Speech before the joint session of the United States Congress - Sept.

18, 1986
Corazon Aquino
September 18, 1986— Washington, DC

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SPEECHES
Mr. Speaker, Senator Thurmond, Distinguished members of Congress.
Three years ago I left America in grief, to bury my husband, Ninoy Aquino. I thought I had left it
also, to 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 by that brave and selfless act of giving honor to 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.

For myself and our children, Ninoy was a loving husband and father. His loss, three times in our lives
was always a deep and painful one. Fourteen years ago this month, was the first time we lost him. A
president-turned-dictator and traitor to his oath, suspended the constitution and shutdown the
Congress that was much like this one before which I'm 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 drew near. But for Ninoy, a long and cruel ordeal was reserved. The dictator
already knew that Ninoy was not a body merely to be imprisoned but a spirit he must break. For even
as the dictatorship demolished one-by-one; the institutions of democracy, the press, the congress,
the independence of a judiciary, the protection of the Bill of Rights, Ninoy kept their spirit alive
in himself.

The government sought to break him by indignities and terror. They locked him up in a tiny, nearly
airless cell in a military camp in the north. They stripped 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
forty-three days, the authorities would not tell me what had happened to him. This was the first time
my children and I felt we had lost him.
When that didn't work, they put him on trial for subversion, murder and a host of other crimes before a
military commission. Ninoy challenged its authority and went on a fast. If he survived it, then he felt
God intended him for another fate. We had lost him again. For nothing would hold him back from his
determination to see his fast through to the end. He stopped only when it dawned on him that the
government would keep his body alive after the fast had destroyed his brain. And so, with barely any
life in his body, he called off the fast on the 40th day. God meant him for other things, he felt. He did
not know that an early death would still be his fate, that only the timing was wrong. At any time
during his long ordeal, Ninoy could have made a separate peace with a dictatorship as so many of
his countrymen had done. But the spirit of democracy that inheres in our race and animates this
chamber could not be allowed to die. He held out in the loneliness of his cell and the frustration of
exile, the democratic alternative to the insatiable greed and mindless cruelty of the right and the
purging holocaust of the left.

And then, we lost him irrevocably and more painfully than in the past. The news came to us in Boston.
It had to be after the three happiest years of our lives together. But 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. Yet, two million people threw aside their passivity and 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. Archibald Macleish had said that democracy must be defended by arms when it is attacked by
arms, and with truth when it is attacked by lies. He failed to say how it shall be won. I held fast to
Ninoy's conviction that it must be by the ways of democracy. I held out for participation in the 1984
election the dictatorship called, even if I knew it would be rigged. I was warned by the lawyers of the
opposition, that I ran the grave risk of legitimizing the foregone results of elections that were clearly
going to be fraudulent. But I was not fighting for lawyers but for the people in whose intelligence, I had
implicit faith. By the exercise of democracy even in a dictatorship, they would be prepared for
democracy when it came. And then 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 government thuggery and fraud. The opposition swept the elections, garnering a
clear majority of the votes even if they ended up (thanks to a corrupt Commission on Elections) with
barely a third of the seats in Parliament. Now, I knew our power.

Last year, in an excess of arrogance, the dictatorship called for its doom in a snap election. The
people obliged. With over a million signatures they drafted me to challenge the dictatorship. And
I, obliged. The rest is the history that dramatically unfolded on your television screens and across
the front pages of your newspapers. You saw a nation armed with courage and integrity, stand
fast by democracy against threats and corruption. You saw women poll watchers break out in
tears as armed goons crashed the polling places to steal the ballots. But just the same, they tied
themselves to the ballot boxes. You saw a people so committed to the ways of democracy that they
were prepared to give their lives for its pale imitation. At the end of the day before another wave
of fraud could distort the results, I announced the people's victory.
Many of you here today played a part in changing the policy of your country towards ours. We, the
Filipinos thank each of you for what you did. For balancing America's strategic interest against human
concerns illuminates the American vision of the world. The co-chairman of the United States observer
team, in his report to the President said, "I was witness to an extraordinary manifestation of
democracy on the part of the Filipino people. The ultimate result was the election of Mrs.
Corazon Aquino as President and Mr. Salvador Laurel as Vice-President of the Philippines."
When a subservient parliament announced my opponent's victory, the people then turned out in the
streets and proclaimed me the President of all the people. And true to their word, when a handful of
military leaders declared themselves against the dictatorship, the people rallied to their protection.
Surely, the people take care of their own. It is on that faith and the obligation it entails that I assumed
the Presidency.

