-'-' ---r

Revisitin g Corozon Aquino's Speech Before the U.S.

Congress-
corazon "cory" cojuangco Aquino functioned as the symbol of the
restoration of democracy and the overthrow of the Marcos Dictatorsliip in
1986. The EDSA People Power, which installed Cory Aquino in the presidency,
put the Philippines in the international spotlight for overthrowing a dictator
through peaceful means. Cory was easily a figure of the saicl revolution. as the
widow of the slain Marcos oppositionist and former Senator Benigno "Ninol,"
Aquino Jr. Cory was hoisted as the antithesis of the dictator. Her image
as a mourning, widowed housewife who had always been in the shadoq, of
her husband and relatives and had no experience in politics rvas juxtaposecl
against Marcos's statesmanship, eloquence, charisma, and cunning political
skills. Nevertheless, Cory was able to capture the irnagination of the people
i\l whose rights and freedom had longbeen compromisecl throughout the Marcos
.!-J" regime. This is despite the fact that Cory came frorn a rich /rocienc{ero fanrily
in Tarlac and owned vast estates of sugar plantation and whose relatives
occupy local anci national government positions.

,tt The People Power Revolution of 1986 was widely'recognized arouncl

T:
r1 the world for its peaceful character. When former senator Ninoy Acluino
{i
was shot at the tartnac of the Manila International Airport on 2l August
1983, the Marcos regime greatly suffered a crisis of legitimacv. protests
from different sectors frequented different areas in the countrr,. N{a.rcc,rs's
credibility in the inter:national communitl, *1*o suffered. paireci with tlte
looming economic crisis, Marcos had to clo something to prove to his allies
in the United States that he remained to be the democraticall5, anoir-rtecl
leader of the country. He called for a Snap lllection in ]rebruarv 1gg6.
where Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, the widow of the slain senator. H,as
convinced to run against Marcos. The canvassing was rigged to Marctjs,s
favor but the people expressed their protests against the cornrpt ancl
authoritarian government. Leading military officials of the regirne apcl
Martial Law orchestrators themselves, Juan ponce Enrile and Ficlel V-
Ramos, plotted t.o take over the presidency, until civiiians heeclecl the
call of then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and other civilian
leaders gathered in EDSA. The overwhelming presence of civilians in
EDSA successfull5' turned a coup into a civilian clemonstration. .l.he
thousands of people who gathered overthrew Ferdinand Marcos from
the presidenc5, after 21 years.

36

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Rtadings in Philippine Historv