Corazon Aquino's Speech Before the U.

S Congress: Critical Analysis

By: Tulibas, Karl Jade J.

Photo courtesy: Time Magazine

Maria Corazon Cojuanco Aquino, most notably known as Cory Aquino, is

the first female and eleventh president of the Republic of the Philippines. She is
titled by most Filipinos as the “Mother of Asian Democracy” because of her
achievement to restore the democracy of the country, when it was eradicated
by her predecessor’s, Ferdinand Marcos, dictatorship governance in the country.
Corazon Aquino was the widow of Benigno Aquino, who was the oppositionist for
candidacy of presidency against Ferdinand Marcos. Corazon Aquino was also a
mother of five, one of which was also a late president of the country.
In this critical analysis, we shall discuss Corazon Aquino’s speech in the
United States congress, which is now an essential historical event and primary
source in Philippine politics and diplomatic history. Her speech was empowered
to assert validity and justice of the governance influenced by the EDSO People
Power Revolution to the global stage. Basically, she pointed out not only her
governing strategies and accomplishments but also the teachings and legacies
of her late husband, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.
Much of her lengthy speech was about the chaos and torments of her late
husband to the tortures of dictatorship of the government in the country that he
detested and resisted. Moreover, about her participation and attribution of the
revolution, that was ignited by her husband’s death, clearly illustrated not only her
personal point of view on the revolution but also the representation of what the
primary subject of her speech was.
The speech also elaborated how painful it was for her and her family to
grieve and cope up with the loss of the foundation of their home, her husband
Ninoy Aquino. Upon processing the content of Cory’s speech, Ninoy Aquino’s
death can be regarded as the Philippine’s resurrection which freed the country
and its people through courage and faith. She quoted Archibald MacLeish’s
words that said “democracy must be defended by arms when it is attacked by
arms, and with truth when it is attacked by lies”, which referenced how she took
the responsibilities in protecting and fighting for the sake of freedom and
democracy of the country.
The revived democratic government and its philosophy and principles were
mentioned in her speech as well. She really went to vent out the differences,
compare and contrast, between her government and of her predecessor’s,
through expressing her promises and words of commitment to an independently
commissioned constitution of democracy. Cory, being engrossed in democratic
practices, dealt an ongoing communist insurgency by perceiving it as a product
of a passive and corrupt government and responding to it in peace and wisdom,
to avoid war.
Cory might have convinced us that she is different to Ferdinand Marcos
and his government, however she didn’t completely deter what Marcos started.
She continued to build the alliance between Philippines and the United States of
America and implemented an identical foreign policy to that of the previous
dictatorship government. Nevertheless, she also acknowledged the country’s
foreign debts incurred by the previous administration of Marcos which she
claimed as useless and never benefitted the Filipino people. I mean, really Cory?
She really went to invalidate the existence of San Juanico Bridge and called it
nonessential when it is still used today. She may have promised to pay the debt
and able to pay the debt but the consequences of how she did it is still in effect
today.
Upon examining Cory Aquino’s speech, I am disappointed. It was more
personal instead of representational. Her ideas and inspirations are not only
clouded by her personal agenda and vengeance but also lacking in experiences
which made worse, probably, by her counselors and advisors’ false guidance.
However, no concrete proof can be exhibited to some of these “claims” and
hypotheses, but if we are skeptical enough about our current situations and social
system in our society we may be able to see a different angle if these historical
events really were for the development of our country.