As I came to power peacefully, so shall I keep it. That is my contract with my people and my
commitment to God. He had willed that the blood drawn with a lash shall not in my country be paid
by blood drawn by the sword but by the tearful joy of reconciliation. We have swept away absolute
power by a limited revolution that respected the life and freedom of every Filipino.

Now, we are restoring full constitutional government. Again as we restore democracy by the ways of
democracy, so are we completing the constitutional structures of our new democracy under a
constitution that already gives full respect to the Bill of Rights. A jealously independent constitutional
commission is completing its draft which will be submitted later this year to a popular referendum.
When it is approved, there will be elections for both national and local positions. So, within about a
year from a peaceful but national upheaval that overturned a dictatorship, we shall have returned to full
constitutional government.

Given the polarization and breakdown we inherited, this is no small achievement. My

predecessor set aside democracy to save it from a communist insurgency that numbered less than
five hundred. Unhampered by respect for human rights he went at it with hammer and tongs. By the
time he fled, that insurgency had grown to more than sixteen thousand. I think there is a lesson here to
be learned about trying to stifle a thing with a means by which it grows. I don't think anybody in or
outside our country, concerned for a democratic and open Philippines doubts what must be done.
Through political initiatives and local re-integration programs, we must seek to bring the insurgents
down from the hills and by economic progress and justice, show them that which the best-intentioned
among them fight. As president among my people, I will not betray the cause of peace by which I
came to power. Yet, equally and again, no friend of Filipino democracy will challenge this. 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.

Yet, I must explore the path of peace to the utmost. For at its end, whatever disappointment I meet there
is the moral basis for laying down the Olive branch of peace and taking up the sword of war.
Still, should it come to that, I will not waiver from the course laid down by your great liberator.
"With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see
the right, let us finish the work we are in to bind up the nation's wounds. To care for him who
shall have borne the battle and for his widow and for his orphans to do all which may achieve
and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."
Like Abraham Lincoln, I understand that force may be necessary before mercy. Like Lincoln, I don't
relish it. Yet, I will do whatever it takes to defend the integrity and freedom of my country.
Finally may I turn to that other slavery, our twenty-six billion dollar foreign debt. I have said
that we shall honor it. Yet, the means by which we shall be able to do so are kept from us. Many
of the conditions imposed on the previous government that stole this debt, continue to be imposed
on us who never benefited from it.

And no assistance or liberality commensurate with the calamity that was vested on us have been
extended. Yet ours must have been the cheapest revolution ever. With little help from others, we
Filipinos fulfilled the first and most difficult condition of the debt negotiation, the full restoration
of democracy and responsible government. Elsewhere and in other times, a more stringent world
economic conditions, marshal plans and their like were felt to be necessary companions of
returning democracy.

When I met with President Reagan, we began an important dialogue about cooperation and the
strengthening of friendship between our two countries. That meeting was both a confirmation
and a new beginning. I am sure it will lead to positive results in all areas of common concern.
Today, we face the aspiration of a people who have known so much poverty and massive
unemployment for the past 14 years. And yet offer their lives for the abstraction of democracy.

Wherever I went in the campaign, slum area or impoverished village. They came to me with one
cry, DEMOCRACY. Not food although they clearly needed it but DEMOCRACY. Not work,
although they surely wanted it but DEMOCRACY. Not money, for they gave what little they had
to my campaign. They didn't expect me to work a miracle that would instantly put food into their
mouths, clothes on their back, education in their children and give them work that will put
dignity in their lives. But I feel the pressing obligation to respond quickly as the leader of the
people so deserving of all these things.

We face a communist insurgency that feeds on economic deterioration even as we carry a great share of
the free world defenses in the Pacific. These are only two of the many burdens my people carry even as
they try to build a worthy and enduring house for their new democracy. That may serve as well as a
redoubt for freedom in Asia. Yet, no sooner as one stone laid than two are taken away. Half our export
earnings, two billion dollars out of four billion dollars which is all we can earn in the restrictive market
of the world, must go to pay just the interest on a debt whose benefit the Filipino people never
received.

Still we fought for honor and if only for honor, we shall pay. And yet, should we have to ring the
payments from the sweat of our men's faces and sink all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two-
hundred fifty years of unrequited toil. Yet, to all Americans, as the leader to a proud and free people,
I address this question, "Has there been a greater test of national commitment to the ideals you hold
dear than that my people have gone through? You have spent many lives and much treasure to bring
freedom to many lands that were reluctant to receive it. And here, you have a people who want it by
themselves and need only the help to preserve it."
Three years ago I said, Thank you America for the haven from oppression and the home you gave
Ninoy, myself and our children and for the three happiest years of our lives together. 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.

