RIP - Maria Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 August 1, 2009)

Maria Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 August 1, 2009)

Maria Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 August 1, 2009) was a President of the Philippines and a world-renowned 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. Aquino died on August 1, 2009 after suffering from colon cancer.

A self-proclaimed "plain housewife",[3] Aquino was married to Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. (19321983), 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 United States on August 21, 1983, Aquino, 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.