speech delivered by Corazon Aquino before the US Congress on September 18, 1986. This speech was significant as it came seven months after Aquino assumed the presidency following the People Power Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos. The speaker provides context by discussing Aquino's background, including her lack of political experience and her rise to prominence as the widow of Benigno Aquino Jr., a prominent opposition figure to Marcos. The paragraph also touches on the political climate of the time, the People Power Revolution, and the transition of power from Marcos to Aquino.

05:01

🌐 Aquino's Address to the US Congress

This paragraph delves into the content of Aquino's speech, highlighting her emphasis on her husband's political convictions and the struggle against Marcos's authoritarian rule. It discusses the People Power Revolution, the role of the Catholic Church, and the collective effort of various groups that led to the revolution's success. Aquino's speech also addresses the hardships her family faced, including the assassination of her husband, which she frames as a catalyst for the revolution. The paragraph concludes by discussing Aquino's commitment to democracy and her vision for a peaceful and democratic Philippines.

10:01

🏛️ Aquino's Vision for Democracy and Peace

The third paragraph continues to explore Aquino's speech, focusing on her commitment to restoring democracy and addressing the communist insurgency in the Philippines. It discusses her vision for the country's future, emphasizing the importance of peace and democratic reforms.

Keywords

💡Corazon Aquino

Corazon Aquino, also known as Cory Aquino, was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first female president in the country. She is a central figure in the video as she delivered a speech before the US Congress after the People Power Revolution. Her presidency marked the end of the Marcos regime and the beginning of a new era of democracy in the Philippines. The video discusses her background, her rise to power, and her political philosophy.

💡People Power Revolution

The People Power Revolution refers to a series of nonviolent protests in the Philippines in 1986 that led to the end of President Ferdinand Marcos's 20-year rule. It is a key event in the video script, as it sets the stage for Corazon Aquino's presidency. The revolution is highlighted as a pivotal moment in Philippine history, demonstrating the power of collective action and the will of the people to demand change.

💡Ferdinand Marcos

Ferdinand Marcos was the former President of the Philippines whose regime was marked by authoritarian rule and widespread corruption. In the video, Marcos is contrasted with Corazon Aquino, highlighting the shift from dictatorship to democracy. His rule ended with the People Power Revolution, and his departure from the Philippines is discussed as a significant event leading to Aquino's presidency.

💡Benigno Aquino Jr.

Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr. was a Filipino politician and senator who was a prominent critic of Ferdinand Marcos. His assassination in 1983 galvanized opposition to Marcos's regime and is mentioned in the video as a catalyst for the People Power Revolution. Corazon Aquino, his widow, is portrayed as continuing his fight for democracy and justice in the Philippines.

💡EDSA Revolution

The EDSA Revolution, also known as the People Power Revolution, is the term used to describe the specific series of events that took place along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Manila, leading to Marcos's ouster. The video emphasizes the role of the Catholic Church, particularly Cardinal Sin, in urging people to gather at EDSA and participate in the revolution.

💡Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism refers to a form of government characterized by strong central authority and limited political freedoms. In the video, it is used to describe the rule of Ferdinand Marcos, where dissent was suppressed, and civil liberties were curtailed. The contrast between Marcos's authoritarian regime and Aquino's push for democracy is a central theme.

💡Democracy

Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through elected representatives. The video script discusses Corazon Aquino's commitment to restoring democracy in the Philippines after the Marcos regime. Her speech to the US Congress emphasizes the importance of democratic principles and the rule of law.

💡Human Rights

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled. The video touches on the violations of human rights under Marcos's regime, such as the imprisonment and torture of political opponents. Aquino's presidency is presented as a period of redress, with a focus on upholding the rights and freedoms of the Filipino people.

💡Communist Insurgency

The term 'communist insurgency' in the video refers to the armed rebellion led by communist groups like the New People's Army (NPA) against the Philippine government. The script mentions Aquino's peace agenda, which included efforts to address the root causes of the insurgency and to bring about peace through dialogue and reconciliation.

