SPEECH OF

Pres.
CORAZON C.
AQUINO
before the
Joint Session of the
US CONGRESS
Readings in PH History
Content
HISTORICAL CONTEXT

CORY: THE ICON OF

DEMOCRACY

THE HISTORIC SPEECH

RELEVANCE
Source:
https://www.facebook.com/FNFSEEAsia/videos/64
3956169768768/
Historical Context:
Overview of Marcos’ Times
• 1972 – Marcos declares martial law on
September 21, extending his rule beyond the
constitutional two-term limit.
• 1981 – Martial law is lifted. Marcos is re-elected
as president.
• 1983 – Aquino returns to the Philippines, but is
shot dead at Manila airport as he leaves the
plane.
• 1986 – Allegations of fraud and illegal tampering
spark a popular uprising, dubbed “People Power",
in Manila
Historical Context: EDSA
People Power Revolution
• February 1986
• The peaceful and bloodless revolution;
• Aimed to overthrow Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and
install Corazon C. Aquino in the post;
• Civilians go out of the streets to protest,
unafraid of the huge tanks and military
intimidation;
• Caught the attention of the people all over the
world
Historical Context: Early
Times of Cory’s Presidency
• Aquino began to lead a country that has been
badly damaged economically by the Marcod
regime;
• September 1986 - went on a nine-day state
visit to the US
• Spoke before the US Congress to ask for
financial aid
• Had dialogues with US President Ronald
Reagan;
• Talk with American businessmen to
convince them to invest in the Philippines
Name: Maria Corazon C. Aquino
Birth Place: Tarlac
Birthday: January 25, 1933
Known for: Icon of Democracy
1st Female President
• Graduated from Mount St. Vincent College in
New York City in 1954
• Married to Ninoy Aquino Jr
• While Ninoy was an active opposition during
Marcos’ Era, she remained as a housewife,
raising her family of five children
• Stood by her husband when Ninoy was
arrested in 1972-1980 and exiled in US
• When his husband died, Cory became part of
the growing opposition to the Marcos
Dictatorship;
• Challenged Marcos in a snap election in 1986
but lost doe to massive cheating; then
denounced it and called for the boycott of
the industries of Marcos’ cronies;
• After some officials put down support to
Marcos, the four-day EDSA People Power
Revolution installed her as the first Filipino
woman president of the country;
• Known to restore the Philippine Democracy;
drafting of 1987 PH Constitution
• Seven months after assuming office,
Aquino was invited to talk to the joint
session of the US Congress;
• Writing of speech assigned to Press
Secretary Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr.
but finished by Cory herself;
• The speech ran for half an hour and was
interrupted by several applauses and
ended with a standing ovation by both
the senators and congressmen,
 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 ballot
boxes. You saw a people so committed to the
ways of democracy that they were prepared to
give their lives for its pale intimidation. At the
end of the day, before another wave of fraud
could distort the results, I announced the
people’s victory.
 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 the lash shall
not, in my country, be paid by blood drawn
by the sword but by the tearful joy of
reconciliation.
Highlights of the Speech:
• Reminiscing the Marcos Rule;
• Reminiscing Ninoy and how they
grieve in his death;
• Express of gratitude to the Americans
• Defending her reconciliation
measures to combat Communist
Insurgencies – which is a sensitive
topic to US
• Asked for financial aid
• The speech gave credence to the EDSA
People Power Revolution not only to the
Americans but to the world––that change
was possible through peaceful means;
• Reaffirming of DEMOCRACY
• When Cory finished the speech, Senate
Majority Leader Robert Dole said “Cory,
you hit a home run”. Aquino smiled back
and said “I hope the bases were loaded.”
Five hours later, the Congress voted, 203
to 197, in favor of $200 million as
emergency aid for the Philippines.
 REFERENCES
1. Timeline: Marcos Regime. 2011, September 22. Retrieved from
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeracorrespondent/2011/09/201192082718752761.html
2. ABS-CBN News. TV Patrol: Knowledge about EDSA People Power Revolution[Video]. Youtube. Retrieve
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lKUeiDAkjw
3. Corazon Aquino. 2019, April 17. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/political-figure/corazon-aquino
4. 9 Things You May Not Know About Corazon Aquino. 2019. Retrieved from https://filipiknow.net/facts-about-
cory-aquino/
5. Candelaria, J. L. P. and Alphora, V. C. 2018. Readings in Philippine History. Quezon City, REX Printing
Company, Inc.
6. Camagay, M. L. T., Ancheta, J. A. C., Bernal, M. S., Guiang, F. J. P. A., Malban, F. J. M., Ramos II, D. P. G.
2018.Unraveling the Past. Quezon, City, Vibal Publishing House, Inc.

Note:
RTV Malacanang. (n.d.). President Corazon Aquino speech before the US Congress[video]. Youtube. Retrieved
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZnnvbKyNCQ
 Supplemental
Readings

1. Speech of President Corazon Aquino during the Joint Session of the U.S. Congress, September 18, 1986. (n.d.).
Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1986/09/18/speech-of-president-corazon-aquino-during-the-
joint-session-of-the-u-s-congress-september-18-1986/