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Former Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino Receives 1996 J.William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding

he awarded the 1996 J.William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding to Corazon TC. Aquino, former president of the Republic of the , on Oct. 11. The prize, which carries a $50,000 cash award, is made possible through a grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation. (continued on page 12) 1996 Fulbri ht Prize Ceremon Honors Fo:

Editor's Note-The following text is excerpted from remarks made by Fulbright Association President Philip 0. Geier and subseqeuently by Douglas N. Daft, president, the Middle and Far East Group, The Coca-Cola Company, at the 1996 J.William Fulbright Prize award ceremony. e are delighted to have all of you join us in honoring one of the Wworld's most significant living women, former Philippine President . The Fulbright Association is the national nonprofit membership organization of former U.S. Fulbrighters which in concert with similar associations around the world exists to serve and perpetuate the Fulbright ideal. Mrs . Aquino and I were just talking minutes ago about the fact that it is the Fulbright Association in the Philippines which is the oldest alumni organization of Fulbrighters in the world, so we are particu­ larly gratified by your being with us today. This is also a very special year in the history of the as we Fulbright Association President Philip 0. Geierand Douglas N. Daft of The Coca-ColaCompany at th the prize award ceremonywith President Aquino. celebrate its 50 anniversary. Most of us remember Senator Fulbright and his vision which we've benefited from, and there are now over 200,000 of us worldwide as Fulbrighters. This year 11 also marks the 10 ' anniversary of Corazon Aquino's election as president of the Philippines, and, I just learned this morning, today is also her 42nd Fulbright wedding anniversary. The Fulbright Prize opens doors of dialogue as does the Fulbright Program, which promotes the exchange of informa­ tion and research, builds networks, and enhances international understanding with the underlying belief that these endeavors will bring us closer to world harmony and peace . It is in this spirit that the Fulbright Prize was created and in previous years awarded to President , President and Chancellor . Our objective is to strengthen the Fulbright ideal by recognizing those in the world whose life and work have made outstanding and exemplary contributions toward bringing peoples, cultures, and nations to a greater level of mutual under­ standing. Introduction of Douglas N. Daft

Philip Geier,Donald R. Greene, president of The Coca-ColaFoundation , and PresidentAquino with We have a partnership with The Coca­ the statue "Tribute." Cola Foundation that is enormously benefi­ cial, I think, to the future of the Fulbright Program and, I hope, to The Coca-Cola Company as well, and it is my pleasure now

2 • rmerPhili ine President Corazon A UlnO

to introduce a member of the Coca-Cola family to you . Douglas N . Daft joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1969 in his home­ town of Sydney, Australia ... He has served in several capacities, spanning , , , , , , and . And in 1991 he moved to the company's headquar­ ters in Atlanta and was named president of the Pacific Group. In 1995 he became presi­ dent of the Middle and Far East Group which includes the Philippines. Remarks of Douglas N. Daft

Through The Coca-Cola Foundation, the men and women of The Coca-Cola Com­ pan y are very proud once again to support the J. William Fulbright Prize for Inter­ national Understanding, And it is my pleasure to be here today with my col­ Philip Geierapplauds Douglas Daft's presentationto PresidentAquino of a casting of the commemora­ league, Tony Amon, who serves on the tive sculpture "Tribute" by Atlanta artist SergioDolfi, a retiredemployee of The Coca-ColaCompany. Fulbright Prize Selection Committee. The woman we honor today, Corazon Aquino, was elected president of the Philippines in 1986, the first woman to serve as a leader of a democratic state in . But Fulbright her legacy far transcends electoral politics. \ i, ~()( )\ )')()"\ Corazon Aquino restored to the 50 million people of the Philippines, leading a peaceful and non-violent revolu­ tion that ended 14 years of repressive mar­ tial law. Her courageous crusade was based on a simple idea with a simple name: "." But that simple idea transformed her nation, lifted the spirits of Filipinos and inspired the world. It is fitting that the Fulbright Association honors Mrs . Aquino in this year, the 10th anniversary of her election. Just think of what the world has seen since then: In a very real sense, it was her "People Power" crusade that launched a worldwide movement. When democracy was restored in , the echoes were clearly heard in Berlin and Moscow and Johannesburg. Mrs. Anton (Lallie)Amon; Anton Amon, a Fulbright Association officerand directorand member of In six years in office Corazon Aquino the 1996 Fulbright Prize Selection Committee;and President Aquino. quickly won passage of a democratic consti­ tution, restored her country's place in the in a new era of freedom, she also brought dent of the Forum of Democratic Leaders, community of nations, and made life better about an economic reform that ushered in a she provides visionary leadership. for her people. She rehabilitated the tattered new era of progress and promise . And I know from my colleagues at the democratic institutions of her country, Throughout her presidency, Mrs. Aquino Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines what a restoring an independent judiciary and worked tirelessly to bring about a better life great honor it has been for them to join with effective legislative and executive branches for the people of the Philippines, young and Mrs. Aquino in promoting the philosophy of government. old, fortunate and unfortunate. She upheld that is her philosophy-people power And perhaps her proudest-perhaps her the rights of women and children . She fought through education. least recognized-achievement came in poverty and created jobs. And she consis­ Corazon Aquino embodies the ideals of 1992, as she concluded her term in office and tently promoted education as the key to the Fulbright Association and the Fulbright handed over the Philippine government to a development, empowerment and a better life. Prize-the vision of bringing people togeth­ duly elected successor, in a peaceful transfer Her crusade continues to this day, through er in peace and understanding. Her courage_ of power. the programs of the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. and her vision have inspired millions, and And just as her political reforms ushered Foundation, which she chairs. As co-presi- she honors us with her presence here today.