💡US Congress

The US Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the video, Corazon Aquino's speech before the US Congress is highlighted as a significant event in her presidency, where she sought to establish a new relationship with the United States and to gain support for her democratic reforms.

💡Exile

Exile refers to the state of being expelled or forced to leave one's country. The video mentions that Corazon Aquino and her family were in exile in the United States for three years before the People Power Revolution. Her speech to the US Congress acknowledges this period and expresses gratitude to the American people for their support during that time.

Highlights

Corazon Aquino delivered a speech before the US Congress on September 18, 1986, seven months after becoming President.

Aquino's speech followed the People Power Revolution that overthrew President Ferdinand Marcos.

Corazon Aquino was the widow of Benigno Aquino Jr., a prominent opposition figure to Marcos.

Aquino had no political background prior to her presidency, unlike her husband.

The Aquino family is from a wealthy background, with significant land and political influence.

Ferdinand Marcos had extensive political experience, unlike Aquino.

The People Power Revolution was a response to the authoritarian rule of Marcos.

The Snap election of February 1986 was marred by allegations of fraud.

Aquino's presidency was a result of the People Power Revolution, not the Snap election.

Cardinal Sin played a significant role in the People Power Revolution, urging people to protest.

Aquino's speech emphasized her husband's opposition to Marcos' authoritarianism.

Aquino spoke about the hardships her husband faced under Marcos' regime.

The death of Benigno Aquino Jr. was a catalyst for the People Power Revolution.

Aquino's speech highlighted the importance of democracy and freedom.

Aquino called for peace and the resolution of the communist insurgency in the Philippines.

Transcripts

Hello everyone my name is buhari

pasandalan and the tas that given to us

is the chapter

2.5 together with Mr

bulud today we were going to talk about

the Corazon Aquino speech before the US

Congress so the speech was delivered by

Corazon akino on September 18

1986 that was the 7 months after Corazon

Aquino became the President that was

after the Revolution or The People Power

Revolution so when Marcos was

Ed Here Comes Corazon Aquino assuming

the presidency She went to the United

States and US Congress to deliver this

particular speech before the US

people bago natin talakayin ang

dokumentong ito atin munang alamin kung

sino nga ba si Aquino and try to analyze

the context o nilalaman ng kanyang

speech before the US

Congress second the event that happened

in

1986 that was the People Power

Revolution or the EDSA People Power

Revolution Hindi naman siguro lingid sa

ating kaalaman na si Corazon Aquino was

the widowed wife of the late former

senator binigno Ninoy Aquino Jr

Ninoy Aquino was the one of the

strongest opposition of the former

President Ferdinand Marcos so when Ninoy

Aquino was assassinated Corazon Aquino

was portray in history as the morning

wife the widow wife Who was mourning for

the death of her

husband and she was portrayed in as the

shadow Uh she was always been shadow of

her husband and her relatives and

particularly Corazon Aquino has no

experience when it comes to politics She

doesn't have any backgrounds compared to

senator former senator Benigno Ninoy

Aquino so It was really Benigno Aquino

Who was well rounded when it comes to

politics one important things that we

should know is that Corazon Aquino is Uh

came from a wealthy family coming from

the cojuanco Families Who owns The

hasyenda Luisita they own a vast portion

of land in Tarlac and sugar

plantation and some of their relatives

Uh occupy local and National Government

position during their time between

Corazon Aquino and Marcos Marcos Marcos

is the really one who experience a lot

when it comes to politics it was bigno

binigno Who was well rounded to when it

comes to

politics however Ninoy Aquino was

assassinated so Here Comes The Cry of

the people na dapat labanan ang karasa

ng Marcos dapat labanan ang dictatorship

ng mga Marcos yun yung isa sa naging

adbokasya ni Corazon Aquino so during

the third term of the Ferdinand Marcos

dahil sa People Power Revolution or Ed

People Power Revolution nagkaroon ng

Snap

election during the Snap election Kino

Run for the President against the Marcos

the Snap election was happened in

February 18

1986 and it was resulted with landslide

one of Marc

was L in that election Although They

were claiming na meron daw dayaan na

meron daw cheat na nangyari Pero hindi

naman talaga natin alam kung ano totoong

nangyari they just claim it I don't

know unang kumala sa samahan n Marcos at

lumipat sa samahan nila Corazon Aquino

is def minister Ju p

naman ito ni lieutenant general Ped

ramos

[Musika]

