Output

In
Political
Government
Submitted by: Jane Caroline Millares

Wilson Cenal Jr.

Submitted to:

Mr. Jonald Dorado

 February 25, 1986-June 30, 1992
(assumed position due to the EDSA Revolution)

Corazon C. Aquino
 Introduction

Women are always seen as weak and dependent beings. In the past, they were always
treated with discrimination and seen as a hindrance to men. But throughout the years they started
to stand up for themselves and what they believe. They built up courage and started engaging in
politics and anything that the men do. Nowadays, there are women who are considered as one of
the most powerful human o n the planet. One of them was Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. She was a
dedicated, smart and great woman. She was born on January 25. 1933 in Paniqui, Tarlac,
Philippines and died on August 1, 2009. She was the 11th President of the Philippines and was and
will always be considered as one of the 100 Woman Who Changed the World History. Corazon
Aquino had been a good inspiration for the Filipinos because she showed to us that we Filipinos can
compete to other countries. Even though she had enemies in her time she showed courage and
brought down those people who are trying to bring her down. Considered as the first female
President in Asia, Corazon Aquino had so many obstacles to achieve the position of the President.
Together with her partner Salvador Laurel they brought Marcos who tried to stop them by accusing
Aquino was playing “political football”. Furthermore, the male strongman derided Aquino’s
womanhood, by saying that she was “just a woman” whose place was in the bedroom. With all these
insult and accusations Aquino still achieved the power of being the President of the Philippines.
 Biography

Maria Corazon Aquino was the 11th President of Philippines. Initially, she was just a
homemaker, more interested in caring for her family and supporting her husband, Senator Benigno
S. Aquino Junior, in his political struggle. However, when
Benigno was assassinated at the Manila Airport on his return
from exile by Marcos’ men, she could no longer sit still. Very
soon she became the rallying point for the democratic
movement in Philippines and the most important figure in
People’s Power Revolution, also known as Yellow Revolution,
which toppled the twenty year old regime of President
Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Later, she became the President of the country and
started the process of democratization and introduced many
reforms. However, the period was full of struggle; but she
served the people as much as the situation allowed her to do
so. When her term was over, she refused to seek reelection,
stating that the term of the President is not for life. Even after
her retirement she led an active life, taking part in various political as well as social issues.
Childhood & Early Life
 Maria Corazon Aquino was born on January 25, 1933, in the
Intramuros region of Manila in an influential and wealthy family
based in Tarlac Province of Philippine. Her father, Jose Cojuangco
y Chichioco, Sr, was a well-known businessman and a politician
while her mother, Demetria, was a scion of influential Sumulong
family.
 Maria, lovingly called Cory, had five brothers and sister; Pedro,
Josephine, Teresita, Jose, Jr. and Maria Paz. She began her
education at St. Scholastica's College in Manila and then shifted to
Assumption Convent, also in Manila.
 When she turned thirteen, she was sent to the United States of
America for further schooling. In USA, Maria Cory was first
admitted to Ravenhill Academy of Philadelphia. Later, she was
transferred to Notre Dame School of Manhattan and finished her
secondary education from there.
 Next she enrolled at College of Mount Saint Vincent, Catholic liberal
art college located in New York. Maria Cory graduated from there
with a degree in mathematics and French, in 1953. She then
returned to the Philippines and enrolled at Far Eastern University
of Manila. However, she gave up her studies within a year to
marry Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. in 1954.
As Homemaker

