READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

CONTENT AND CONTEXUAL ANALYSIS

SPEECH ANALYSIS

CORAZON AQUINO: UNITED STATES CONGRESS (1986)

Name: MARIANNE DAHNE B. VILLAHERMOSA Date: OCTOBER 17, 2020

Time: Thursday 7:30-8:30 am SSP 112- AB2D

A. Speaker:
Who is the speaker?
- She is a Filipino politician who served as the 11th President and the 1st
Lady President of our country in year 1986-1992. She is Cory Cojuanco
Aquino.
- Born in January 25, 1933 in Tarlac, Philippines.
- Graduated from the College of Mount St. Vincent in New York in the
year 1953 with a Bachelor’s degree in both French and Mathematics.
- Named as the Time Magazine’s Woman of the Year in 1986.

What we need to know or find about the speaker as a person?

- She is proclaimed to be a “plain housewife”

- She is married to Benigno Aquino Jr. of the oppositionist of Former
President Ferdinand Marcos.
- A loving mother to her daughters.
B. Audience and Occasion when the event happened
-The lawmakers of U.S
-Delivered during the Joint Session of U.S congress in September 18, 1986.

C. Problems situated in the Speech

- Democratic government
 - Economic State of the Philippines (GDP) indebted of $24 billon
D. Governing idea running through the Speech
- Delivered 7 months after EDSA Revolution (February 25, 1986)
- Centers on the miserable experiences of the Aquino family
- How the family mourns about their loss
- How the government threated their family
- The speech was impassioned, deeply personal, and effective
E. Positive Feedback of the Speech
- Interrupted 11 times by applause and bookended with standing
ovation
- House Speaker Tip O’Neill called it the “Finest speech I’ve ever heard in
my 34 years In Congress”.
- Senator Majority Leader Robert Dole saying, “Cory, you hit a home
run.”
- House Minority Whip Trent, ‘Let’s just say the emotion of the moment
saved the day.”
F. Perspective of the Speech
- As a victim of Marco’s cruel regime
- AS the Faithful wife of Senator Benigno Aquino
- As the People’s Champion
- As the Mother of Asian Democracy
G. Intent of the Speech
- To declare freedom of the Filipino’s from the Marcos’ regime
- To mark a new beginning for the Filipinos and to its government
- To appeal for financial assistance by informing the Americans about
the Philippine’s state.