Speech taken from http://chuvachienes.com/2009/07/31/complete-transcript-of-president-corazon-c-

aquinos-speech-before-us-congress/

Tatlong taon na ang nakararaan, nagdadalamhati akong lumisan sa Amerika upang ilibing ang aking
kabiyak, si Ninoy Aquino. Akala ko’y umalis ako doon upang ilibing din nang ganap ang kaniyang di-
makaling pangarap na kalayaan ng Pilipinas. Ngayon, nagbabalik ako bilang pangulo ng malayang
sambayanan.
Sa paglilibing kay Ninoy, dinarakila siya ng buong bansa. Sa magiting at mapagpaubayang

pakikibakang magbigay ng karangalan, ang buong bansa ay nakabangon nang mag-isa. Ang bansang

nawalan ng pananalig sa kinabukasan ay natagpuan yaon sa marahas at lantarang pagpaslang. Kaya sa

pagbibigay ay nakatatanggap tayo; sa pagkawala ay nakatatagpo tayo; at mula sa pagkabigo ay

nahablot natin ang tagumpay.

Para sa bansa, si Ninoy ang kaaya-ayang sakripisyo na tumugon sa mga panalangin nito hinggil sa

kalayaan. Para sa akin at sa aking mga anak, si Ninoy ang mapagmahal na esposo at ama. Ang

kaniyang pagkawala, nang tatlong ulit sa aming buhay, ay palaging malalim at makirot.

Ikalabing-apat na apat na taon ngayong buwan ang unang pagkakataon na nawala siya sa amin. Ang

pangulong naghunos diktador, at nagtaksil sa kaniyang sinumpaang tungkulin, ay sinuspinde ang

Saligang Batas at isinara ang Konggreso na parang gaya nito na isang karangalan ang magsalita.

Ibinilanggo niya ang aking asawa kapiling ang ilang libo pang tao—mga senador, pabliser, at sinumang

nagsalita para sa demokrasya—habang papalapit na ang wakas ng kaniyang pamamahala. Ngunit

nakalaan para kay Ninoy ang mahaba at malupit na pagsubok. Batid ng diktador na si Ninoy ay hindi

lamang katawan na makukulong bagkus diwaing dapat wasakin. Dahil kahit gibain nang isa-isa ng

diktadura ang mga institusyon ng demokrasya—gaya ng press, Konggreso, independensiya ng

hukuman, ang proteksiyon ng Talaan ng Karapatan— pinanatiling buhay ni Ninoy ang alab ng diwain

nito.

Sinikap ng gobyerno na durugin si Ninoy sa pamamagitan ng panghihiya at paninindak. Ibinilibid siya

sa maliit, halos walang hanging selda sa kampo militar sa hilaga. Hinubdan siya at binantaang
ipabibitay pagsapit ng kalagitnaan ng gabi. Pinanindigan lahat iyon ni Ninoy. At gayon din halos ang

ginawa ko. Inilihim sa akin ng mga awtoridad kung ano ang nangyari sa kaniya sa loob ng apatnapu’t

tatlong araw. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nadama ko at ng aking mga anak na naglaho na siya.

Nang hindi nagtagumpay ang gayong paraan, nilitis siya sa salang subersiyon, pagpatay, at iba pang

krimen sa harap ng komisyong militar. Hinamon ni Ninoy ang awtoridad nito at siya’y nag-ayuno.

Kung makaliligtas siya doon, pakiwari niya, ang Diyos ay may nakalaang ibang tadhana sa kaniya.

Muling nawala si Ninoy sa amin. Dahil walang makapipigjil sa kaniyang sigasig na mag-ayuno

hanggang wakas, huminto lamang siya nang mabatid na pananatilihin ng gobyerno ang kaniyang

katawan makalipas na sirain ng pag-aayuno ang utak. Lupaypay ang katawan na halos walang buhay,

winakasan ni Ninoy ang kaniyang pag-aayuno sa ikaapatnapung araw. May inilaan ang Diyos sa kaniya

na ibang bagay, ramdam ni Ninoy. Hindi niya alam na ang maagang kamatayan ay siya ring magiging

tadhana niya, dangan lamang at hindi pa panahon.

