Corazon "Cory" Aquino - US Congress Speech | Summary
Summary
TLDRIn this powerful speech, the speaker reflects on their return to America as the President of a free Philippines, after having left in grief to bury their husband, Ninoy Aquino. The speech highlights the country's painful struggle for freedom, the dictatorship that suspended democracy, and the people's courage in overcoming oppression. It calls for continued peace, a resolution to the burdensome foreign debt, and cooperation with America to rebuild democracy. The speaker honors the legacy of those who fought for freedom and extends a plea for support in building a future rooted in democratic values.
Takeaways
- 🇵🇭 Cory Aquino returned to the U.S. as the President of a free Philippines, reflecting on her journey after the assassination of her husband, Ninoy Aquino.
- 🕊️ Ninoy Aquino's death became a symbol of hope, igniting a revolution that led to the restoration of Philippine democracy.
- 💔 The murder of Ninoy Aquino helped a nation recover its faith after losing it to dictatorship and oppression.
- 📜 The previous dictator suspended the constitution, shut down Congress, and imprisoned dissenters, including Ninoy Aquino.
- 💪 Cory Aquino emphasized the resilience and faith of the Filipino people, which enabled them to fight for freedom after Ninoy's death.
- 👥 Millions of Filipinos overcame fear and passivity, joining the movement that would eventually bring democracy back to the Philippines.
- 🏛️ Aquino delivered this speech before the U.S. Congress, emphasizing the shared values of democracy between the Philippines and the U.S.
- 🗳️ She mentioned her commitment to restoring full constitutional government in the Philippines and maintaining peace.
- 💸 Aquino raised concerns about the $26 billion foreign debt that the Filipino people inherited without benefiting from it.
- 🌍 She appealed for the United States to join the Philippines in building a new democratic nation and helping to alleviate the burdens of their foreign debt.
Q & A
Who is the speaker in this transcript?
-The speaker is Corazon Aquino, former President of the Philippines, addressing the U.S. Congress.
Why did Corazon Aquino leave America initially?
-Corazon Aquino left America in grief to bury her husband, Ninoy Aquino, who was a key figure in the fight for Philippine freedom.
What significant event is referenced with regards to Ninoy Aquino?
-Ninoy Aquino's assassination is referenced as a turning point, which not only honored him but also symbolized the country's recovery of faith in its future.
How does Corazon Aquino describe the dictatorship in the Philippines?
-She describes the dictatorship as one that suspended the constitution, shut down Congress, and detained her husband along with thousands of others who spoke for democracy.
What is meant by 'Ninoy became the pleasing sacrifice'?
-This means that Ninoy Aquino's death was a significant act that inspired the Filipino people's prayers and hopes for freedom, ultimately leading to the country's democratic revolution.
How did the people of the Philippines respond to Ninoy Aquino's death?
-Over two million Filipinos cast aside their fear and passivity to accompany Ninoy to his grave, signaling the beginning of a revolution.
What challenge does Corazon Aquino highlight regarding the foreign debt of the Philippines?
-She highlights the Philippines' $26 billion foreign debt, which was largely inherited from the previous government, and laments that the Filipino people never benefited from it.
How does Corazon Aquino address the issue of the communist insurgency in the Philippines?
-She explains that the insurgency feeds on economic deterioration and calls for a peaceful solution while ensuring she will not allow the insurgent leadership to threaten the country’s new freedom.
What role did Corazon Aquino take after her husband's death?
-She took on the responsibility of continuing to offer the democratic alternative to the people of the Philippines and eventually became president.
What appeal does Corazon Aquino make to America at the end of her speech?
-She appeals to America to join the Philippines in building a new home for democracy and another haven for the oppressed, as a testament to both nations' commitment to freedom.
Outlines
🇵🇭 Returning to a Free Nation
The speaker recounts their departure from America to bury their husband, Ninoy Aquino, and how they believed they were also burying his dream of Philippine freedom. However, they return as the President of a free nation. The speaker highlights the nation's honoring of Ninoy and how his death symbolized the country's recovery of faith in its future. Aquino's death became a symbol of hope and freedom for the nation, marking the beginning of a revolution for democracy.
📜 The Rise of the Dictatorship
The speaker narrates the rise of a dictatorship, led by a former president turned traitor, who suspended the constitution and dissolved the Congress. In the process, thousands were detained, including the speaker's husband, Ninoy Aquino, for standing up for democracy. The dictator labeled Aquino as a 'nobody,' but two million people defied fear and passivity, escorting him to his grave, sparking the revolution that brought the speaker to the U.S. Congress as the leader of a free nation.
