Cory Aquino: From housewife to Philippine President
Former Philippine president Corazon "Cory" Aquino, who died Saturday
at the age of 76, was a reluctant leader despite guiding her nation
through a revolution that restored it to democracy in 1986.
This file picture taken on January 3, 1986 shows
then-Philippines opposition presidential candidate Corazon
Aquino (L) and running mate Salvador Laurel flashing the thumbs
down in front of a Marcos concrete bust in Pugo. Former
Philippine leader and democracy icon Corazon Aquino died early
on August 1, 2009 following a cardiac arrest after battling
colon cancer for more than a year, her son announced. She was
76. AFP |
For three days in February of that year, the world watched as the
woman in a bright yellow dress led millions in a peaceful uprising that
toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who had ruled with an iron fist for
two decades.
During the next six years, Aquino a devout Roman Catholic changed the
country's constitution. She also overhauled the election process,
released political dissidents and engaged insurgents in dialogue.
But her presidency was marred by at least six failed military coups,
political squabbling, insurgent attacks and her failure to change a
political system dominated by elite family clans.
Time magazine made Aquino its woman of the year in 1986, the year she
was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and in 2006 named her one of
Asia's heroes.
The magazine praised her "quiet courage", describing her as "the
symbol of People Power and an inspiration to others around the world
struggling against tyranny".
The 76-year-old Aquino, who suffered from colon cancer, reportedly
refused further medical treatment after she was admitted to a Manila
hospital in late June, with family members by her side and the country
praying for her recovery.
US President Barack Obama led international reaction to Aquino's
death, describing her as a historic figure.
Obama "was deeply saddened" by news of Aquino's death, White House
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
"Her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration
to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation. On behalf of
the American people, the President extends his deepest condolences to
the Aquino family and the nation of the Philippines," the statement
read.
Singapore's foreign ministry called her a "remarkable woman" who
would be remembered for her devotion to her friends.
Born into the Cojuangco clan in the northern province of Tarlac on
January 25, 1933, Aquino was a product of privilege, power and wealth.
Educated in the United States and Manila, she entertained no
political ambitions but all that changed when she met and married
Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, a bright young journalist from another prominent
Tarlac clan, in 1954.
Ninoy was seen by many as a president in the making but for Marcos
the then-senator was a threat. In September 1972, Marcos declared
martial law and jailed hundreds of his opponents and critics, including
Ninoy, who subsequently went into exile for medical reasons.
Corazon Aquino helped keep the opposition alive, speaking out on
behalf of her husband and demanding change.
In 1983, against the advice of friends, Ninoy flew back to the
Philippines from exile in Boston to seek an audience with the ailing
Marcos. He was gunned down by assassins as he stepped off the plane.
His grief-stricken widow flew back to the Philippines, where she was
quickly thrust into the role of uniting the opposition.
"I don't seek vengeance, only justice, not only for Ninoy but for the
suffering Filipino people," Aquino declared as she reluctantly accepted
the nomination of her peers.
After Marcos won the 1986 elections, which were marred by massive
irregularities, the Aquino-led opposition, backed by the Catholic
Church, soon rallied about one million people on the streets.
"People Power" was born, Marcos was ousted and forced to flee and
Aquino took the presidential oath of office.
She quickly set up a commission to draft a new constitution,
dismantled the network of Marcos cronies that controlled the economy and
freed scores of political activists.
Aquino also began talks with communist and Muslim insurgents but her
efforts would soon be undermined by problems within the coalition
government she built.
She later survived a series of bloody coup attempts.
In retirement, and until her illness, Aquino remained in the public
eye, often speaking out against alleged abuses in government.
She became a vocal critic of President Gloria Arroyo, whose family
has been accused of massive corruption, and joined street protests
against Arroyo until she was diagnosed with colon cancer in March of
last year.
In the 1990s, Aquino said the presidency had taught her a valuable
lesson in governance. "I realised that I could have made things easier
for myself if I had done the popular things, rather than the painful but
better ones in the long run. After all, in the long run, I wouldn't be
around to be blamed," she said.
Manila, Tuesday, AFP
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