Sa alinmang sandali ng kaniyang mahabang pagsubok, maaari na sanang makipagkasundo si Ninoy sa

diktadura, gaya ng ginawa ng marami niyang kababayan. Ngunit ang diwa ng demokrasya na

nananalaytay sa aming lahi at nagpapasigla ng kamarang ito ay hindi mahahayaang maupos.

Pinanindigan niya, sa kabila ng galimgim ng kaniyang selda at kabiguan ng destiyero, ang

demokratikong alternatibo sa hindi mapigil na kasakiman at salat-sa-katwirang kalupitan ng kanan at sa

mala-holokawstong pagpupurga ng kaliwa.

Pagkaraan, naglaho siya sa amin nang ganap at higit na masakit kaysa noon. Sumapit sa amin sa

Boston ang balita. Iyon ay pagkaraan ng tatlong masasayang taon ng aming pagsasama. Ngunit ang

kaniyang kamatayan ay resureksiyon ng tapang at pananampalatayang magpapalaya sa aming bayan.

itinuring na walang kuwenta ng diktador si Ninoy. Dalawang milyong tao ang bumasag ng kanilang

pananahimik at nagmartsa tungo sa libingan niya. At doon nagsimula ang rebolusyon na naghatid sa

akin sa pinakatanyag na tahanan ng demokrasya, ang Konggreso ng Estados Unidos.

Nakasalalay sa aking mga balikat ngayon ang tungkuling ipagpatuloy ang paghahain ng demokratikong

alternatibo sa aming sambayanan.

Winika ni Archibald Macleish na dapat ipagtanggol ang demokrasya sa pamamagitan ng sandata kapag

tinapatan ng sandata, at sa pamamagitan ng katotohanan kapag tinapatan ng kasinungalingan. Nabigo

niyang banggitin kung paano iyon ipapanalo.

Naniniwala ako sa ipinaglalaban ni Ninoy na dapat ipanalo iyon sa mga pamamaraan ng demokrasya.

Naghintay akong makalahok noong halalan 1984 na inihayag ng diktadura, kahit alam kong dadayain

iyon. Nagbabala sa akin ang mga abogado ng oposisyon sa panganib na maging lehitimo ang resulta ng

halalang malinaw na dadayain. Ngunit hindi ako nakikipaglaban para sa mga abogado bagkus para sa

mga mamamayang ang talino’y pinanaligan ko. Sa pagsasagawa ng demokrasya kahit nasa ilalim ng

diktadura’y maihahanda sila sa demokrasya kapag sumapit ito. Ito rin ang tanging paraan na alam

kong masusukat narnin ang kapangyarihan ikahit sa mga bagay na idinidikta ng diktadura.

Itinaguyod ako ng mga tao sa halalang hitik sa karahasan at pandaraya ng gobyerno. Nagwagi ang

oposisyon sa mga halalan, lumikom ng malinaw na mayorya ng mga boto, bagaman ang natamo nila—

salamat na lamang sa tiwaling Komisyon sa Halalan—ay halos sangkatlo lamang ng mga puwesto sa

batasan. Ngayon, alam ko na ang aming kapangyarihan.

Noong nakaraang taon, nanawagan ng biglaang halalan ang diktadura bilang pagpapamalas ng labis na

kapaluan. Tumango ang bayan. Sa bisa ng mahigit isang milyong lagda, iniluklok nila ako na hamumin

ang diktadura. At sinunod ko ang mithi nila. Ang sumunod ay kasaysayang nabuksan nang dramatiko

sa inyong telebisyon at sa mga pambungad na pahina ng inyong mga pahayagan.

Nakita ninyo ang bansa, na armado ng giting at integridad, na mariing nanindigan sa demokrasya laban

sa mga banta at korupsiyon. Nasaksihan ninyo ang mga babaeng tagapagbantay ng halalan na

nagsitangis nang manloob ang mga armadong maton upang hablutin ang mga balota, ngunit itinali ng

mga babae ang kanilang mga kamay sa mga kahon ng balota. Namalas ninyo ang mga tao na nagtaya

sa mga pamamaraan ng demokrasya at handa nilang ihandog ang buhay para sa mababa nitong

katumbas. Sa pagwawakas ng araw, bago pa sumapit ang bagong agos ng pandaraya na

makapagpapabaligtad ng mga resulta, inihayag ko ang tagumpay ng bayan.

Inilarawan ng iginagalang na kawaksing pinuno ng pangkat tagapagsubaybay ng Estados Unidos sa

kaniyang ulat sa inyong Pangulo ang nasabing tagumpay:

“Saksi ako sa pambihirang pagpapamalas ng demokrasya sa panig ng sambayanang Pilipino. Ang

ultimong resulta ay ang pagkakahalal kay Gng. Corazon C. Aquino bilang Pangulo at kay G. Salvador

Laurel bilang Ikalawang Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas.”

