An Overview on the Speech of Her Excellency Cory Aquino

   The speech of the former President Corazon C. Aquino highlighted that the freedom of the Philippines has come through the sacrifice of her husband, Ninoy, and all the Filipinos who gave their lives.

In the first part of the speech, Pres. Corazon Aquino commemorates the death of his husband Ninoy Aquino. She said that this death of Ninoy is the new birth of freedom. She felt painful when she remembered what the dictatorship had done to Ninoy. Three years ago, Corazon and her children left America and went back to the Philippines because of the burial of her husband. Cory also said that they have lost Ninoy Three times. The first time is the imprisonment of Ninoy. Second is the 43 days of secret investigation of him. And lastly, the day he died. So in the spirit of his husband, Pres. Corazon continues what her husband started, the fight for democracy.

In the 1984 elections, Cory participated. Even she was warned by the lawyers that she will not won, Cory didn’t stop because as she said,” I am not fighting for the lawyers, but for the people in whose intelligence whose implicit faith.” But the election was doomed. All votes for her was ignored by the Commission on Elections. Even though Cory was fooled, she knew that this election measures the difference between the power of her and the dictator.

In 1985, the dictatorship called for the snap elections to prove who is more powerful. All the people were scared to risk their lives. But in the end, Cory still won, through the support of the people.

In the second part, shows her gratitude to America and to those people who chose her as president. Cory states that she will restore a full constitutional government, a democracy that people wanted. And also, there will be congressional elections for more peaceful administration.

By: Ken Benitez

The third part, Cory stated the issue about the economic state of the country. She said that because of the dictatorship, the Philippines’ foreign debt had grown to $26 billion. “But this debt” she said “we shall honor it”. When she met Pres. Reagan, they talked about the union between their countries. This meeting, she said, is a new beginning and should lead to positive results in all areas of common concern.

Cory will face the poverty and massive unemployment of her country for the past 14 years because of the fight for democracy. Cory told that whenever she went to her campaign areas, in the slum and impoverished villages, the people there do not want food, money, or work – even that they needed it, but rather they want democracy. So at this moment, Cory felt the pressing obligation to respond quickly as a leader of a people who deserves of all these things.

Cory also admitted that in paying large foreign debts, it would be difficult. The Philippines could only pay the debt’s interest.

In the end of the speech, she thanked America for giving her family the haven from oppression for three years of their living there. And she also encouraged America to join the union, to build new homes of democracy, another haven for the oppressed, and may stand as a shining testament of the two nation’s commitment to freedom.

Aquino emphasized the following as her claim:

1.     The sense of Nationalism of Ninoy Aquino;

2.     The democracy which Juan dela Cruz desires;

3.     The poverty which most of her countrymen experiencing during the regime of Marcos;

4.     Economic issues which she tried to resolve;

. .   The death of democracy, the reign of dictatorship and the regaining of what was lost;

5.     and, Peace and Integrity she wanted to establish again.

She aslo asserted the following as to make her claims clear:

1.     The death of Ninoy as a new birth of freedom;

2.     The restoration of a full constitutional government

3.     Addressing the problem about the poverty and unemployment in the country cause by the 14 years of fighting for democracy.

4.     Paying the foreign debts.

5.     The should be democratic government for a integrated and peaceful country.

6.     The union between the Philippines and the other country that was destroyed by the dictatorship of Marcos.