💪 The Democratic Alternative
The speaker reflects on their role in continuing the democratic movement after Ninoy's death, despite the dictatorship’s opposition. They emphasize their faith in the intelligence of the Filipino people, advocating for participation in the 1984 election. As president, the speaker is committed to restoring full constitutional government and maintaining peace, ensuring that their rise to power through peaceful means is honored by protecting the country from insurgent threats.
💰 The Burden of Foreign Debt
The speaker turns to the issue of the Philippines' massive $26 billion foreign debt, much of which was accrued by the previous dictatorship. They point out the unfairness of current conditions, which continue to affect the nation despite the people not benefiting from these debts. While meeting with President Reagan, the speaker initiated a dialogue focused on cooperation and friendship between the two countries, expressing optimism that this partnership will lead to positive outcomes.
🤝 A Call for Partnership with America
The speaker addresses the challenges the Philippines faces, including a communist insurgency fueled by economic decline, with half of the country’s export earnings being used to pay off debt interest. Despite these hardships, they call on America to support the Philippines in building a new democratic nation, which could serve as a beacon of freedom. The speech concludes with a hopeful message of solidarity between the Philippines and the United States in their shared commitment to democracy.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ninoy Aquino
💡Philippine freedom
💡Dictator
💡Democratic alternative
💡Foreign debt
💡Insurgency
💡Democratic resurrection
💡Constitutional government
💡Communist insurgency
💡Two million people
Highlights
Left America in grief to bury her husband, Ninoy Aquino, believing she had also buried his dream of Philippine freedom.
Returned as the president of a free people, fulfilling Ninoy Aquino's dream.
Ninoy Aquino became a symbol for national honor and faith, with his death leading to the nation's resurrection.
Ninoy Aquino's death mobilized two million people to escort him to his grave, sparking the revolution.
The revolution led to democracy and brought her to speak at the U.S. Congress.
The dictator suspended the constitution, shut down Congress, and detained thousands, including her husband.
Her husband's assassination reignited the country's desire for freedom.
She took on the responsibility to continue offering the democratic alternative for her people.
She stood firm in her faith in the people's intelligence, leading to democratic elections in 1984.
As president, she promised not to betray the cause of peace.
She would not stand by and let insurgent forces destroy the new freedom.
Discussed the challenge of a 26-billion-dollar foreign debt incurred by the previous regime.
Emphasized that the Filipino people never benefited from this debt.
Spoke of the need for greater cooperation and friendship with the United States to address common concerns.
Called on America to join the Philippines in building a new home for democracy.
Transcripts
i left
america in grief to bury my husband
ninoy aquino i thought i had left it
also
too lay to rest his restless dream of
philippine freedom
today i have returned as the president
of a free people in burying ninoy
a whole nation honored him a nation
in shame recovered its own a country
that had lost
faith in its future founded in a
faithless
and brazen act of murder so in giving we
receive
in losing we find and out of defeat
we snatched our victory for the nation
ninoy became the pleasing sacrifice
that answered their prayers for freedom
president turned dictator
and traitor to his oath suspended the
constitution
and shut down the congress that was much
like this one
before which i am honored to speak he
detained my husband
along with thousands of others senators
publishers and anyone who had spoken up
for the democracy
as its end junior his death was my
country's resurrection
and the courage and faith by which alone
they could be free again
the dictator had called him a nobody
two million people threw aside their
passivity
fear and escorted him to his grave
and so began the revolution that has
brought me
to democracy's most famous home
the congress of the united states
the task had fallen on my shoulders
to continue offering the democratic
alternative to our people
i held out for participation in the 1984
election
the dictatorship called fighting for
for the people in whose intelligence
i had implicit faith now we are
restoring
full constitutional government as
president of
i will not betray the cause of peace
by which i came to power i
will not stand by and allow an insurgent
leadership
to spurn our offer of peace and kill our
young soldiers
and threaten our new freedom finally may
i
turn to that other slavery our 26
billion dollar
foreign debt many of the conditions
imposed on the previous government that
stole this debt
continued to be imposed on us who never
benefited from it
no assistance or liberality commensurate
with the calamity that was visited on us
has been extended when i met with
president reagan
an important dialogue about cooperation
and the strengthening of friendship
between our two countries
a confirmation and a new beginning
i am sure it will lead to positive
results
in all areas of common concern
we face a communist insurgency that
feeds on economic deterioration half
our export earnings 2 billion dollars
out of 4 billion dollars which is all we
can earn
in the restrictive markets of the world
must go to pay just the interest on a
debt
whose benefit the filipino people never
received
today i say join us america
as we build a new home for democracy
another haven for the oppressed so
it may stand as a shining testament
of our two nations commitment to freedom
you
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