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A legacy of democracy and survival
How the former housewife proved her detractors wrong
MANILA
Cory Aquino left a legacy of democracy and political survival during her six-year
presidency that began with street protests, overcame coup attempts and
ended with the first peaceful transfer of power in a generation.
Aquino, the Philippines' first female president, made history in 1986 when her
so-called yellow revolution forced dictator Ferdinand Marcos out of office after
almost 20 years in power.
MANILA
Cory Aquino left a legacy of democracy and political survival during her six-year
presidency that began with street protests, overcame coup attempts and
ended with the first peaceful transfer of power in a generation.
Aquino, the Philippines' first female president, made history in 1986 when her
so-called yellow revolution forced dictator Ferdinand Marcos out of office after
almost 20 years in power.
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She was married to Senator
Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino who had
opposed Marcos and was
assassinated in 1983 as he
returned from exile.
Until that time, Cory Aquino had
no public role in politics.
During her presidency from 1986
to 1992 she faced a number of
attempted military coups. Her
attempts to implement political
and economic reforms failed
and she eventually stepped
down at the end of her term.
Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino who had
opposed Marcos and was
assassinated in 1983 as he
returned from exile.
Until that time, Cory Aquino had
no public role in politics.
During her presidency from 1986
to 1992 she faced a number of
attempted military coups. Her
attempts to implement political
and economic reforms failed
and she eventually stepped
down at the end of her term.
This marked the first peaceful transfer of political power in the country in a
generation.
By then she had confounded her harshest critics and proved that with time
and determination, the nation can begin to heal itself.
While she was not altogether successful in making the changes she
promised during her presidency, Ms Aquino continued to be popular among
the Filipino people long after she left office in 1992.
Aquino avoided the limelight, and was more comfortable among priests and
nuns than politicians.
Her “Mother of Sorrows” image proved both endearing and effective. It
enabled her to count on the support of Cardinal Jaime Sin, ecclesiastical
primate in the world’s third largest Catholic nation (83 per cent of the 90
million Filipinos are Catholics), and shielded her in the seven coup attempts
launched by her enemies over the six years of her presidency.
However grudgingly, the Philippines military establishment was forced to
protect the woman whose democratic mandate emanated from the uprising
of February 1986, which had taken the old regime and the world at large by
surprise.
Aquino was known for her trademark yellow dresses, a colour
enthusiastically taken up by her supporters. Yet for all her moral virtue, as a
president Aquino was naive and weak.
Her “reconciliation” policy towards Marcos’s henchmen meant that many
such apparatchiks remained unpunished for crimes committed during the
martial law era of 1972-86.
Aquino was born in 1933 into one of the richest families in the Philippines.
She seemed destined for a genteel and cultured existence. She left law
school to marry the up-and-coming politician Ninoy Aquino.
He later became leader of a fragmented opposition to Marcos, who, in 1965,
had defeated Diosado Macapagal (father of current president Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo) to acquire the office to which he clung for the next 21 years.
In March 2008, she was diagnosed with colon cancer.
generation.
By then she had confounded her harshest critics and proved that with time
and determination, the nation can begin to heal itself.
While she was not altogether successful in making the changes she
promised during her presidency, Ms Aquino continued to be popular among
the Filipino people long after she left office in 1992.
Aquino avoided the limelight, and was more comfortable among priests and
nuns than politicians.
Her “Mother of Sorrows” image proved both endearing and effective. It
enabled her to count on the support of Cardinal Jaime Sin, ecclesiastical
primate in the world’s third largest Catholic nation (83 per cent of the 90
million Filipinos are Catholics), and shielded her in the seven coup attempts
launched by her enemies over the six years of her presidency.
However grudgingly, the Philippines military establishment was forced to
protect the woman whose democratic mandate emanated from the uprising
of February 1986, which had taken the old regime and the world at large by
surprise.
Aquino was known for her trademark yellow dresses, a colour
enthusiastically taken up by her supporters. Yet for all her moral virtue, as a
president Aquino was naive and weak.
Her “reconciliation” policy towards Marcos’s henchmen meant that many
such apparatchiks remained unpunished for crimes committed during the
martial law era of 1972-86.
Aquino was born in 1933 into one of the richest families in the Philippines.
She seemed destined for a genteel and cultured existence. She left law
school to marry the up-and-coming politician Ninoy Aquino.
He later became leader of a fragmented opposition to Marcos, who, in 1965,
had defeated Diosado Macapagal (father of current president Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo) to acquire the office to which he clung for the next 21 years.
In March 2008, she was diagnosed with colon cancer.
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| EEVVIDEO / Thank you and good night |
One final show of people power
|
Cory Aquino
beams a she
is surrounded
by admirers.
The shy
housewife
who used to
serve coffee
during her
husband's
meetings with
politicians
came to her
own after his
assassination.
beams a she
is surrounded
by admirers.
The shy
housewife
who used to
serve coffee
during her
husband's
meetings with
politicians
came to her
own after his
assassination.
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