Speech

of
Her Excellency Corazon C. Aquino
On her Inauguration as President of the Philippines
[Delivered at Club Filipino, San Juan on February 25, 1986]
My brothers and sisters:
I am grateful for the authority you have given me today. And I promise to offer all that I can do to serve
you.
It is fitting and proper that, as our people lost their rights and liberties at midnight fourteen years ago, the
people should formally recover those lost rights and liberties in the full light of day.
Ninoy believed that only the united strength of the Filipino people would suffice to overturn a tyranny so
evil and so well-organized. The brutal murder of Ninoy created that unity in strength that has come to be
known as Lakas ng Bayanpeople power.
People power shattered the dictatorship, protected those in the military that chose freedom, and today,
has established a government dedicated to this protection and meaningful fulfillment of our rights and
liberties.
We became exiles, we Filipinos who are at home only in freedom, when Marcos destroyed the Republic
fourteen years ago.
Now, by Gods grace and the power of the people, we are free again.
We want to make a special appeal to those who have not yet joined us. Do not engage in any further
action against the people and instead, be among those who will lend a hand to rebuild the country.
Si Mara Corazn Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (ipinanganak bilang Mara Corazn
Sumulong Cojuangco) (25 Enero 1933 1 Agosto 2009
[2]
) na lalong mas kilala sa palayaw na Cory ay
ang ikalabing-isang Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas at kauna-unahang babaeng naluklok sa nasabing
pwesto (25 Pebrero 1986 30 Hunyo 1992). Tinagurian siyang Ina ng Demokrasya dahil sa pagsuporta
niya sa pagpapanumbalik ng demokrasya sa Pilipinas. Ipinanganak siya sa Tarlac kina Jose Cojuangco
Sr. at Demetria Sumulong. Nakapag-aral siya sa Estados Unidos at nakapagtapos nang may digri
sa Wikang Pranses. Siya ay kabiyak ni Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. , ang pinaslang na lider ng oposisyon
noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos. Nailuklok siya sa pamamagitan ng isang
mapayapang rebolusyon (Unang Rebolusyon sa EDSA) noong 25 Pebrero 1986 at ibinalik niya
ang demokrasya sa bansa. Siya ay ina ng artistang si Kris Aquino at ang kasalukuyang Pangulo ng
Pilipinas na si Benigno Aquino III. Pumanaw siya noong 1 Agosto 2009 at inlibing noong ika-5 ng Agosto.