Marami sa inyo na narito ngayon ang gumanap ng papel sa pagpapanibago ng patakaran ng inyong

bansa hinggil sa aming bansa. Kami, ang mga Pilipino, ay nagpapasalamat sa inyo sa ginawa ninyo: na

sa pagtitimbang ng estratehikong interes ng Amerika laban sa mga usaping pantao ay maliliwanagan

ang Amerikanong bisyon sa daigdig.

Nang ihayag ng sunod-sunurang batasan ang tagumpay ng aking kalaban, nagsilabasan sa mga kalye

ang mga tao at inihayag na ako ang Pangulo nila. At tapat sa kanilang winika, nang ang iilang pinuno

ng militar ay naghayag ng pagsalungat sa diktadura, ang mga tao’y nagbayanihan upang pangalagaan

sila. Totoong kinakalinga ng mga tao ang kaisa nila. Sa gayong pananalig at pananagutang taglay nito

nanungkulan ako bilang pangulo.

Isinantabi ng nauna sa akin ang demokrasya upang iligtas umano ito sa komunistang pag-aaklas na

hindi lalabis sa 500 tao. Masigasig niyang nilabag ang mga karapatang pantao at ni hindi inalintana ang

paggalang dito. Nang tumakas ang diktador palayo, ang armadong pakikibaka ay lumago sa 16,000.

Wari ko’y may leksiyon dito na dapat matutuhan hinggil sa pagsisikap na supilin ang isang bagay sa

pamamagitan ng mga pamamaraang magpapalago rito.

Walang tao sa aking palagay, sa loob man o labas ng bansa, na may malasakit sa demokratiko at bukas

na Pitipinas, ang magdududa sa mga dapat isagawa. Sa pamamagitan ng mga pagkukusang pampolitika

at lokal na programang pagtanggap ng mga tao mula sa armadong pakikibaka, kailangan nating

pababain ang mga maghihimagsik pababa sa mga burol at, sa bisa ng pangkabuhayang progreso at

katarungan, ay maipakita sa kanila ang lantay na layuning ipinaglalaban nila.

Bilang Pangulo, hindi ako magtataksil sa simulain ng kapayapaang nagluklok sa akin sa

kapangyarihan. Gayundin, at walang sinumang kapanalig ng demokrasyang Pilipino ang

mapasusubalian ito, hindi ko palalampasin at pababayaan ang pamunuan ng maghihimagsik na talikdan

ang aming handog na kapayapaan at paslangin ang aming kabataang kawal, at magbanta sa aming

bagong kalayaan.
Kailangan ko pa ring maghanap ng landas ng kapayapaan sa sukdulang paraan dahil ang wakas nito,

anuman ang kabiguang masalubong, ang magiging batayang moral para sa pagpapalaganap ng

kapayapaan at pagsusulong ng digmaan. At kung sumapit sa gayong yugto, hindi ako matatakot sa

landas na iginiit ng inyong dakilang tagapagpalaya: “Walang malisya sa sinuman, may pagkalinga para

sa lahat, at may katatagan sa mga karapatan, gaya ng mga ibinigay na karapatan ng Maykapal, tapusin

natin ang trabahong nasa atin, bendahan ang mga sugat ng bansa, kalingain ang sinumang sumabak sa

digmaan, at para sa kaniyang balo at mga ulila, ay gawin ang lahat ng matatamo at pahalagahan ang

makatarungan at pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa atin at sa lahat ng bansa.”

Gaya ni Lincoln, nauunawaan kong kinakailangan ang puwersa bago ang kapatawaran. Gaya ni

Lincoln, hindi ko iyon gusto. Gayunman ay gagawin ko ang dapat gawin upang ipagtanggol ang

integridad at kalayaan ng aking bansa.

At pangwakas, hayaang dumako ako sa iba pang kaalipnan: ang aming $26 bilyong utang panlabas.

