Corazon Aquino's Speech to the U.S. Congress Study Notes

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key people, historical dates, economic figures, and themes of President Corazon Aquino's 1986 speech before the U.S. Congress.

Corazon C. Aquino

The first Filipino president to address the U.S. Congress after the People Power Revolution on September 18, 1986.

August 21, 1983

The date Ninoy Aquino was assassinated at the Manila Airport upon his return from exile.

September 18, 1986

The date President Corazon Aquino delivered her historic address before the U.S. Congress.

40-day hunger strike

A protest action undertaken by Ninoy Aquino during his imprisonment in a tiny, airless cell under the Marcos regime.

2 million

The number of people who escorted Ninoy Aquino to his grave following his assassination.

People Power Revolution

The 1986 event triggered by a fraud-marked snap election that led to the ousting of the Marcos dictatorship.

$$26\text{ billion}$$

The total foreign debt inherited by the Aquino administration from the corrupt Marcos regime.

Limited Revolution

Aquino's strategy of choosing peace and constitutional restoration over violent revenge against Marcos loyalists.

Communist Insurgency (Marcos vs. Aquino)

The movement grew from less than $500$ fighters under Marcos's military-first strategy to over $16,000$ fighters by the late 1980s.

Interest Payment Burden

A major economic dilemma where half of export earnings ($\text{or } 2 \text{ billion out of } 4 \text{ billion dollars}$) went strictly toward interest on inherited debt.

Reconciliation

A key theme of the speech defined by the quote: "In giving, we receive; in losing, we find; and out of defeat, we snatched our victory."

Insurgency Approach

Aquino's "peace first, force if necessary" policy which contrasted with Marcos's "force-first" approach.

Sacrifice

The theme represented by Ninoy Aquino's ordeal, characterized by the quote: "His death was my country's resurrection."

Aquino's Four Requests

The specific appeals made to the U.S. for cooperation, economic assistance, strategic understanding, and partnership in building democracy.

Bill of Rights

A core feature of the new Constitution restored by Aquino to protect Filipino civil liberties.