3 Senator Pays Tribute to President A uino

During some very chaotictimes in 1985join­ had attended a before ... Our ing Mrs. Aquino in the Philippineswas Senator association became very close when I came Richard Lugar,then chairmanof the Foreign to Washington. He was the longest-serving Relations Committeeand co-chairof the presi­ chairman of the Foreign Relations dential electionobserver group in the Philippines. Committee and took great pride in the two He has representedthe state of Indiana in the years that I served as chairman of the com­ Senate since 1977 and currently mittee. But it is an especially appropriate serves on the Committeeon ForeignRelations situation here in the State Department that and the Select Committeeon Intelligenceas well this award should be given to President as chairsthe Committeeon Agriculture, Aquino today, because in this department Nutrition and Forestryand is co-chairmanof the so much occurred that made possible our Arms Control ObserverGroup. Throughouthis re-evaluation of our foreign policy in the years in the Senate, Senator Lugar has beena Philippines and the very strong support of strong supporterof the FulbrightProgram and, the election of Corazon Aquino, however, in fact, is, as is PresidentClinton, a Rhodes which was clearly in dispute at that time. scholar. I've mentioned my short tenure as chair­ -from Philip Geier'sintroduction of Senator man of the [Foreign Relations] Committee, Lugar and it was fortuitous that those were the Senator Richard Lugar years-1985 and 1986-in which this Editor's Note: The following is a transcript occurred. Fairly early in 1985, we had anybody in the world who wants to come of Senator Lugar's remarks. testimony from the State Department and and observe it-especially you people in from our Department of Defense-conspic­ the United States. And you will see that ow appropriate it is that the uous testimony by Paul Wolfowitz and I'm going to win it, and I'm going to win it Fulbright Association, named in Richard Armitage-as they outlined grow­ big, and democracy will be served." H honor of a great senator and states­ ing debate within those two departments At that point, the wheels began to move men-as has been mentioned by Phil as to where our interests lay and where in our committee and within the Reagan Geier, a man for whom our president Bill they ought to lie in the future. We were administration and particularly in the Clinton worked and gained so much and a sensitized, both as a committee and as a minds of Secretary George Shultz and of gentleman with whom I corresponded as a Congress, and as a public, that we had Steve Bosworth, our great ambassador out student at Pembroke College, Oxford, the some hard choices ahead of us. there on the point. And without going very same college that Senator Fulbright What we could not have imagined was through all of the detail of what occurred, that the focus an observer group was named. I was co­ of this debate chairman with John Murtha, distinguished in our coun­ congressman who still serves the state of try might Pennsylvania. lead With a host of about 30 distinguished President Americans assembled to go to all parts of Marcos to the Philippines, we negotiated with the call the snap Marcos administration on such things as election how close we could get to the voting which he did booths. A strange law was adopted shortly on the before we were underway that 150 feet Brinkley would be our distance. Then we said we program on a won't come under those circumstances and Sunday after­ to the end Marcos was so eager for us to noon in come that essentially almost all of the rules November and stipulations we suggested they acced­ and in ed to, understanding that 30 people in the essence, chal­ midst of that vast country were unlikely to lenged us to see a whole lot. We proceeded and, in fact, put up or had an experience that is indelible in my shut up. The memory and, I think, that of our honoree input of that today. particular Let me just say that the election was one program was in which our intelligence people told me to say, "I'm before I went that President Aquino would calling a be the winner if, in fact, all the votes were special elec­ counted-at least it was beyond what we tion and I ask (continued on page 10) President Aquino receivescongratulations from Senator Richard Lugar.

4 ..

Fulbright Prize Address Corazon Aquino Speaks to Fulbrighters am greatly honored yet deeply humbled to receive this award. For I am preced­ I ed in this distinction by one who took upon himself, what seemed for centuries, the impossible struggle of a people for equality, dignity and freedom in their own country. Nelson Mandela fought, not just a foe of freedom but the enemy of humanity itself. Racial prejudice exceeds all the evil that men can do to one another. Beyond the denial of rights and the suppression of liberties, racism seeks to cancel the human­ ity of its victims. And makes them mere things in their own eyes. The dictatorships of the left and the right, at least, paid to liberty the same homage that vice pays to virtue in hypocrisy. They suppressed liberty only for its own good in the name of national security. But with racism, there is only the naked assertion that some are masters and others less than men. It was this twisted moral order, far worse than an oppressive government, that Nelson Mandela van­ Fulbright quished, so that when he danced on the stage of his inaugural as the first black \ .i.., \ 0 (. I .\ I I O \ president of , good men and women throughout the world followed his steps. And he achieved this, not by force but with reason; never with hate but with , I husband and never questioned his decision the gate of his maximum security prison, think, something like love; not with recrim­ to stand alone in defense of a dead democ­ with his food and his books-when they inations but with an unyielding resolve racy against an arrogant dictatorship allowed it-and with forced smiles from never to look back in anger but forward , enjoying the support of the United States. our children and myself . with the enemy of his people, to the time As a housewife, I never missed a chance Thanks to the intervention of the U.S. when they can regard each other as one. to be with my husband when his jailers State Department under President Carter He had fought another fight altogether­ permitted it. Nor gave up looking for him the death sentence passed on him by the unique already in a world that had for­ one day when he was taken away, no one military court was suspended and my hus­ sworn racism everywhere else. could tell me where. band went into exile in the United States. I I fought a more conventional war-but As a housewife, I never chided him for joined him, of course. They were the three one perhaps with a wider relevance in the the troubles he brought on my family and happiest years of our lives together. age of dictators just past, but which seems their businesses; nor, I must add, did my But just when I was getting used to hav­ to be returning again with the caudillos. family complain. For they saw that his ing him to myself ... indeed, just when our loved him very much and indeed, youngest, who was a year old when he "Just a Housewife" they loved him, too. was detained, was basking in the special And when he challenged affection he lavished on her to make up for It has crossed my mind that this award from his prison cell for the same seat in the time he had lost ... I lost him again. He might have come when I was the leader of parliament, I took his place in the cam­ returned to our country, against the advice an embattled democracy, to impress its paign. I, who hadn't the experience on a of his friends and the warning of his worst enemies that Philippine freedom had political stage, nor entertained much hope enemy. important friends abroad. But I am happy that he would make it. Yet, how could I that this award comes when I am again an doubt his wisdom at the end, when, on the Color of Courage ordinary person. After all, it all began with eve of a surely rigged election, the coun­ an ordinary person, placed by Providence try's capital city exploded in a deafening I followed a few days later, no longer as at the head of quite ordinary people like noise barrage in his name . a housewife but as a widow to lay his body herself. As a housewife, I held his hand as the in the grave. A military escort had shot I am not a hero like Mandela. The best life drained out of him in a self-imposed him in the back of the head, in the midst of description for me might, after all, be that fast of 40 days, to a fine legal point more than 1,000 soldiers sent out to arrest of my critics who said: She is just a plain about the civilian jurisdiction of a military him. housewife. court. It was the greatest funeral since Gandhi. Indeed, as a housewife, I stood by my For seven and a half years, I sat outside An estimated two million people lined the

5 streets of from the church to the because I promised him no more than a graveyard. The coffin, on a flatbed truck, single ballot in return. was followed by thousands of the most On the night of a bloody election 1 while militant self-recruited supporters of his he prepared his victory statement, I read cause. All had answered his call when his mine on the air. mouth could no longer speak. His rubber-stamp parliament immediate­ The government shut down public trans­ ly convened to declare him the winner. portation to discourage people from going The people staged a mammoth rally to out, but the people came out. The govern­ proclaim me instead. European ment sent out buses when rain started to Community ambassadors came to me to pour, to show its concern, but the people congratulate on her victory the officially would not ride. defeated candidate . I mention this fact to Everyone wore a strip of yellow fabric, show how crucial to the morale of a free­ instead of the customary black. They came dom movement is international support of from the yellow ribbons tied around trees its cause. A point we should bear in mind and lamp posts for his return. Ninoy as the freedom struggle of Burma comes to Aquino had made yellow the color of a head . courage . There were other foreign friends of free­ That night, the dictator lost the country's dom at the rebirth of Philippine democra­ capital and never got it back again. cy. Congressman never Demonstrations would continue, and grow wavered in his devotion to the democratic in size and boldness, over the next three cause in the Philippines 1 even when it years, coming to a head in the Snap looked most forlorn. Senator Kerry stood Thirteen years of fighting Marcos had Election campaign. guard by the women tabulators who had turned the communists into a formidable staged a walkout on the cheating being force enjoying the distant admiration of the International Supporters done at the computer center of the nation. Nobody wanted the communists

Commission on Elections. Secretary of to win 1 but almost everybody wanted the By then there was another description of State George Shultz convinced the U.S. Marcos government to lose. me. Perhaps because he grew uneasy call­ President that this time a policy that was According to U.S. analysts 1 the commu­ ing me the widow he had made, President morally right coincided with the geopoli­ nists had not suffered a defeat in years and Marcos turned to calling me "just a tics of realism . Senator Richard Lugar fought the dictatorship to a stand still. But woman" instead, whose place was in the convinced him that it was time to cut a the communists made the mistake of boy­ bedroom . dictatorship loose and take a chance with cotting the elections. I was fortunate; the Fine, I said; the next time I appeared democracy in fighting communism. The communist insurgency problem all but before a mammoth crowd of supporters, I support shown by others like them, too dissolved itself with the return of democra­ would do my nails first. But he, I coun­ many to name here , needs to be mentioned cy. The communists committed the strate­ tered, was just a coward and a lonely one now because of events in Burma. Such gic error of boycotting the , at that. A coward for threatening to take concern and concerted action by the which they regarded as a trap . As a result, me out with a single bullet; and a loser, friends of democracy do count in the final when the curtain came down on the

political equation. Marcos regime 1 they were nowhere to be President Reagan sent a special envoy to seen on the political stage. broker a truce and offer a compromise. I While democracy undermined commu­ could have any position in the Marcos nist threat, it lay open to military .1lbright government or spend the rest of my days challenge. The right-wing of the military , t) C I \TIO 1' trying to topple it in vain. Basically, I was very much on center stage . Because wanted what I won in the presidential its mutiny had triggered the collapse of the

election or else 1 no matter how long it old government it expected to have a sig­ would take, I would not stop until the gov­ nificant share of the power in the new . ernment fell. I called for a civil disobedi­ ence movement and the boycott of all Rebuilding Democracy businesses linked to the cronies of the dic­ tator. That was out of the question. My first Within two weeks, the government fell, task was to rebuild democracy. And a between a massive gathering of people democracy consists of a separate legisla­ power and the military mutiny it went out ture, an independent judiciary and one to protect . president. There was just no room for a junta . And you know how women feel New Presidency about uninvited guests. Perhaps the military were also envious As president, I faced three major tasks: that in the first year of my term, I ruled by rebuilding democracy, reviving the econo­ decree. This was necessary to abolish the Fulbright Association DirectorEmeritus John my, and ending the communist rubber-stamp parliament, sequester stolen

Hurford, who chairs the association'sPrize insurgency-the longest running of its 1 annul the Marcos , pare

Committee1 and President Aquino. kind in the world. down the powers of the president and

6 sweep the judiciary clean. Each law I pro­ St. Paul says that suffering produces countries of the world. One can believe in mulgated diminished my powers until, perseverance; perseverance character; and a dictatorship; a few in an oligarchy; but with the last decree, I stripped myself of character hope . All the good we do seems only to democracy can the many, in reason, the power to legislate . Could I have trust­ lost, but never really is. Some of it adhere. ed the military to share so much power remains, perhaps a deeper view of life and with me? what it entails. And we are left with a Democracy's Glory I hoped to govern, not from the top more practiced hand to rebuild again, who down, but from the bottom up, by consul­ knows but maybe better the second time I ended my term with less exhilaration tation. I wanted people to have a real around. Above all, it leaves us with a spirit but more circumspection than I began it. sense of what it is like to govern made stronger for greater challenges in the I realized that I could have made things themselves , to live out, and not just live future, by that which failed to break us in easier for myself if I had done the popular under , the democracy they had put back in the past. things, rather than the painful but better place. It seemed that in one thing only were we ones in the long run . After all, in the long Sadly, this only created a sense of drift, growing from strength to strength: in the run, I wouldn't be around to be blamed . and a formless fear that government was enlargement of our democratic space and I could have invited the military to share losing its grip. After defeating the first the strengthening of our democracy. But, in the government, rather than keeping major coup attempt, I constituted the presi­ altogether, the country was well on its way. them out and fighting them off to the dis­ dency into a Committee of One, taking full array of the economy. But I was called to charge of every detail of the government. Empowering People restore a democracy, not divide up a coun­ It was a step forward in political stability, try as spoils. but a step back in political maturity. I I thought again of how it had started, I could have put pressure on the courts would have to postpone the empowerment what I had seen, and how much people when they favored the enemies of democ­ of the people for a later time . power had achieved all by itself. I thought racy, but I felt that the best protection for I pushed ahead with major, and some­ that, not just democracy but the economy freedom must lie in strong and indepen­ times painful, economic measures to itself might be rebuilt, and social institu­ dent courts. restructure the Philippine economy, settle tions reformed, by calling again on the I sued a newspaper for libel but never its enormous and largely stolen foreign power that made the country free. used my office to advance my cause. I lost debt, and get it moving forward again. But empowering people means more the case. In the next five years, the country would than just giving them elections. It means I could have rolled back prices with a be shaken by a massive earthquake and enlarging their contact with government, single word, but I would have distorted covered with ash by the eruption of Mount and habituating them to the direction of the painful wisdom of free markets which Pinatubo. Three major areas of the country their own affairs. People empowerment, keep, it is alleged, economies on the right were wiped off the economic map and the by direct participation in government or by track. temperature of the planet dropped by a full indirect involvement through NGOs, was I couldn't adopt the ideal solutions pro­ degree. People who said that the peaceful the surest means of making government posed by those who had the luxury of pri­ which restored mirror the aspirations of the many rather vate life. Quite often, official actions were democracy was a gift of God began to than merely advance the interests of the dictated by the pressing realities of the wonder about Him and His habits of giv­ few. moment. ing . It is on the work of people empower­ I could have rigged the 1992 elections for Yet, after every setback, the economy ment that I now devote the greater portion rallied, and ground painstakingly won and of my time; particularly through the swiftly lost, was taken again. On the verge Institute for People Power and of a second economic take-off in 1989, the Development of the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. military right-wing launched its last and Foundation. Its aim is to put in the hands most destructive coup attempt. The event of ordinary peop le the quite ordinary, but drained the last drop of confidence in our organized, means of effecting major future from all but the hardiest spirits at changes in their lives. home, and shattered the image of our sta­ This was the force that toppled dictator­ bility abroad. ships and tore down the Berlin Wall. Can Yet we persevered, and achieved gains it be made to build up? that, admittedly, fell short of the fast-grow­ In the past, the idea was to give the peo­ ing needs of a too-quickly growing popula­ ple just enough political power to make a tion. But they were real and substantial mistake at the polls; in the future, the idea gains nonetheless: improved health care, should be to empower them to decide more housing , more classrooms and free meaningfully, and throw the full weight of secondary education. their numbers behind their choice. We made the first serious effort to arrest Authoritarian government is said to be environmental degradation, and pushed the Asian formula for success. But we may agrarian reform beyond the point of no yet prove that people power can achieve, return. But each step forward covered perhaps more slowly, but more lasting and familiar ground. Who could help but more widely beneficial effects. Democracy Stanley N. Katz, president of the American despair that we might be running in cir­ in the end, is the best system for ordinary Council of LearnedSocieties and chairmanof cles? Many wondered if it was worth it to people. It is the only one that exalts them the 1996 Fulbright Prize SelectionCommittee, try again and again. and unites them in peace across all the and PresidentAquino.

7 my successor. Instead, I directed the chiefs companionship - are the most to be trusted of the military to do the country proud by with uncommon authority. The most per­ assuring a fair and free election, whatever ceptive of my officials knew I would not the result. use the constitutional loophole to seek Better still, I could have run myself. The another term, when I expressed the wish to constitutional limitation of a single presi­ travel before I was too old to enjoy it. dential term did not apply to me; I had Thus, one true leader looks forward to taken office under the old constitution. But friendships he was denied as a prisoner that limitation was a cornerstone of the then and as president now. And President new constitution I had caused to be drafted Aristide stepped down at the end of a term and for which I vigorously campaigned. that was mostly used up by a junta . How could I serve as the first example of Such individuals know that the office its moral violation? does not make the man, but the other way June 30, 1992, was, therefore, one of the around. That it is strengthened by the proudest moments of my life. I was step­ forbearance of the incumbent, and ping down and handing the presidency to becomes more deeply respected when he my duly elected successor. This was what willingly parts with it at the appointed my husband had died for; he had returned time. No one can ever be so important, so precisely to forestall an illegal political suc­ indispensable, as to call for a change in the and gaining democracy for his South cession. This moment is democracy's glory: constitutional scheme of things for his own Africa must have been multiplied a hun­ the peaceful transfer of power without sake alone. dredfold for every minute spent in prison . bloodshed, in strict accordance with law. So it is with sadness that I view aspiring There are still a number of leaders who As I left the palace for the last time, the caudilloswho believe that they will become have not lost their will to fight, who still sentry at the gate gave a final salute to his great by holding on, beyond their terms, to display the proud perseverance to win commander-in-chief . With the exception of power. As though power alone defines their country's freedom. We cannot help my predecessor, no president had been so their sense of self-worth. Some of us could but think of Burma and Aung Sang Suu deeply involved with the military as I had have done the same , with more justifica­ Kyi. been. But there was this distinction tion. But we would be much lesser beings Each national experience of winning between us: I had treated the military with if we succeeded or even tried. freedom is unique . But I offer my coun­ trust and respect, and left it with honor . try's story for the hope it offers, in whatev­ When the story of the many coup attempts Triumph of Perseverance & Hope er measure, of the triumph of perseverance against the young Philippine democracy is and hope. told, the treason of a few will be seen My parents, especially my mother, My deepest appreciation and heartfelt against the backdrop of the majority who taught me the value of hard work and to thanks to the Fulbright Association for this held firm . They repaid my compliment persevere in whatever it is that I set out to great honor, at this time in my life. It will with loyalty . do. And from my father, I learned what send the message to my people and to kindness, patience and humility are all other peoples less fortunate than they, in Common Pleasures about. Burma and other places. The message is When I married Ninoy, my conscious that the struggle never ends, the work is When my presidency ended in 1992, I world went beyond that of the family and never finished, nor does the task devolve gave myself a few months to do what I told the family business . I married a dedicated mainly on the great. It belongs rather to people I wanted to do-travel and enjoy politician in the best sense of the word, a ordinary people, the improvement of my grandchildren. worker in politics. He, too, taught me to whose lives is this Prize's main concern. I find that those who keep sight of com­ persevere in a good cause. I was lucky, for Today is my wedding anniversary, which mon pleasures-family, friends , travel and although he died before his persistence brings to mind the other half who may paid off, I lived to see it happen . well be here and the words of a moving When I look back now on all those poem for J. William Fulbright: years-waiting outside the prison to see my husband, waiting in the house in "Then think that every time, alonein darkness, for the confirmation of his death, someone finds the courageto takea stand waiting for the dictator to blink in our face­ againstthe arroganceof power or lifts off (because I certainly wouldn't), facing one hesitant hand down the military rebels-I realize how really hard it is to come by freedom and againstthe tyranny of mad momentum, democracy. And that it is mainly by perse­ thereis a monument. And there. And there." verance that one is won and the other is kept. Two statues stand in different squares, Some leaders, like Mr. Mandela, had to one in Arkansas, the other in my country; fight much longer for them. He had to the distance and the years between them suffer personally much more, too. Twenty­ gone . One is of a man who worked to seven years as a prisoner in pitch-black make the human spirit nobler, and the confinement or in the bright blinding other of one who showed it could be done. wastes of the South African pit mines. But Thank you again for this great honor, the sweet taste of winning back freedom and God bless you all.

8 • Corazon C. A UlllO

s president of the Republic of the martyr in the Philippines' struggle for For furthering the aspirations of her peo­ Philippines from 1986 to 1992, democracy. Senator Aquino, the Opposition ple for a just society and for a better life A Corazon Aquino led her leader at the time of his death, had been the while honoring Senator Aquino's memory, country's difficult transition first person jailed upon the declaration of Cory Aquino has been conferred 16 hon­ from dictatorship to democ- orary degrees by universities in the racy. After re-establishing Philippines and in Hong Kong, , democratic institutions, her Japan, Taiwan, administration made them and the U.S. She work, bringing about sub- was named Time stantive economic and Magazine's social reforms . Through Woman of the great personal courage and Year for 1986. an unwavering commit­ The_:Fuf.inght fllssociation Following her ment to non-violence, she administration's successfully served her ts prout[tv present international initia­ term in office and tives on human presided over the peace­ rights and on issues ful and orderly transfer of affecting women, power to her duly elected 'Tlie.J. 'Wil[l children, and the successor President Fidel z zam!Fulbright Prize family, Cory Aquino V. Ramos. for I nternationa['lJ-f- now serves as co­ Born in Manila on ' merstancfing president of the , 1933, Cory Forum of Democratic Aquino was educated in Leaders with Oscar exclusive girls' schools Arias of Costa Rica, there before she left for t.o Sonja Gandhi of the U.S. where she , and Kim Dae­ completed her high Jung of . school and college Her leadership and education. Her father her example have been was a three-term con- (7111 - recognized by the gressman. Her moth­ CorazonC Martin Luther King Jr. • ./1_ Ulno er, a pharmacist, was 1 Non-violent Peace the daughter of a Presidentof the rp Prize, the United senator. Y ..,\fpufj[icof the p1: ·,-_. . Nations Development Cory Aquino grad­ -:; ntitppznes Fund for Women's Noel uated with a (1986-1992) Award for Political Leadership, and the 1993 degree from the Special Peace Award College of Mount from the Aurora Aragon Saint Vincent in Octvber11/ 1996 Quezon Peace Awards New York where and Concerned Women of she majored in the Philippines, among French and other distinctions. minored in mathe­ In recognitionof Cory Aquino now serves matics. Upon her as chairperson of the return to the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Philippines, she her contrz°fjutionstv Foundation, which awards pursued studies /urtlie. scholarships for education in law which she nngmutua[ Understanding and develops linkages for discontinued non-governmental organiza­ upon her mar- amongpeoples tions to improve the quality riage to Benigno of life for Filipinos. She is S. Aquino, Jr. also chairperson of the Board of Advisors of the Metrobank was blessed Foundation and serves as Thewith marriage four honorary chairperson of the daughters and one son,:~=:=------~~~ and Mrs. ~~~~:~~=~~~~_J Philippine National Aquino is now the proud grandmother of Centennial Commission, of the five grandsons and two granddaughters. in 1972. He suffered incarcera­ Foundation for Clean The late Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., tion in a military camp for seven years and Elections, of the Sulung was assassinated on August 21, 1983, at the seven months, with only a brief respite in Foundation, and of the Piso't Manila International Airport, becoming a the U.S. to undergo heart surgery. Puso ng Foundation.

9 Senator Lugar Pays Tribute to President Aquino (continued from page4) call now in our election campaigns the margin of error. But, they indicated to me, she would not be the winner. I had to understand the realpolitik of the situation. It was simply not in the cards, given the Fulhright nature of the way the election was going to \ "'-. n< I\ I IO"\ be conducted, despite all of our best efforts to observe and to editorialize. And indeed, as the election approached, a very large number of people were disenfranchised and suddenly strange machinations occurred as some polls reported votes of 4QOto O and other things to which I've become accustomed in some of our own elections in Indiana (laughter). We were prepared for the challenge. We were not prepared, I suspect, for the aftermath. We made our report while still in the Philippines and with a cable from George Shultz in hand, "Come back as soon as possible ." As in the parlance of the game , do not pass go, do not collect $200, come directly to the White House because the secretary intimated there was a Senator Lugar and President Aquino with the commemorativesculpture "Tribute" by Sergio Dolfi. great debate going on. There were those who shall remain nameless who were sug­ become a candidate in mid-December of accuracy, when I visited Indonesia later in gesting that President Aquino ought to the previous year . It was nearly miracu­ 1986 that President Suharto sat me down accept the Good Sportsmanship Award. In lous, for those of you who have followed and lectured me for 30 minutes on how he essence a good faith attempt had been Philippine politics, that somehow the can­ was a grass-roots politician, coming up made. Two parties had been established . didacy became a single challenge to through the democratic route, so we would It hadn't quite worked out for her on this Marcos, because it would not have been not get any ideas while we were visiting occasion, but there was still another elec­ successful had there been ... a number of Jakarta (laughter). tion to go. candidates . This award recognizes a world-class For a variety of reasons, this was very That she was available was a testament achievement, an achievement of courage in unsatisfactory to our honoree today to to her courage. She did not choose to run. the Philippines, a person who had not only accept that particular verdict. I spoke In fact, even given the martyrdom of her to serve but to endure six coups, and they directly to President Reagan in the Oval husband Benigno and given all the circum­ were serious. They could have resulted in Office and described, in my best attempt, stances in which she really wanted justice, her loss of life and that of her family and what had happened. But the president that she herself admitted she was ill-prepared loss of Philippine democracy. evening had a nationally televised press in terms of all the gamut of issues, the She stayed the course. She made possi­ conference-the first one he had had in problems of handling not only the national ble a free and fair election of her successor. months-six questions on the Philippines press in the Philippines, but by then the And what a great successor he is-a great and one which caught the attention of international press . That election in ally of President Aquino and a friend of the President Aquino was one about cheating February of 1986 was covered by more United States, really throughout his and fraud and abuse. President Reagan press than any other election of a five-year career-President Ramos. She made possi­ said there appeared to be fraud and abuse period of time, save our elections here in ble a vision in our own country of ways in on both sides . President Aquino told our the United States. which our foreign policy could be geared ambassador, "This is simply not so," and And the ultimate judgment of that elec­ to celebrate democracy and to fight author­ was prepared really to demonstrate that by tion, by our friends not only in Asia-in itarianism of the right as well as totalitari­ taking hundreds of thousands of people in South Korea-but in Latin America, was anism of the left-both equally, vigorously . regular demonstrations to the streets . that there had been a change in our foreign I am so grateful that she is not only alive Without going through everything that policy, and President Reagan enunciated but happy-assured today by her own occurred subsequently, let me just say that that in a speech to the Congress not long testimony-living in the same neighbor­ by Saturday President Reagan had come to thereafter in which he said that our policy hood, the same friends and neighbors. a different evaluation, that the election had will now be to fight totalitarianism of the And she surely is in the right neighbor­ been fraudulent, indeed, to a grave extent left and authoritarianism of the right hood here today in the United States State and set in motion events which led to equally, evenhandedly, both-not that one Department with the Fulbright President Marcos being spirited out of the is more of a problem than the other . That Association. It is an extreme honor to be country through and President was a change, and it was noted by people with her on this occasion and to salute her Aquino being sworn in as president. in Guatemala, in Nicaragua, in El Salvador, again and to indicate that ten years ago the As we visited this morning, I reminded in many other places of the earth far away EDSA revolution for her and for me was, her that's the exciting part but then you from the Philippines . It was certainly not­ I'm sure, one of the most significant days have to serve. And serve, indeed, she did . ed in South Korea in a hurry, and I will of our lives. And we're grateful that so It was magnificent that she agreed to point out, just for the sake of historical many have celebrated it again and again.

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11 Fonner Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino Receives 1996 Fulbright Prize (continuedfrom page1) "President Aquino has emboldened oth­ Dr. Katz noted that President Aquino, Papandreou, minister of development for ers in her region and around the world to the first woman to receive the Fulbright the Hellenic Republic; and the Right believe that honesty, determination and Prize, "is a living exemplar of the capacity Reverend Sir Paul Reeves, former governor adherence to constitutionalism are the of individuals to bear witness to principle general of New Zealand (1985-1990). means to achieve social and political tran­ by means of unadorned personal courage President Aquino is co-president of the quillity," said Dr. Stanley N . Katz, presi­ and commitment. Her steadfast adherence Forum of Democratic Leaders with Nobel dent of the American Council of Learned to the ideals of domestic peace and interna­ laureate and former Costa Rican President Societies and chairman of the international tional understanding has brought the Oscar Arias, Sonja Gandhi of India, and prize selection committee convened by the Philippines far down the road of peaceful Kim Dae-Jung, a South Korean human Fulbright Association. transition to democracy." rights and democracy leader. President The J. William Fulbright Prize for In 1986, Corazon Aquino rallied public Aquino also serves as chairperson of the International Understanding was created by support for democracy through a non­ Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation, which the Fulbright Association in 1993 to recog­ violent "People Power" revolution, ending awards scholarships for education and nize individuals who have made extraordi­ 14 years of martial rule in the Philippines. develops linkages for non-governmental nary contributions toward bringing peoples, She carried this momentum into her presi­ organizations to improve the quality of life cultures or nations to greater understanding dency and created a new constitution, for Filipinos. of others. Previous recipients of the prize which was written and approved less than The Fulbright Association is a private, are South African President Nelson R. a year after she assumed office. President non-profit organization that supports and Mandela in 1993, former U.S. President Aquino's leadership also brought the promotes the Fulbright Program, the inter­ Jimmy Carter in 1994, and Austrian Federal restoration of democratic institutions, national educational and cultural exchange Chancellor Franz Vranitzky in 1995. including an independent judiciary and program created 51 years ago through "President Aquino's tireless efforts to effective legislative and executive branches legislation sponsored by the late Senator J. create a just and fair government in the of government. She successfully finished William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Philippines have earned her respect and her six-year term in spite of seven attempt­ Fulbright Association also runs educational international recognition as a leader of ed coups d'etat by military rebels. and cultural programs for foreign vision and character," said Dr. Philip 0. For her political and social triumphs, Fulbright scholars during their U.S. stay, Geier, president of the Armand Hammer President Aquino was named "Woman of linking them with U.S. Fulbright alumni, United World College and president of the the Year" by Time Magazine in 1986 and and collaborates with 50 Fulbright alumni Fulbright Association's Board of Directors. was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. organizations abroad. "Ten years after her election to the presi­ Non-Violent Peace Prize in 1987, among The Philippine Fulbright Scholars dency, we honor Mrs. Aquino's accom­ other distinctions. Association is the oldest Fulbright alumni plishments in restoring the Philippines' Serving on the committee that selected organization in the world and has been place among the community of democratic President Aquino for the 1996 Fulbright active in projects that benefit Philippine nations and, in her private life, in working Prize were Dr. Katz; Dr. Anton Amon, a society. Since Fulbright exchanges through the Forum of Democratic Leaders Fulbright Association director and senior between the U.S. and the Philippines and in other ways to promote peace and vice president, The Coca-Cola Company; began, approximately 1,700 Filipinos and understanding. We also celebrate the first Mr. Pablo Antonio Cuadra, poet and direc­ 600 U.S. citizens have participated. time Asia is represented among the recipi­ tor of the Nicaraguan independent daily Worldwide there are now more than ents of this award." newspaper, La Prensa;Ms. Vasso 200,000 alumni of the Fulbright Program.

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