Sinabi ko noon na kikilalanin namin ito. Ngunit ang mga pamamaraan ba para magawa iyon ay

ipagkakait sa amin? Maraming kondisyon na ipinataw sa nakaraang gobyerno na nagnakaw ng inutang

ang patuloy na ipinapataw sa aming hindi nakinabang dito. At walang tulong o liberalidad na katumbas

ng kalamidad na ibinigay sa amin ang pinalawig. Gayunman, ang amin ang pinakamatipid na

rebolusyon marahil. Kaming mga Pilipino, na kakaunti ang tulong na nasagap sa ibang bansa, ang

tumupad ng una at pinakamahirap na kondisyon sa negosasyon ng utang: ang pagpapanumbalik ng

demokrasya at responsableng gobyerno. Sa ibang pook, at sa ibang panahon na higit na mahigpit ang

mga pandaigdigang ekonomikong kondisyon, ang mga planong Marshall at kauri nito ang naisip na

mahalagang kasama sa pagpapanumbaiik ng demokrasya.

Nang makaharap ko si Pang. Reagan kahapon, nagsimula kami ng mahalagang diyalogo hinggil sa

kooperasyon at pagpapalakas ng pagkakaibigan sa panig ng dalawang bansa. Ang naturang pulong ang

kapuwa kumpirmasyon at bagong simula, at dapat mauwi sa mga poslibong resulta sa lahat ng panig ng

pangkalahatang usapin.

Hinaharap namin ngayon ang mithi ng sambayanang dumanas ng labis na kahirapan at matinding

kawalan ng trabaho sa loob ng labing-apat na taon, ngunit inialay pa rin ang kani-kanilang buhay para
sa malabong demokrasya. Tuwing nangangampanya ako sa mga pook maralita o liblib na nayon,

lumalapit ang mga tao sa akin at sumisigaw ng demokrasya. Hindi trabaho, bagaman tiyak na nais nila

iyon, bagkus demokrasya. Hindi salapi, dahil ibinigay nila sa akin ang anumang munti nilang naipon

para sa kampanya. Hindi nila ako inasahang magbibigay ng himala na magpapalitaw ng pagkain,

damit, edukasyon sa kanilang mga anak, at trabahong maglalaan nig dignidad sa kanilang buhay.

Subalit nararamdaman ko ang pananagutang kumilos nang mabilis bilang pinuno ng mga tao na

karapat-dapat matamo ang mga bagay na ito.

Hinaharap namin ang armadong pakikibaka ng komunista na lumulusog sa pagguho ng kabuhayan,

kahit nakikibahagi kami sa mga tanggulan ng malalayang daigdig sa Pasipiko. Ito ang tanging

dalawang pasaning dinadala ng aking mga kababayan habang sinisikap nilang magtatag ng karapat-

dapat at matibay na tahanan para sa kanilang bagong demokrasya, na makapagsisilbi ring tanggulan

para sa kalayaan ng Asya. Gayunman, hindi pa natatapos maglatag ng bato ay dalawa naman ang

tinatangay palayo. Kalahati ng aming kita sa pagluluwas, na tinatayang $2 sa $4 bilyong dolyar, ang

tanging naiipon namin sa labis na mahigpit na merkado ng daigdig, at ibinabalik pa upang bayaran ang

interes ng utang na ang benepisyo ay hindi natatanggap ng mga tao.

Lumaban kami nang matamo ang dangal, at kahit man lang sa dangal, handa kaming magbayad. Ngunit

dapat pa ba nating pigain ang pambayad mula sa pawis sa mukha ng aming kababayan at ilubog ang

lahat ng kayamanang natipon ng tagapanagot na dalawang daan at limampung taon kumayod nang

dibdiban?

Sa lahat ng Amerikano, bilang pinuno ng marangal at malayang bansa, ipinupukol ko ang tanong na ito:

Mayroon bang hihigit sa pagsubok ng pambansang pagtataya sa mga mithi na inyong pinahahalagahan

kaysa sa dinanas ng aking mga kababayan? Gumugol kayo ng maraming buhay at maraming yaman

upang maghatid ng kalayaan sa maraming lupain na pawang bantulot tanggapin yaon. At dito ay may

sambayanang nagwagi nang mag-isa at kailangan lamang ang tulong upang mapanatili ang natamo.

Tatlong taon na ang nakalilipas ay sinabi kong Salamat, Amerika, para sa kanlungan ng inaapi,

at sa tahanang ibinigay mo kay Ninoy, sa akin at sa aking mga anak, at para sa tatlong

masayang taon naming pinagsamahan. Ngayon, sinasabi kong, samahan ninyo kami,
Amerika, habang itinitindig namin ang bagong tahanan para sa demokrasya, ang bagong

kanlungan para sa inaapi, upang makatindig ito bilang kumikinang na—testamento ng ating

dalawang bansang nagtataya sa kalayaan. {{1}}