Tita Cory...RIP

Inay Ng Mga Tao (Mother of the People)
Inay Ng Demokracia (Mother of Democracy)

Why all the hullabaloo with this one woman to a nation?

A brief history summary,
1970, Marcos regime:- a government full of power and control that it lost sight of what's truly the role of a president ~ to serve to and for the good of its people
Aug 1986:- Assassination of Senator Ninoy Aquino - the senator opposition of what the Marcos regime turned out to be and his death fueled a lot of civil unrest
Nov 1985:- Snap election - to legitimize his control over the country, Marcos declared that a snap election was to be held, one year
23 Feb 1986:- People Power Revolution: rising mass support, the capture of Channel 4,
25 Feb 1986 - 7AM:- two inaugurations occurred, one that proclaimed Cory Aquino as the legitimate president, another Ferdinand Marcos
25 Feb 1986 - 3PM:- Marcos' departure - the paradigm shifted; Marcos left the Philippines and fled to the US for sanctuary

23 February 1986
I was 8 or so years old when the first People Power started that would change the way Filipinos view politics.

In this revolution, the Church had a say and it rang loudly by Catholic Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin's message though Radio Veritas' to take Justice "to the streets". The most famous of all picture of this revolution in my mind is the human barricade to offset any violence that may erupt.

Although my family (and extended relatives) were staying in Chinatown, helicopters sounds and gunshots could be heard echoing around. My whole family sat in front of the television set and watched the live-feed that brave journalists/cameramen took. In the midst of it all, all I remember thinking that we were watching a war movie - very surreal. I believe I was too young to realize what this woman, Cory Aquino, was doing and what she represented.

Then the announcement came:"The Philippine Military has ceased to support the Marcos regime. The Military has defected to the people..."

Pandemonium broke...a big toast to freedom from tyranny and oppression.
A dictator was overthrown by an ordinary housewife named Cory Aquino.

To know more about the People Power Revolution, please click here.

******************************************** Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Present of the Philippines and an advocate of democracy, peace, women's empowerment and religious piety. She served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the first female president of the Philippines and was Asia's first female president.

She is a self-proclaimed "plain housewife" and was married to Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr (1932–1983), a leading figure in the political opposition against the autocratic rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. After her husband was assassinated upon his return from exile in the US on August 21, 1983, Cory, who had no prior political experience, became a focal point and unifying force of the opposition against Marcos. She was drafted to run against Marcos in the 1986 Snap Presidential Elections. After Marcos was proclaimed the winner despite widespread reports of electoral fraud, Aquino was installed as President by the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution.
During the reception, a dove from the wedding bell landed on Cory’s head. The old folks believed it was an omen of a higher position, power and peace. But due to the bride’s quiet and simple demeanor, the good sign was taken to mean it’s the groom who would be president someday. Cory would later confide that one knew then the dove landing on her head would mean she, not Ninoy, would be president someday.

August 5, 2009 has been has been declared a special non-working holiday nationwide under Proclamation No. 1851 to give the entire Filipino nation the opportunity to grieve and honor the late former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino. Pres. Aquino, who succumbed to colon cancer early Saturday, will be laid to rest in Manila Memorial in Sucat Paranaque.

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Some of this amazing woman's quotes:
• Politics must not remain a bastion of male dominance, for there is much that women can bring into politics that would make our world a kinder, gentler place for humanity to thrive in.

• It is true you cannot eat freedom and you cannot power machinery with democracy. But then neither can political prisoners turn on the light in the cells of a dictatorship.

• Reconciliation should be accompanied by justice, otherwise it will not last. While we all hope for peace it shouldn't be peace at any cost but peace based on principle, on justice.

• As I came to power peacefully, so shall I keep it.

• Freedom of expression - in particular, freedom of the press - guarantees popular participation in the decisions and actions of government, and popular participation is the essence of our democracy.• One must be frank to be relevant.

• It has often been said that Marcos was the first male chauvinist to underestimate me.

• National leaders who find themselves wilting under the withering criticisms by members of the media, would do well not to take such criticism personally but to regard the media as their allies in keeping the government clean and honest, its services efficient and timely, and its commitment to democracy strong and unwavering.


• The media's power is frail. Without the people's support, it can be shut off with the ease of turning a light switch

• I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life.

More wonderful entries are available at WeddingsatWork here that gives a more candid/personal look at this influencial family over here through pictures. (Thank you Papa John for such wonderful research! I had to post the dove photo!)