na chief of the Philippine constabulary

ang Philippine constabulary is now the

PNPA or the

Philippine PNP or the PN or the

Philippine National

Police Kaya mas naing niyo ang mga tao

na samahan at

makil kila Corazon Aquino

after the after the Snap election there

were a lot of protest that happened Uh

coming from different people such as cpp

PNP the Rebels and some activist were

Actually working out to have this plat

to make a Revolution until such time

until such time when the archbishop of

Manila which was the h Uh Cardinal sin

Who urged the people to come to the Eda

to have that People Power

Revolution in that People Power

Revolution in 1986 malaki ang

contribusyon ng mga Catholic Church and

realizing that particular Edge of People

Power Revolution It's because it was

Cardinal sin who talk and urge the

people especially the Catholics the nuns

the Padre mga m

and mga seminarista to come to the to

the Eds and March in order to have that

People Power Revolution aiming to

overthrow the Ferdinand Marcos from the

presidency and that was

happened Marcos left the malakanyang

Palace and fled to Hawaii and Here Comes

Corazon Kino assuming the presidency of

the philippines so on September 18 198

si that was seven months after Corazon

Aquino became the President she went to

the United States and US Congress to

deliver this particular

speech in the speech Coron Aquino was

actually emphasizing the character and

the conviction of her husband the late

former senator binigno Ninoy Aquino and

she was talking about the Strong

opposition of her husband about the

authoritarianism of Marcus s she was

also talking about the three times

almost they have lost Ninoy Aquino and

all of those suffering that Ninoy Aquino

experien In The Hands of The

authoritarianism of marcoses She said in

the speech the government sought to

break him by indignities and terror they

lock him up in a tiny nearly airless

Cell in a military camp in the north

they strip him naked and held a threat

of a sudden midnight execution over his

head Ninoy held up manfully under all of

it I barely did as well for 43 days the

authorities would not tell me what would

happen to him this was the first time my

children and I felt we had lost him

another content of the pits was that

corya Kino is talking about the Dead

death of her husband

She said And then we lost him Eric bca

and painful than in the past the news

came to us in Boston I it had to be

after three happiest years of our lives

together but he Dead but his death was

my country's Resurrection and courage

and Pit by which alone they could be

free Again the dictator had call him a

nobody yet 2 million people threw aside

her

and and escorted him to his Grave based

on the spe itself you can see that the

attribute the peaceful Ed Revolution is

to the death of her husband so para bang

sinasabi niya na kung hindi dahil sa

pagkamatay ng kanyang asawa posible

posible na Wala ring Ed Revolution na

magaganap sa history ng Pilipinas

okay dahil dahil after ng pagkamatay ni

former senator binigno Ninoy Aquino Mas

marami ang sumat sa kanila there were

many people were sided with them Bakit

sabi m sabi ng mga taong sumat sa kanila

They were also there to fight for the

for their Freedom for their rights kaya

kasi isa rin sila sa mga biktima ng mga

Marcus in the spech We also we could see

that corino introduced the democratic

philosophy that she claim as she coming

also from her husband She said I held

past to nino's conviction that is must

be by the ways of the democracy I held

out for the participation in the 1984

election the dictatorship called even if

I knew it would be a rig I was warned by

the lawyers of the opposition that I ran

the grave ris of legitimizing the for

gun results of the election that were

clearly going to be frent but I was not

fighting for the lawyers but For the

people in Whose intelligence I had

implicit Faith by the exercise of

democracy even in a dictatorships They

would be prepare for democracy When It

came and

also it was the only way I knew by which

we could measure our power even in the

terms dictated by the dictatorship

the people vindicated me in an election

shamefully marked by the government

truer and Fr the opposition sw swept the

