RECOCO, FRANCIS TONIE S.

November 11, 2021

BSEE – 1A GE – RIPH

Corazon C. Aquino's Speech

before the Joint Session of the U.S. Congress.

Corazon "Cory" Aquino became the Philippines' 11th and first woman president.
Don Jose Cojuangco Sr. and Doa Demetria Sumulong have eight children, and she is the
sixth. Because of their sugar plantation, the Cojuangcos were regarded as one of the
wealthiest people in their area. Her mother and father sent her to study in the United
States to finish high school when she was 13 years old. Corazon attended Ravenhill
Academy in Philadelphia and the Notre Dame Convent School in New York, where she
received her diploma in 1949. She graduated from Mount St. Vincent College in New York
City with a bachelor's degree in 1953. After graduation, she returned to Manila to attend
Far Eastern University's law school, where she met her future spouse. She married
Benigno Simeon Aquino Jr., a politician who served as the mayor of Tarlac from 1955 to
1959, on October 11, 1954. Corazon Aquino became the Philippines' first female
president on February 25, 1986, due to the "People Power Revolution," and restored
democracy to the Philippines by promulgating a new constitution. She served until 1992.

Power of Freedom of Speech: An In-depth Analysis of Cory Aquino’s Speech for the Joint
Session - US Congress

President Corazon "Cory" C. Aquino was inaugurated on September 18, 1986,

seven months after tens of thousands of people campaigned to elect her. Aquino
addressed a joint session of Congress on her life as Ninoy Aquino's wife and the status
of the Philippines some months after a president turned tyrant was toppled. Cory Aquino
was the wife of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., a former senator and outspoken critic of
dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The latter was fatally shot on the tarmac of the Manila
International Airport on August 21, 1983. Protests against the government erupted after
Ninoy's killing. Marcos' worldwide reputation was also severely tarnished. As a result, in
February 1986, he announced a snap election, in which Cory Aquino was persuaded to
run against Marcos.
Despite her lack of political experience, Cory acquired the faith of those who had
their rights and freedoms taken away under Marcos' tyranny. She became a source of
light for the rest of the community. The findings, on the other hand, were skewed in favor
of Marcos. The people, however, marched to EDSA, armed with unshakeable faith and
courage, to air their grievances against the corrupt and oppressive administration, and
the protests were effectively put to a stop. The twenty-one-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos
Cory Aquino was elected president as a result of this incident. Furthermore, the event
mentioned above - the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution - was highly recognized
worldwide for its people's solid yet nonviolent rebellion. It also boosted Cory Aquino's
standing among world leaders as the country's emblem of democratic revival. She began
her remarks by reminiscing on bittersweet experiences from the past. She recalled losing
Ninoy three times: the first time he was detained by Marcos for his unwavering opposition
to the dictator's authoritarianism; the second time he went on a hunger strike and fasted
for 40 days while being tried by a military court to solidify his protest against the dictator,
and the third time he was assassinated in the Manila International Airport.
She was able to underline Ninoy's tenacity and tremendous desire for the people's
independence, democracy, and freedom from the clutches of a cruel tyrant with these
words. She also spoke about how her husband's death reawakened the people's dormant
courage and patriotism and how the death of Ninoy led to the country's independence.
Furthermore, Cory noted that she had been charged with "providing the democratic
alternative." Cory Aquino, the newly-elected president of the Republic of the Philippines,
has stated that she and her government would be champions for peace since she and
her administration came to office peacefully. She then talked about some of her early
projects. She first discussed the restoration of a fully constitutional government based on
an existing constitution. Given that her administration inherited a split government, she
fully respects the Bill of Rights, which is no minor feat. She then goes on to tackle how
she intends to persuade militants to come down from their hills and join the fight of
democracy that should be restored in the nation.
In conclusion, the narrative stated that she acquired the respect and trust of the
US Congress as she ended her address. She also demonstrated to the rest of the world
that, despite her status as an "untutored political amateur," she can run her own country.
Her persuasion skills and well-crafted speech were vital in her accomplishment.
Aquino's speech demonstrates her distinction from her predecessor, as seen by
her devotion to a constitutional democracy that protects and respects people's rights.
Moreover, opting to pay the dictator's accumulated debt demonstrates her government's
aim to maintain a deficit economy. Overall, Cory Aquino's speech reflects her views and
hopes for the country and her administration's guiding values. Furthermore, her address
serves as a continual reminder to us Filipinos that achieving democracy has not been
straightforward and that sacrifices have been made along the way. As a result, we must
do all possible to protect our democracy.