Lesson 3.

5
1. The speech of Corazon Aquino gave light and hope for the Filipinos to fight the oppression of the
corrupted government. “Still, we fought for honor, and if only for honor, we shall pay. ”She
emphasized that the fight they started was not wasted and it was not a nonsense one. That they,
the Filipinos put up a good fight against the administration. “The task had fallen on my shoulder
to continue offering the democratic alternative to our people.” She took the responsibilities in
taking care and fighting for the sake of freedom of the whole country. And yet, despite all these
serious challenges, not once did Aquino consider declaring martial law. Her stubborn adherence
to the democratic process is all the more notable when one recalls that even as she was fighting
off military rebels, she was also dealing with a fractious Cabinet, long-standing domestic rebellions
and pernicious problems like a bankrupt economy, corruption and poverty which was left behind
by the Marcos regime. She failed to undertake fundamental economic or social reforms, and her
popularity steadily declined as she faced continual outcries over economic injustice and political
corruption. These problems were exacerbated by persistent warfare between the communist
insurgency and a military whose loyalties to Aquino were uncertain. In general, her economic
policies were criticized for being mixed or faltering in the face of mass poverty. Aquino was
succeeded in office by her former defense secretary, Fidel Ramos. In conclusion, Corazon Aquino
was the hope of the country to fight against the dictator but she was unfit and uncapable to make
the right decision needed to run a country.

2. The speech of the former President Corazon Aquino gives us the insights on how Filipinos
struggled to attain freedom and between the insisted resistance from the past have inspired
Filipino revolutionaries in our current era. It also gives clarification about what really happened
during the time of Ninoy Aquino. The document describe the struggles faced by the Aquinos to
help the Philippines achieve freedom. The document also mentioned about the debt incurred by
the former government before Cory Aquino. This speech also shows how the dictatorship
transforms into democratic government. From its president down to its laws, order, and rules.
The document also mentioned the killing of Ninoy Aquino and the terror from torture and
conviction during the Martial Law. It shows the problem faced by Cory Aquino as soon as she
became the President. For instance the poverty and unemployment. The document mentioned
two elections occurred after the death of Ninoy Aquino. His wife participated during the election
and lose in the first election. During the second which is snap election, she became the president
and declares democracy in the country.

3. Using this speech as primary source, we can make a modern narrative of an autobiography which
is more appealing to the modern readers. In writing, we can focus more on the topic at hand
which was the overthrowing of the dictatorship of Marcos, and the fight of the Filipino people
against the oppressive government. We can set aside the formal type of timelines and order which
makes a narrative monotonous and unappealing. With autobiography, we can underline the
emotions and ideals that the people had before, and the fight of the people led by Corazon
Aquino.
4. Critique Paper
“Corazon Aquino’s Speech before the U.S Congress”

In the administration of Corazon Aquino, democracy was restored. Her policies were focused on
human rights and a socially responsible economy. Also, people had the courage to fight for their
freedom. While on the Marcos administration, the military commander has the authority to enforce
laws because of the Martial Law and people didn't have the chance to enjoy their freedom. On the
speech of Corazon C. Aquino, she was referring to Ferdinand E. Marcos when she said that a dictator
imprisoned her husband.

Corazon Aquino view Marcos’s administration that has unjust and inhumane governance. He
was overprotective in his laws that he will lock up those people who speak up for democracy. Before her
presidency, the democracy was not achieved. She said that the country has lost its faith and will to see
its future and founded in a cruel fate without justice.

Yes, she committed biases against Marcos because all she had said was what Marcos did to her
husband. On how Ninoy became a living sacrifice for freedom and how he died in the hands of military
people. Her speech was focused on the wrongdoings of Marcos to gain the sympathy of people. She
takes it personally that she’s so eager for Marcos to be removed from the presidency.

I agree on her proposition to pay the debt of a dictatorship because if the debt is from the
foreign banks, it will be a country's debt not just in the dictator's name. Even though he/she is the one
who makes negotiation, it will be considered committed by the country. So, we need to pay the foreign
debt to sustain the economic growth and to be able to borrow again in the foreseeable future.

On the Martial Law era, there was indignities and terror. They are using violence and the
government has no conscience that they didn't even think twice to put someone in death. I was amazed
when I learned that the former president Corazon C. Aquino was the one who restored our democracy
from the Martial Law era. During her term, she made policies that will benefit the people like giving
them the freedom and right that they deserved and reviving the economy of the country.

In conclusion, even though her administration had many inconsistencies she paved the way in
giving back Filipinos their democracy and freedom back, knowing that Cory Aquino didn't have an
experience of being a president, she did her best that she became the most prominent figure of the
1986 People Power Revolution although she failed in the end and left the country suffering from a
power shortage crisis.