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On staying in touch with the people. I encourage people to tell me exactly what they think, both bad and good. I usually find out things during coffee breaks, times like that. Also, when I drive out, it is usually in a car with tinted windows. People cannot see in, but I can see out. It really restores my confidence when I see people going out of their way to cheer me, giving me the party sign or just having smiles on their faces. It must be spontaneous because security will not give out in advance which streets I will be using. My daughter has told me, "Ma, when you start seeing angry faces, you know it is time to do something else."
On rumors of a military coup. I have visited many military camps; I have talked with officers, enlisted men and many wives. I am not one to base everything I know on the reports that reach my desk. I think it is time for me to lead the way and show that it is important for both the military and civilian sectors to get together. One of the ways to end the insurgency is for civilians to cooperate with the military. But I emphasize to the military that they have to earn the confidence and respect of civilians.
For 14 years we had a military that did not have a good public image. People like (former Chief of Staff) General Fabian Ver and other misguided elements thought the armed forces were a private reserve for Marcos and his cronies. I have gone out of my way to become closer to the military, trying to forget that in fact I was one of their better-known victims. My husband was incarcerated for seven years and seven months, and it was one of the military that shot him. But I am no longer just the widow of Ninoy. I am the President of the Philippines.
On her evolving foreign policy. Whatever will be for the greater good of the Philippines is what I want. I am a nationalist, and as far as I am concerned, nationalism means doing whatever is in the best interests of the great majority of the people. Since we are unable at present to generate more employment for our people, we need foreign investment and we have to make it attractive for these investors, or they will go elsewhere. I view the U.S. bases in the same way. First of all, I ask myself if I am convinced that they . will be in the greater interest of the Filipino people. Then I take it from there.
On Manila's $26 billion foreign debt. I have said all along that we will honor our debts. But I would like our creditors to look at it from our side. We inherited this debt when most Filipinos had no say on how this money was going to be spent. So when I meet with our creditor banks, I will ask them to give us more liberal terms. We have to be given the chance to grow, and we cannot do so if we have to continue paying 50% of our export earnings in interest payments.
I think that it's in our mutual interest that my views be listened to. We will be able to repay the principal that much sooner if we are permitted to grow. I cannot allow my people to suffer more. For the banks, it is a matter of being able to tell their stockholders that they will get their money back. But in our case it's a question of whether our people will have enough to eat. I will impress upon the banks that this is a different kind of government from that of Marcos, and we expect different treatment.