Short Term Impact
After Marcos was ousted from the Philippines, Cory Aquino won the position of President of the Philippines. Democracy was restored in the nation and many basic civil liberties were restored, such as freedom of the press and freedom of speech. One thing that happened during her term was that the Constitution of 1987 was written, which limited the president to a single six-year term.
Some of the members of the RAM led six different coup attempts against the Aquino administration because she didn’t pay attention to the social and economic problems. All of them failed. Despite the revolts, Aquino was known to be a very successful president during her term. This quote is Cory Aquino's Inaugural Address on February 24, 1986:
Some of the members of the RAM led six different coup attempts against the Aquino administration because she didn’t pay attention to the social and economic problems. All of them failed. Despite the revolts, Aquino was known to be a very successful president during her term. This quote is Cory Aquino's Inaugural Address on February 24, 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 the rights and liberties of our people were taken away at midnight twenty years ago, the people should firmly recover those lost rights and liberties in the full light of day."
"Ninoy believed that only the united strength of a people would suffice to overturn a tyranny so evil and so well organized. It took the brutal murder of Ninoy to bring about the unity, the strength, and the phenomenom of People Power. That power, or Lakas ng Bayan, has shattered the dictatorship, protected the honorable military who have chosen freedom, and today has established a government dedicated to the protection and meaningful fulfillment of the people's rights and liberties."
"We became exiled in our land - we, Filipinos, who are at home only in freedom - when Marcos destroyed the Republic fourteen years ago. Through courage and unity, through the power of the people, we are at home again."
"And now, I would like to appeal everybody to work for national reconciliation, which is what Ninoy came back home for. I would like to repeat that I am very magnanimous in victory. So I call on all those countrymen of ours who are not yet with us to join us at the earliest possible time so that together we can rebuild our beautiful country."
"As I always did during the campaign, I would like to end with an appeal for you to continue praying. Let us pray for God's help especially during these days."
- Cory Aquino, Inaugural Address, qtd. in "An Eyewitness History People Power The Philippine Revolution of 1986" pg. 235
Long-term impact
Even though Aquino faced several problems during her presidency, she still helped the nation in restoring democracy. Despite the coup attempts made against Aquino, the government of the Philippines returned to normal and became stabilized. The military also came under civilian control in a matter of time. Fidel Ramos, Aquino's Secretary of Defense, won a fair election against Aquino in 1992. The Philippine's government has mostly become stable since then and is still working on the reforms that are still going on today:
"Despite Edsa and the passing of the years, however, the attainment of freedom and reform, of real democracy and morality in government, will not be instant. Our generation and those after us will still be working towards these ideals in their lifetime. The desired effects of these ideals are even more difficult to achieve: political and economic freedom on one hand, and on the other, reform that means a government that works and functions not only for a few. In other words, freedom from poverty and freedom from corruption - the depredations of those who are more powerful than us."
- Jejomar Binay, Vice President of the Philippines (Source: interaksyon.com)