Corazon Aquino

Corazon Aquino
Airman Gerald B. Johnson · Public domain · source
Name	Corazon Aquino
Birth date	January 25, 1933
Birth place	Tañon, Tarlac, Philippines
Death date	August 1, 2009
Death place	Quezon City, Philippines
Spouse	Benigno Aquino Jr.
Children	Benigno Aquino III
Office	11th President of the Philippines
Term start	February 25, 1986
Term end	June 30, 1992
Predecessor	Ferdinand Marcos
Successor	Fidel V. Ramos

Corazon Aquino was a Filipino politician and pro-democracy leader who served as the 11th President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. Rising from civic life after the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr., she became the central figure of the 1986 People Power movement that unseated Ferdinand Marcos. Her presidency restored democratic institutions, oversaw a new constitution, and influenced transitions in Southeast Asia during the late Cold War era.

Early life and education

Born as María Corazón Sumulong Cojuangco in Tañon, Tarlac, she was a scion of the prominent Cojuangco and Sumulong families, linking her to political networks in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija. Her father, José Cojuangco Sr., was a businessman and Philippine Commonwealth-era figure associated with agricultural enterprises and local politics; her mother, Demetria Sumulong, belonged to the Sumulong political clan. She attended Assumption Convent for primary and secondary schooling before studying at St. Scholastica's College, Manila and later at College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York City, where she pursued studies in Asia-related subjects and social sciences. Returning to the Philippines, she married Benigno Aquino Jr., a rising figure in the Liberal Party and an emerging critic of the Marcos administration. Their household in Quezon City became intertwined with families active in Philippine politics, including ties to the Roxas and Marcos-era opposition networks.

Political rise and the 1986 People Power Revolution

Her public profile shifted dramatically after the 1983 assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr. upon his return from exile in California, an event that catalyzed mass mobilization against the Marcos regime. Aquino emerged as a unifying candidate for the opposition when the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and other opposition groups rallied around her during the 1986 snap election called by Ferdinand Marcos. The disputed election pitted her against Marcos and produced widespread allegations documented by observers from United Nations-linked monitors and foreign press from outlets like The New York Times and BBC News. Following claims of electoral fraud, key military figures including Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel V. Ramos withdrew support from Marcos and defected to a rebel camp at Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame, prompting massive civilian demonstrations. The subsequent four-day nonviolent uprising—known as the People Power Revolution—saw millions gather along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and the Caloocan corridors, with support from clergy linked to Cardinal Jaime Sin and international attention from leaders such as Ronald Reagan and diplomats from United States embassies. The revolution culminated in Marcos fleeing to Hawaii and Aquino being installed as president in 1986.

Presidency (1986–1992)

Aquino's administration began with a provisional revolutionary government that prioritized constitutional reform and transitional justice after two decades of martial law under Marcos. She appointed a revolutionary cabinet drawing from opposition figures, civil society leaders, and technocrats connected to institutions like the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines. Her government promulgated a new constitution in 1987 through a constituent assembly and plebiscite, which re-established democratic safeguards, strengthened the Congress of the Philippines, and curtailed executive powers associated with the Marcos era. Her tenure faced multiple coup attempts by factions within the Armed Forces of the Philippines, most notably the 1986 and 1989 uprisings led by elements loyal to Marcos-era commanders. These insurrections involved figures such as Gregorio Honasan and prompted negotiations with international partners like the United States for support and mediation.

Domestic policies and economic reforms

Aquino prioritized restoration of civil liberties and the dismantling of patronage networks tied to the Marcos family and allied conglomerates like San Miguel Corporation and PLDT. Her administration pursued land reform measures via the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program legislation and sought rehabilitation for victims of human rights abuses through commissions modeled after transitional justice bodies in Latin America and South Africa. Economic policy emphasized stabilization, attracting foreign investment, and debt restructuring with institutions including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. She also promoted privatization moves affecting state enterprises and pushed measures to revive export sectors such as electronics and agriculture—sectors linked to trade with markets like Japan and the United States. Critics contended that reforms were uneven, pointing to persistent poverty in regions like Mindanao and chronic insurgencies involving the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army as well as ongoing conflicts with the Moro National Liberation Front.

Foreign policy and international relations

Aquino reoriented Philippine foreign relations toward democratic allies and multilateral institutions, strengthening ties with the United States while asserting Philippine sovereignty in regional forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Her administration negotiated issues surrounding the United States military bases in the Philippines, including debates over the Subic Bay Naval Base and strategic access that later culminated in base lease controversies in the early 1990s. She engaged with leaders like Margaret Thatcher, François Mitterrand, and regional figures including ASEAN heads to attract investment and diplomatic support. Aquino's human rights emphasis resonated in forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and influenced international perceptions of democratization in Southeast Asia.

Later life, activism, and legacy

After leaving office in 1992, succeeded by Fidel V. Ramos, she remained active in civic life, supporting causes linked to electoral reform, anti-corruption, and civil society organizations including branches of the Liberal Party and nongovernmental groups inspired by People Power. Her family continued to play prominent roles in Philippine politics, notably with her son Benigno Aquino III later serving as president. Internationally, she received honors from institutions such as the Dirección Nacional de Cultura and recognition from civic movements for nonviolent transition achievements alongside figures like Lech Wałęsa and Aung San Suu Kyi. Her death in 2009 prompted national mourning and retrospectives in outlets including BBC News, The New York Times, and Philippine media institutions like ABS-CBN and GMA Network. Aquino's legacy is commemorated in monuments along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, annual observances of the People Power Revolution, and scholarly assessments in journals focusing on comparative politics and transition studies.

Category:Presidents of the Philippines Category:Filipino politicians Category:People Power Revolution