election garnering clear majority of the

votes even if they ended up Thanks to

the corrupt Commission on Election with

barely a third of the seats in

parliament now I knew our

power based sa speech na to pinapalabas

ni former president

akino that the result of the Snap

election between her and the Marcos was

a fraud or isang malaking dayaan na

nangyari and that her presidency through

the people struggle she made the people

struggle as the leg means her to become

the President not because of that

particular election or what really made

her as a President was she was not

elected she was assumed that presidency

because of that people

Revolution kaya Maraming nagtatanong sa

side ng Marcos kung bakit si si peder

Ramos did not assume the presidency even

though she was the

minister and one Pon and really did not

assume the presidency even though she He

is the PNP chief of the

Philippines at kung katotohanan about

this proclamation of the former

president

Coron Aquino totoo nga ba ang dayaan

during election Is it really abroad We

don't know hindi natin alam ang nangyari

yun ang maraming katanungan na laging

naitatanong kung meron ba talagang

dayaan na nangyari dahil mas marami

ngang

bumoto totoo nga taga na mas maraming

bumoto sa marcoses or isang

daya lamang ito one of the major content

of the speech of K Kino was really about

the restoration of

democracy Uh it was talking about the

respect of freedom and rights of the

people and the restoration of the

democracy from the authoritarianism of

marcoses isa sa controversial agenda of

the speech of Cor Kino before the US

Congress was about the peace the peace

agenda because she was talking about the

existing communist insurgency in the

country we can Actually remember that

that during the time of Marcus one of

the reason why Marcos declared the

martial law is due to the Uprising and

the growing numbers of the cpp NPA

during his time so when Marcos

implemented the martial law ang daming

cpp NPA na nakulong in fact some of them

Uh Some of them are tortured based on

some historians how however based on the

spe itself of Corazon Aquino she wanted

to have peace she wanted to have peace

with this people that's why pinakawalan

niya ang mga taong na kulong nung

marshal

la because she wanted to she wanted this

people to live in a Normal Life not

living in the

jungle she wanted these people to live

in a Normal Life she wanted this people

Uh she wanted this people to leave the

war the arm struggles rather and go back

to the city life and live with a Normal

Life with them peacefully because she

wanted to have a peace however This is

now the question after the time of the

Corazon Kino did NPA stop the Rebellion

look at the Look at Now they still the

the Rebellion They're still a they still

there the Rebellion the mnlf the mnlf

MILF the fuck they increase the number

by the time goes by what's the reason

What did Corazon Kino

did towards the end of the speech

Corazon Kino was actually thinking the

America she thanked the America for

accommodating them for 3 years when they

were in exile she was assuring the

America that she wanted to restore

democracy she was assuring the America

that there should be a l in the

Philippines and the America during her

re as the president of the Philippines

makikita natin sa kahulan ng kanyang

spech na siino still wanted to build

alliance together with the American

people continuously building the

connection with American people Same as

during as the time of Marcos What is the

important of the speech we can we can

already take the some Clues not just in

an individual conv

ideas and aspiration of colon aquinos

and Ninoy Aquino but also some guide

guiding Principles and framework of what

kind of Government she wanted to

build Sabi nga doon she wanted to build

a build peace that's the main

peaceful

democracy What kind of Government she

wanted to represent when she became the

president president of the Philippines

right after the time of the Marcos So

yun lamang po ang aking report ang

naibigay sa akin maraming maraming

salamat sa pag-intindi and pakikinig if

ever There's a question and

clarification please do not Don't be shy

to approach me or ask some question so

we can answer it as long as you want