 Sometime in 1955, the couple moved to Concepcion. From now on, Maria Corazon Aquino
began to lead the life of an average Pilipino homemaker, supporting her husband, Benigno
Aquino in his every move.
 Though at the time of their marriage Benigno Aquino worked as a journalist later he began to
take interest in politics and quickly rose through ranks to become the nation’s youngest
vice governor at the age of 27 (1959) and the governor of Tarlac Province at 29 (1961).
 In 1967, Benigno became the nation’s youngest Senator. It is said that, to support his
candidacy, Corazon voluntarily sold many heirlooms. On becoming Senator, Benigno
Aquino became a vocal critic of President Marcos and was considered to be a strong
candidate for 1973 presidential election.
 In 1972, Marcos declared martial law and arrested leading politicians, including Benigno.
This forced Corazon to come out of her home. She became Benigno’s links with the outside
world, never allowing his name to be forgotten.
 After a long and biased trail, on November 25, 1977, Benigno was sentenced to death by firing
squad. However, for some reasons, it was not carried out immediately.
 In 1978, Benigno, who was still confined to prison, decided to stand for BatasangPambansa
election. Although a little uneasy in the beginning, Corazon began to campaign for her
husband and for the first time started giving political speeches.
 In 1980, Benigno had a heart attack, but fearing duplicity, refused to be treated by Pilipino
doctors. Ultimately, the family was allowed to leave for United States of America on the
intervention of US President Jimmy Carter.
 In USA, the Aquino family settled at Boston. However, Benigno toured throughout the USA
delivering lectures on internal condition of Philippines. On August 21, 1983, he alone
returned to Philippines, but was assassinated at Manila Airport.
 The assassination gave rise to an outcry both at home and abroad. Corazon became active
once more and started taking part in different demonstrations and very soon took the
leadership of the party.
 At the same time, international pressure forced Marcos to call for Presidential election in
November, 1985. A reluctant Corazon Aquino was chosen as the next Presidential
candidate by a united opposition. She agreed to run for the office when one million
signatures were presented to her.
 The election, held in February, 1986, was marred by widespread electoral fraud, violence and
coercion. In spite of that, Marcos could win only by a narrow margin. Aquino’s supporters
challenged the result. The army too made an about turn and declared support for Aquino.
Sensing trouble Marcos left for Hawaii.

Personal Life & Legacy

 Corazon Aquino married Benigno S. Aquino Jr in 1954. The couple had five children; Maria
Elena, Aurora Corazon, Benigno Simeon III, Victoria Elisa and Kristina Bernadette. Among
them, Benigno Simeon III later joined politics and in 2010, became the country’s fifteenth
president.
 On March 24, 2008, it was announced that the Corazon Aquino had been diagnosed with
colorectal cancer. She underwent chemotherapy. However, by July 2009, her condition
 became acute and the chemotherapy was stopped. She died from cardiac arrest on August
1, 2009 at the age of 76.
 Today, Corazon Aquino is fondly remembered as the ‘Mother of Philippine Democracy’ by
many Filipinos. Many international observers have also hailed her as the modern day Joan
of Arc.

Mother of Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Maria Elena

Aquino-Crus, Aurora Corazon Aquino Abellada,
Victoria Elisa Aquino-Dee, and Kris Aquino.
 Road to Presidency

Ninoy Aquino’s plans for the liberation of his country had been set aside, but God’s
surprising, ironic, mysterious master plan for the Philippines was already taking hold. This is the
true story of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., who gave his life to help save the Filipino people from
tyranny. And it is true story of Corazon C. Aquino, a
woman of faith and courage, who carries on her
husband’s struggle to bring peace and prosperity to the
Philippines. It is the story of the spiritual journey they
shared and of the war against evil that they began
together but that Cory now fights alone.

After Ninoy’s death, there seems to be no rest for

Cory Aquino. In the Philippines, one storm follows
another. As gale winds blow up high waves and tropical
cloudbursts bring flooding, so a stagnating economy leads to poverty and hunger. Unemployment,
low wages, and lack of opportunity for those in the countryside bring squatter squalor to the cities.
Piles of garbage and clogged waterways by waste result in pollution and disease. Corruption and
family nepotism in business and politics by insurgencies, human rights abuses, terrorism and
vigilantism. Greed, mismanagement and large scale corruption bring on demonstration, coup
attemptsand a $28 billion national debt. As rumors lead to fear, so fear destroys business, trade,
tourism and the nation’s economy.

Cory is the president of a nation caught in the eye of violent storm. But Cory is not alone in
that storm. God is present and active there. This is the true story of God at work in the lives of Ninoy
and Cory – and in the lives of Filipino people. But especially it is the story of Cory, a woman of faith
and courage who deserves our prayers, our generous support and our understanding. Her story has
urgent, practical implications for each one of us.

