Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino Dies

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July 31, 2009

Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino died of colon cancer in the Philippines. She was elected in 1986 after "people power" uprisings ended the tumultuous authoritarian regime of Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Aquino and her family were exiled to the U.S. and settled in Boston in 1980. Her husband, Benigno, returned to the Philippines alone in 1983 to challenge Marcos, but was assassinated at the airport. Corazon returned soon after, led a massive funeral and subsequently participated in mass actions against the Marcos regime. She reluctantly ran for president against Marcos in February 1986. Marcos claimed victory in that election, which was marred by intimidation, and major leaders called for Marcos to resign. The People Power Revolution forced Marcos to leave the country and Aquino resumed power. She was the first female Philippine president and first female president in Asia, and was Time Magazine's Woman of the Year in 1986.

Aquino remained active into 2008, calling for the resignation of current Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over alleged corruption and vote-rigging. Arroyo was in Washington D.C. when Aquino died, the first Southeast Asian leader to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama.