Fulfilling all her hopes and dreams

Press, 22 July 1986, Page 20

Fulfilling all her hopes and dreams

The Philippine presidency:

Ch’ng Poh Tiong: Mrs President, you have said you will only be a oneterm president Why have you made that decision?

President Aquino: I’m not a traditional politician, and really only thought of myself as a candidate for the snap elections.

(Called suddenly by former President Marcos on November 3, 1985.) Do you forsee any circumstances where you may decide to serve another term, or perhaps form a political party?

I’ve been told not to answer that. (Laughter) What I can say is, I will answer that when the situation arises.

What countries would you consider the Philippine’s strongest supporters and allies since you became President? If you were to judge by the economic assistance given us so far, — the Asian Development Bank has given us a SUSIOOM loan, and Australia has given sAust2sM. Smaller countries like New Zealand have also given us assistance, specifically with our immunisation programme. Aside from all that, West Germany, has also been assisting us. Of course, our main supporters are the United States and Japan, and I would hope that we would be receiving the assistance promised us. People Power has become an inspiration for many people around the world, not least in one of your not-too-distant neighbours, South Korea. Do you see a relevance for People Power in a global context? If they find inspiration in what we did in February, certainly we the Filipino people would be most flattered. But I guess people are different everywhere, and I think it

was something really unique. At the same time, I hope that maybe people elsewhere who would like to change authoritarian leadership would also be as successful as we were.

But now I am President of this country, I have to remind myself that there are such things as diplomatic relations. So I guess I can just hope that everybody will achieve their goals through peaceful and non-violent means.

I would like qur People Power to be a role model for peaceful and nonviolent revolutions. How much time does your job take you away from your role as a mother to your children? I feel I am not really a mother anymore. Now, except for my oldest daughter who acts also as one of my secretaries, the rest leave me notes on the door.

I try my best to have dinner with everybody, but sometimes ttiat isn’t

President Corazon Aquino came to power in » the Philippines in March. She led a growing wave of popular rebellion against the Marcos regime after her husband, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, leader of the country’s Opposition, was murdered.

In a recent, exclusive interview, Ch’ng Poh Tiong found her "very Impressive, indeed — confident, sincere, and very strong.”

possible either. But we do try to make time at least once a week for all the members of the family. This is your first job, the Presidency? Well yes. It’s my first job apart from the family business because before I was employed by the family. (President Aquino is a Cojuangco, a wealthy family of Chinese origins in the Philippines.)

Rm

I’ve never been employed by a non-family business because I had a male chauvinist husband (laughter). When we got married, Ninoy (Benigno Aquino) said that he would take care of supporting the family and my job was taking care of the children. If I wanted to take care of supporting the family, then he would take care of the children. That was his counter-pro-posal.

You seem to enjoy being a President. I’m glad I give that impression. It’s not a mat-

CH’NG iS POH TIONG

ter of enjoying it It’s a . matter of fulfilling one’s 1 hopes and desires. Hon- • estly, I cannot say that : I’m really enjoying what J I’m doing, ; but if I give ' that impression then well ’ and good. It’s more asense of obligation. ’ $ One can’t help but notice that on the one; hand you are a woman« President, , but that:; women are still exploited , and oppressed in the g Philippines.- Prostitution;; and child 1 prostitution • continue. ;Are there' greater expectations of - you to solve these problems?

Yes, because one of the; reasons for prostitution is ‘ the economic crisis we’re, undergoing. So, hopefully,;, once we start on our? economic recovery programme and we are able to generate more jobs for ' the people, then we will * be able to minimise pros- ; titution. : ■ It has been /reported t that the Marcoses siphoned quite substantial? wealth to Singapore, in-1 eluding ownership of pro- > perties in that country.; How do you hope to re- i cover this money and • property? (The Japanese news-; paper “Yomiuri Shim- J bun,” reported one bank aaccount alone containing SUSSM.) ‘ In the case of Australia, ’ Prime Minister Hawkey told me that if we could f identify the assets of Mr/ Marcos and his cronies,;? then perhaps the Ilan Government could/ help us in recovering: these. But we would have? to start by identifying ; these properties first. Your style is very, un-; politician. Do you try to make politics suit you, or? do you try to suit politics as you go along? I never even thought of/ it that way. I just continue) being myself. I don’t think ■ at this late day in my life I should change things. .