Posted on 07/31/2009 7:23:13 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, whose "People Power" movement pushed out longtime strongman Ferdinand Marcos less than three years after her husband's assassination, has died at age 76, her family announced Saturday.
Aquino, the first woman to lead the Philippines, had been battling colon cancer since March 2008 and died of cardio-respiratory arrest at 3:18 a.m. Saturday (3:18 p.m. Friday ET), said Mai Mislang, a spokeswoman for her son, Philippine Sen. Benigno Aquino III.
Funeral arrangments were being set up, Mislang said. And Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has announced a 10-day mourning period for the former president, said Ray Donato, the country's consul-general in Atlanta.
"She was the agent of change in Philippine democracy, and almost all the Filipinos I know revered her during her presidency," Donato said.
Aquino had been born into a wealthy family and was educated in the United States. She had not been involved in politics before her husband, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was gunned down at Manila's airport in August 1983 as he returned from exile.
The political novice took over the leadership of her husband's movement after his death and challenged Marcos in a 1986 election, making a yellow dress her trademark and bolstered by the support of the country's Roman Catholic churches.
Marcos had been backed by the United States, the former colonial power in the Philippines, for two decades as a stalwart anti-communist. He and his wife Imelda were friends of then-President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy. But widespread allegations of electoral fraud and a mutiny by the country's military led the Reagan administration to withdraw its support, and Marcos went into exile in Hawaii.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
Wow, how time flies. From what I remember, she was a good leader.
Was she the Marxist with 4000 pairs of shoes or the Marxist with 500 pairs.
That was the Marcos with 4,000 pairs of shoes.
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Aquino accomplished the following things as president :
* She put in place a U.S.-style constitution that limited presidents to a single six-year term.
* Oversaw the closure of the major U.S. military bases in the country before leaving office in 1992.
* Her agrarian reform policy was enacted into law by the 8th Congress of the Philippines. Corporate landowners were allowed under the law to “voluntarily divest a proportion of their capital stock, equity or participation in favor of their workers or other qualified beneficiaries”, in lieu of turning over their land to the government for redistribution.
* Served as a beacon of stability for the country. After her 6 year term, she backed her Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos as her successor ( Ramos won the presidency in 1992 ).
Imelda Marcos, that’s the one that told all the kids that the Beatles had stood them up back in ‘65 (just before confiscating their ticket proceeds). She is at least part of the reason they decided to quit touring.
When her (Aquino’s) husband was iced getting off a plane in Manila, the nightlife in Manila slowed down a wee bit, for about an hour.... Anyone out there ever spend an evening or two having fun with the natives on Santa Monica St in Manila? The Manila Playboy Club was a place of inspiration for all who have visited.....
Just dazing off into remembrance land and fond memories of Subic Bay.
Comeon you aren’t going to share us your sordid tales of debauchery?
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
She impressed me. Marcos killed her husband right out in front of everyone, because he thought he could get away with it. She rose up and drove him out of office and out of the country.
As a sailor in the late 60’s early 70’s, the Philippines, especially Subic Bay, was a perpetual carnival of wine (beer), women and song. The port of call of all ports of call for the Westpac fleet. Nothing but fond memories of my many visits to this cherished and often overlooked jewel of the orient. Love the country and people.
You missed and experience by just passing through.
A great deal is to get sent to Subic for 6 mo with per diem. A great accomplishment is to walk rather than be carried into alcohol rehab. Still think it’s boring just having one girl for a date....
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
She was a class act who brought a lot of stability to the Philippines. She turned out the corrupt Marcos cronies and oversaw the successful transition to a rule of law. The amazing thing was not one life was lost during the Yellow Revolution.
Even though her husband was murdered by Marcos thugs at the airport in the early ‘80s, Cory kept a positive outlook that the Philippines could be a better place. Unlike the marxist we have in the White House at present, Cory continued to press for market-driven solutions to economic problems.
Have some respect; Cory was an amazing case in leadership. And despite some political differences I would gladly trade her for the dirty commie in the White House right now.
Gee, had the wonderful privilege of medevacing through Clark myself in early 69. Found myself in the fleet later and got to visit the Philippines under much better circumstances.
I am really sad to hear this.
God bless her and her family!
He publicly showed himself wearing a bulletproof vest when he was getting on the plane back to the Philippines; publicly announced he was returning, and gave the flight number.
The Marcos' had him shot ... in the head, shortly after he stepped off the plane. That led to their downfall and removal from power.
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