She has served in that office for more than one thousand days and the Filipino people and
the world are saw that she can truly end the tyrannies and bring her nation back to life and health
again. It wasn’t easy. Cory Aquino was not fighting a little, local war of no consequence to the rest
of us. She was fighting in the front lines of a war against the forces of evil that threaten to undo the
earth.

As President of Philippines

 Corazon Aquino took oath as the eleventh President of

Philippines on February 25, 1986. On February 28, she
set up Presidential Commission on Good Government,
whose main task was to investigate and recover the ill-
gotten wealth accumulated by previous regime.
 She abolished the 1973 constitution in operation during
the martial rule and proclaimed the provisional Freedom
Constitution in 1986. At the same time, she appointed a
commission to write a new constitution, which was ratified in 1987.
  In 1987, Aquino government restored the bicameral Congress, abolished during Marcos’
regime. She also held the election to the new Congress and promulgated ‘The Family Code,
1987 and Administrative Code 1987.
 She also broke the monopoly of the followers of Marcos over the country’s economy and was
able to usher in limited economical and agricultural reforms. Although it improved the
economic condition of the country to some extent, her policies were criticized as faltering
and her popularity began to decrease.
 However, one has to appreciate that the situation was very difficult for President Aquino. She
had to face problems in every sector. The economy was in ruins. In addition to US$ 28
billion of foreign debts left by the previous regime, she also had to tackle mass poverty.
 The persistent attack by the communists hindered her
efforts to a large extent. Due to sabotage by Marcos’
friends in the government, protracted blackouts were
very common in Manila, which affected the city’s trade
and industry.
 She was not sure of the loyalty of the armed forces
either and had to face several attempted coups by
different sections of the Armed Forces. In addition, the
country was also devastated by a number of natural
calamities during the last two years of her rule.
 In 1992, as her term grew to an end, President Aquino
refused to seek reelection. By this, she tried to set an
example and make people aware that the post of the
President was never permanent.
 When the new President was sworn on June 30, 1992,
Corazon Aquino handed over the charge and drove
away in her modest Toyota Crown to a retired, but
active life.

Later Life

 After retirement Corazon Aquino remained active in the country’s political field and voiced
her dissent strongly in case she thought that the liberal democratic values were being
compromised. In 1997, she led a huge rally, which ultimately aborted President Ramos’
attempt to amend the constitution and thereby extend his tenure.
 Aquino undertook such political activism whenever the situation arose. In addition, she went
on several foreign trips, giving speeches on subjects like democracy, development, woman
empowerment and human rights. Besides, from 1992 onwards she was personally
involved with many charitable organizations.

Six years later, the "walangalam" housewife, as her predecessor derisively called her,
successfully completed her term - with democratic institutions and processes reestablished,
military rehabilitated, bureaucracy energized, and economy turned around.
 Awards and Achievements

Awards & Achievements

 In 1986, Corazon Aquino was named ‘Woman of the Year’ by Times Magazine for her fight to
overthrow the 20 years dictatorial regime of Ferdinand E. Marcos.
 In 1994, Aquino was cited as one of 100 Women Who Shaped World History in a reference
book written by Gail Meyer Rolka and published by Bluewood Books in San Francisco,
California.
 In 1996, Aquino received the J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding from
the Fulbright Association.
 In August 1999, she was chosen by the Times Magazine as one of the 20 Most Influential
Asians of the 20th century.
 In 1987, Prize For Freedom from Liberal International
 In 2002, Aquino became the first woman named to the Board of Governors of the Board of
the Asian Institute of Management, a leading graduate business school and think tank in
the Asia Pacific region. She served on the Board until 2006.
 1986, Time Magazine Woman of the Year
 1986, Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award
 1986, United Nations Silver Medal
 1986, Canadian International Prize for Freedom
 1986, Nobel Peace Prize nominee
  1986,International Democracy Award from the International Association of Political
Consultants
 1987, Prize for Freedom Award from Liberal International
 1993, Special Peace Award from the Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Awards Foundation and
Concerned Women of the Philippines
 1996, J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding from the U.S. Department of
State
 1998, Ramon Magsaysay Award for the International Understanding
 1998, Pearl S. Buck Award
 1999, One of the Time Magazine’s 20 most Influential Asians of the 20th Century
 2001, World Citizenship Award
 2005, David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Awards
 2006, One of the Time Magazine’s 65 Asian Heroes
 2008, One of A Different View’s 15 Champions of World Democracy
 EWC Asia Pacific Community Building Award
 Women’s International Center Leadership Living Legacy
 Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize
 United Nations Development Fund for Women Noel Award for Political Leadership

Humanitarian Works

 Corazon Aquino supported social housing and microfinancing programs for poor. She helped
establish the PinoyME Foundation, a non-profit organization, which microfinances
programs and projects for the poor

Honorary Doctorates: Doctor of International Relations, honoris causa from:

Boston University in Boston

Eastern University in St. David, PA

Fordha University in New York

Waseda University in Tokyo

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from:

University of the Philippines

University of Santo Tomas

Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa from:

Ateneo de Manila University

College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York

 Xavier University (Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines)

Doctorate of Humanities, honoris causa from:

San Beda College in Manila, 2000

Seattle University, 2002

Stonehill College in Massachusetts, University of Oregon, 1995

Doctorate of Public Administration, honoris causa from:

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila June 1994

Doctorate of Philosophy, honoris causa from:

University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA June 1995
Hannam University, Taejon, Korea February 1998

In popular culture:

Aquino was portrayed by Laurice Guillen in the 1988 HBO miniseries A Dangerous Life.
Aquino was a main character in Boy Noriega's 1987 stage comedy Bongbong at Kris, about an
imagined romantic coupling between the youngest son of Ferdinand Marcos and the youngest
daughter of the Aquinos.
She was portrayed by Tess Villarama in the movie Ilaban Mo, Bayan Ko: The ObetPagdanganan
Story in 1997.
In 2004, Aquino was portrayed by Irma Adlawan in the miniseries Sa'yoLamang.
In 2008, a musical play about Aquino starring Isay Alvarez as Aquino, was staged at the Meralco
Theater. Entitled Cory, the Musical, it was written and directed by Nestor Torre and featured a
libretto of 19 original songs composed by Lourdes Pimentel, wife of Senator Aquilino Pimentel.
 Conclusion

In a nutshell, no one can surpass Corazon Aquino’s greatness. She will always be considered
as one of the heroes of Filipino’s. Even though during her reign, there are huge calamities that
struck the Philippines, she built up bonds to keep us Filipinos together. She may not be perfect until
her last breathe but what’s important is she accepted her perfect imperfections and did her best.
She showed to us that it doesn’t matter if you are a man, a woman, a lesbian or a gay as long as you
strive hard and do things in the right way you will always climb up to the highest point of the
ladder. She unveiled the key to greatness and that is courage. Courage to take risks, courage to do
something new and courage to be different. She broke the boundaries of being a woman. She served
as the stepping stone for women to leap higher. Even if she’s dead now, her greatness will be pass
down through generations and generations.
 References

Books:

White M., (1989), Aquino, Dallas, World Publication, pp. 18-67

Cortes R., (1999), Philippine Presidents 100 years, New Day Publishers, Quezon City Philippines, pp.
250-256
Burton, S., (1992), The Aquino Management Of The Presidency, Presidential Management Staff, Office
of the President, Manila, Philippines

Internet:

Nadel L., (1987), Corazon Aquino. Retrieved from

http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/corazon-aquino-6919.php#ZQBSIyRApVLTPFoP.99

Komisar, L., (2008),Cory's Honors, Awards and Achievements. Retrieved from

http://corazonaquinolife.blogspot.com/2009/07/corys-honors-awards-and-achievements.html

Mercado, M., (2010), Tributes for Cory Aquino. Retrieved from

http://www.coryaquino.ph/index.php/tributes/article/57742416-f208-11df-b3cf-001617d76479