Maria Corazon C. Aquino is the eleventh president of the Philippines who served from 1986 to 1992. She became the first woman president of the Philippines when she grabbed victory over her rival Ferdinand E. Marcos, who was a dictator of the Philippines for 20 years. Cory Aquino, as she is popularly known, also became the first woman president in Asia and has received numerous awards and recognition for her strong advocacy for democracy, religious devoutness, woman’s empowerment, and peace, including Time Magazine Woman of the Year in 1986 and one of A Different View’s 15 Champions of World Democracy in 2008.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION

Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuancgo-Aquino was born on January 25, 1933 to Jose Cojuangco, Sr. and Demetria Sumulong, one of the wealthiest and most prominent land-owning families in the Philippines. She was born in Manila and is the fourth of six children.

She was sent to several schools including St. Scholastica’s College, Assumption Convent in Manila, Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia, and the Notre Dame Convent School in New York. In 1953, she obtained her degree in Bachelor of Arts major in French Language and minor in Mathematics from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York. She then studied law at the Far Eastern University in the Philippines and her honorary degrees include:

· Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas (Manila)

· Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, from Stone Hill College (Massachusetts), University of Oregon, Seattle University, and San Beda College (Manila)

· Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from College of Mount Saint Vincent (New York), Ateneo de Manila University, and Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines) and

· Doctor of International Relations, honoris causa, from Waseda University (Tokyo), Fordham University, eastern University, and Boston University.

She married Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. in 1954 and they had five children. Her husband Ninoy became a mayor and governor in Tarlac, where he soon got elected as a senator. Under the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand Marcos, Ninoy got arrested, was sentenced to death, and went into exile in 1980 together with Cory Aquino.

WHAT LED TO HER PRESIDENCY

On August 21, 1983, Ninoy Aquino decided to run for the 1984 presidential election so he returned to Manila; and upon arrival from the United States, Ninoy Aquino was assassinated at the Manila International Airport, where he got shot in the head. Two and a half years after that tragic event, Ninoy’s friends and supporters persuaded the widowed Cory Aquino to enter into politics as head of the Laban party to continue the fight over the nation’s democracy. She agreed to run provided that she had a million signatures on petitions asking her to run. Apparently, she got those signatures.

In 1986, then President Ferdinand Marcos called for a snap election in 1986, confident that he would win over Cory Aquino, who was the opposition’s candidate for presidency. She lost the elections to Marcos but the people believed that the election was fraudulent and manipulated by the administration. Due to the widespread rallies, pressure from the U.S. government, and the world-famous People Power that soon followed, Ferdinand Marcos fled the country in February 25 1986. This act finally paved the way for an Aquino-led administration.

DURING HER TERM

One of her first actions as a president, Aquino freed 441 political prisoners and forced 22 pro-Marcos generals to resign. She also restored the writ of habeas corpus, which is the right of a prisoner to appear before a judge, and she also eradicated the government’s prerogative to arrest and detain people at will. Aquino also swore to promote the right to peaceful assembly and free speech, and to take action against corruption and abusers of human rights. In March 1986, she declared a provisional Constitution and then a commission was appointed to write the new Constitution, which was designed to safeguard the country against dictatorship. The new Constitution was ratified in February 1987 by a majority vote. Aquino also initiated a peace process that eliminated Muslim and communist uprisings that posed great threats to the stability of the nation.

In 1987, Aquino laid programs for land reform and expanded land reform to sugar lands, wherein she issued Presidential Proclamation 131 and Executive Order 229. She established Republic Act 6657 known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which also introduced the idea of profit sharing, wherein landlords were able to dispense small lots to tenants.

Her administration faced several natural calamities that struck the country including the massive earthquake in 1990, a Category 5 typhoon, and the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991.

At least seven coups were organized during her term but the president remained steadfast in leading the country and promoting democracy, laying down the foundations for economic recuperation.

Today, Aquino continues serve the country through the Benigno S Aquino Foundation, which supports microfinance projects for rising entrepreneurs, as well as promoting social welfare and promoting scholarship grants to the underprivileged and deserving students. She is also active in her advocacy for good governance through the EDSA People Power Commission.

Other International Female Leaders:

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was the first female to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Hillary Clinton is the former first lady, Senator of New York and US Democratic Presidential Candidate.

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