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Content and Contextual Analysis of Primary Sources
Content and Contextual Analysis of Primary Sources
ANALYSIS OF PRIMARY
SOURCES
Corazon Aquino, President Corazon Aquino’s Speech before
the U.S. Congress September 18, 1986
Background of the Speaker
President Aquino focused her attention and energy to revitalize and rejuvenate
the sagging economy. One of her boldest moves was to dismantle the various
monopolies that were perpetrated by Marcos during his stay in power.
As former President Corazon Aquino spoke in September 1986 before a joint
session of the United States Congress, the dust had just started to settle.
This was her first visit to America following the overthrow of the tyrant
Ferdinand Marcos in February of the same year and the Philippines was
grappling with all that his government had caused.
This included a cumulative foreign debt of $26 billion, and a communist insurgency
this grew from 500 armed guerrillas to 16,000 during Marcos period. We were just at
the beginning of a long regeneration path.
So Aquino asked for assistance. She delivered a landmark speech addressing the
House that helped to swing the vote for a $200-million emergency aid bill in our favor.
Teddy Locsin, Jr., in a touching speech written by her speechwriter (and our new UN
ambassador). Aquino defended her reconciliatory stand on the Communist insurgency
a delicate topic in the U.S., given that it was in 1986 and demanded financial assistance
to restore the Philippine economy.
"We fought for freedom, and we're going to pay, if only for respect," she said, promising to settle the
debt that Marcos took. "And still, will we have to write the payments out of the sweat of our men's
faces and sink all the riches gathered up by the two hundred and fifty years of unrequited labor of the
bondman?“
The speech was impassioned, deeply personal, and effective; with applause interrupted 11 times, and
with standing ovations bookended. House spokesperson Tip O'Neill called it "the best speech I've
ever heard in Congress in my 34 years.“
Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole told her, "Cory, you've hit a home run." And House Minority
Whip Trent Lott said, "Actually say the moment's passion has saved the day.
This will go down as one of the finest discourses of the former President in the annals of our nation.
Relevance of the historical source