Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was born on January 25, 1933. She is the 6th child of Jose and Demetra Cojuangco. Their families were big land owners and are politicians in both Upper and Lower Chambers of the Philippines Congress.
She studied in Saint Scholastic’s College and graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York. During her elementary years, she received the highest honors.
After World War II, she and her siblings were sent to the United States to finish their studies and after graduating college, she returned back to the Philippines and studied Law at the Far Eastern University.
Her decision ended up with her marriage to Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. The couple produced 5 children.
She had initial difficulty adjusting to provincial life as she and her husband moved to Tarlac. Later, she was elected as mayor at their town at the age of 22.
When her husband, Ninoy, was elected governor of the country and became the youngest senator, she became a regular housewife. Ninoy emerged as a leading critic of Marcos’ government. However Marcos being barred by the constitution to seek a third term, he declared Martial Law. Ninoy was among those to be first arrested but then died in the airport and Marcos was blamed in the killing of the senator. Ninoy’s assassination set off awake for protests against the Marcos’s administration.
With international pressure bearing down on his administration, Marcos unexpectedly called for presidential elections on February 1986. Marcos’ opposition chose Cory to be their candidate. The army and the defense minister declared support for Cory resulting to Marcos’ exile in Hawaii.
Cory was sworn to the office on February 25, 1986 becoming the first woman president of the Philippines.
As president of the Philippines, Cory promulgated new Constitution which limited the powers of the presidency and established a bicameral legislature. She was concerned for civil liberties, human rights and peace talks with communist insurgents and Muslim secessionists.
Her administration brought back democracy here in the Philippines.
After her term president Fidel V. Ramos succeeded in 1992. She returned in her private life although she remained active in the public’s eye.
In 2008 Cory was diagnosed with Colon Cancer which caused her weakness. After a year of fighting with her disease, she died on August 1, 2009.
At present, she became the inspiration to most of the people and especially to his 4th son Benigno ”Noynoy” Aquino III who is the present President of the Philippines.
She studied in Saint Scholastic’s College and graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York. During her elementary years, she received the highest honors.
After World War II, she and her siblings were sent to the United States to finish their studies and after graduating college, she returned back to the Philippines and studied Law at the Far Eastern University.
Her decision ended up with her marriage to Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. The couple produced 5 children.
She had initial difficulty adjusting to provincial life as she and her husband moved to Tarlac. Later, she was elected as mayor at their town at the age of 22.
When her husband, Ninoy, was elected governor of the country and became the youngest senator, she became a regular housewife. Ninoy emerged as a leading critic of Marcos’ government. However Marcos being barred by the constitution to seek a third term, he declared Martial Law. Ninoy was among those to be first arrested but then died in the airport and Marcos was blamed in the killing of the senator. Ninoy’s assassination set off awake for protests against the Marcos’s administration.
With international pressure bearing down on his administration, Marcos unexpectedly called for presidential elections on February 1986. Marcos’ opposition chose Cory to be their candidate. The army and the defense minister declared support for Cory resulting to Marcos’ exile in Hawaii.
Cory was sworn to the office on February 25, 1986 becoming the first woman president of the Philippines.
As president of the Philippines, Cory promulgated new Constitution which limited the powers of the presidency and established a bicameral legislature. She was concerned for civil liberties, human rights and peace talks with communist insurgents and Muslim secessionists.
Her administration brought back democracy here in the Philippines.
After her term president Fidel V. Ramos succeeded in 1992. She returned in her private life although she remained active in the public’s eye.
In 2008 Cory was diagnosed with Colon Cancer which caused her weakness. After a year of fighting with her disease, she died on August 1, 2009.
At present, she became the inspiration to most of the people and especially to his 4th son Benigno ”Noynoy” Aquino III who is the present President of the Philippines.