Module 2.

3: Content and Contextual Analysis of

Non-Textual Primary Source
Document President Corazon Aquino’s Speech Before the Joint Session of the
US Congress
Background of the Author (Cory What information about the author/creator makes him credible in
Aquino and Teodoro Locsin, Jr.) coming up with the source?

To solidify the document's credibility, looking at the authors of the

speech must be done. The authors of the speech were the then
president Cory Aquino who was the face for the EDSA revolution
and has successfully been appointed to replace the dictator
Marcos and the then executive secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. The
firsthand involvement of Locsin in writing the speech and Cory's
delivery of the speech U.S. Congress makes the source credible for
they were present and the proponents of the said event and
speech.
Historical Background of the What were the prevailing situations during the time the account
Document was made or created?

Before the document's creation, the Philippines was facing a

dictatorship under the Marcos regime. The loss of freedom and
various attacks against human rights led to a revolt against Marcos
and his dictatorship. Ninoy Aguino was a prominent figure against
Marcos' dictatorship which led him to be assassinated during his
flight back to the Philippines. This assassination triggered the start
of the revolution against Marcos with the EDSA people power
revolution. Cory being the wife of the late Ninoy Aquino was
favored to become the president by the Filipinos with over a
million signatures solidifying this plea. The peaceful revolution was
a first of its kind and was effective in removing the power of
Marcos. Although freedom was met, the Philippine economy was
suffering due to the corruption and debt left by the past regime
which led to unemployment and shortage in necessities for the
Filipino people.
Content Presentation and What does the document say? What are the significant terms or
Analysis of the Important phrases, events, people, and places mentioned in the document?
Historical Information Found in
the Document. The document highlights the struggle of Cory, her family, and the
Filipino people. She started by acknowledging the speaker,
Senator Thurmond, and the distinguished guests. The first part of
her speech highlights her grief in the loss of her husband. She
highlights her husband's struggle and how his loss pained their
family. His death however, although painful, started a resurrection
of the Filipinos and ignited a passion for freedom and faith in the
 restoration of Philippines democracy. She quoted Archibald
MacLeish who said "Democracy must be defended by arms when
it is attacked with arms and truth when it is attacked by lies. Cory
used this quote not to make it an example but to negate it with
how the Filipinos was able to achieve democracy in a peaceful
manner. She detailed the responsibility she took and how the
Filipinos entrusted this to her. She appealed to the U.S. congress
by detailing how Filipinos, despite needing clothes, food and more
necessities, prioritized their freedom and gave little of what they
have to meet democracy. The state in which Marcos had left the
Philippines was not good for the economy was down and poverty
and unemployment was on a rise. The debt left by Marcos and the
repercussions of his actions are still left to the Filipinos. The
Philippines is unable to build itself again because their resources
was taken away unfairly which is why Cory pleaded for financial
aid to the U.S. congress. Her speech narrates the journey to
freedom against Marcos but also faces the reality of the detriment
that the country was facing at the time.
Contribution and Relevance of What ideas do the document provide in helping us understand
the Document in Understanding about our past as a people?
the Grand Narrative of
Philippine History The speech showed the struggles faced by Cory and The Filipinos.
It told the story of Filipino resiliency and the strength they had.
The document makes us understand what it took in order for us to
achieve the freedom that we have today. It brought to light the
massive negative impact of the regime during and especially after
the revolution. With this document, we are able to understand the
role of the revolution in creating what we have today and how
Filipinos suffered even during and after the Marcos regime and yet
still remained strong to rebuild the Philippines that we have today.

What significant lesson the document provides that are still

significant today?

The EDSA revolution was a first of its kind pivoted the meaning of
a revolution. Filipinos were the first to enact change through the
use of their voices without inflicting violence. The document
highlights this and shows Filipino resiliency. Although facing
numerous problems, Filipinos were able to withstand the difficulty
and garner resources in order to build what they lost. At the hands
of their own kind, they suffered but through the joint power of
everyone they were able to regain their freedom and build the
vision and materialize the Philippines that we have today. The
document leaves us the lesson of resiliency and how our voices are
the most powerful weapon there is.