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Maria Corazon "Cory" Aquino y Cojuangco y Sumulong (January 25,

1933 August 1, 2009), a Filipino politician who served as the


11th President of the Philippines, was the first woman to hold
that office and the first female president in Asia. Aquino was the
most prominent figure of the 1986 People Power Revolution, which
toppled the 20-year authoritarian rule of President Ferdinand E.
Marcos and restored democracy to the Philippines. She was named
Time magazine's "Woman of the Year" in 1986. Prior to this, she
had not held any other elective office.
A self-proclaimed "plain housewife",[1] she was married to Senator
Benigno Aquino, Jr., the staunchest critic of President Marcos.
She emerged as leader of the opposition after her husband was
assassinated on August 21, 1983 upon returning to the Philippines
from exile in the United States. In late 1985, Marcos called for
snap elections, and Aquino ran for president with former senator
Salvador Laurel as her Vice-President. After the elections were
held on February 7, 1986, the Batasang Pambansa proclaimed Marcos
and his running mate, Arturo Tolentino, as the winners amidst
allegations of electoral fraud, with Aquino calling for massive
civil disobedience actions. Defections from the Armed Forces and
the support of the local Catholic hierarchy led to the People
Power Revolution that ousted Marcos and secured Aquino's accession
on February 25, 1986.
As President, Aquino oversaw the promulgation of the 1987
Constitution, which limited the powers of the Presidency and re-
established the bicameral Congress. Her administration gave strong
emphasis and concern for civil liberties and human rights, and on
peace talks to resolve the ongoing Communist insurgency and
Islamist secession movements. Her economic policies centred on
restoring economic health and confidence and focused on creating a
market-oriented and socially responsible economy.
Aquino faced several coup attempts against her government and
various natural calamities until the end of her term in 1992. She
was succeeded as President by Fidel V. Ramos, and returned to
civilian life while remaining public about her opinions on
political issues.
In 2008, Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer from which she
died on August 1, 2009. She was survived by her son, Benigno
Aquino III, who has been President of the Philippines since June
30, 2010. Throughout her life, Aquino was known to be a devout
Roman Catholic, and was fluent in French and English aside from
her native Tagalog and Kapampangan.

Contents [hide]
1 Personal life
2 1986 Presidential campaign
2.1 Accession as President
3 Presidency
3.1 Constitutional and political reforms
3.2 Ministerial Cabinet (1986-1987)[14]
3.3 Cabinet (1987-1992)[14]
3.4 Socio-economic programs and policies
3.4.1 Economic management
3.4.2 Agrarian reform
3.5 Natural disasters and calamities
3.6 Electrical power grid inadequacy
3.7 Influence in 1992 presidential campaign
4 Post-presidency and continued political activism
4.1 Activities and drives
4.1.1 Political causes
4.1.2 International engagements
4.1.3 Charitable and social initiatives
5 Illness and death
5.1 Wake and funeral
5.2 Reaction
5.2.1 Local reaction
5.2.2 International reaction
6 Honors
7 In popular culture
8 Legacy
9 Awards and achievements
10 Honorary doctorates
11 Foreign Orders
12 Ancestry
13 References
14 Literature
15 External links

Personal life[edit]

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improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources.
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2011)
Born at 9:45 PM on January 25, 1933, at San Juan de Dios Hospital
in Intramuros, Manila,[2] Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco
was the fourth child of Jose Cojuangco y Chichioco, Sr. and
Demetria Sumulong y Sumulong. Her siblings were Pedro, Josephine,
Teresita, Jose, Jr. and Maria Paz. Both Aquino's parents came from
prominent clans. Her father was a prominent Tarlac businessman and
politician, and her great-grandfather, Melecio Cojuangco, was a
member of the historic Malolos Congress. Her mother, Demetria,
belonged to the Sumulong family of Rizal who were also politically
influential; Juan Sumulong, a prominent member of the clan, ran
against Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon in 1941.
As a young girl, Aquino spent her elementary days at St.
Scholastica's College in Manila, where she graduated on top of her
class and batch as valedictorian. For high school, she transferred
to Assumption Convent for her first year of high school.
Afterwards, she went to the United States, the Assumption-run
Ravenhill Academy Philadelphia. The next year Cory transferred to
and graduated from Notre Dame Convent School in New York City.[3]
There she continued her college education in the US. She went on
to the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York City, where she
majored in Mathematics and French. During her stay in the United
States, Aquino volunteered for the campaign of U.S. Republican
presidential candidate Thomas Dewey against then Democratic U.S.
President Harry S. Truman during the 1948 U.S. Presidential
Election.
After graduating from college, she returned to the Philippines to
study law at the Far Eastern University (owned by the in-laws of
her elder sister, Josephine Reyes) for one year. She married Sen.
Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., son of the late Speaker Benigno S. Aquino,
Sr. and a grandson of General Servillano Aquino. The couple had
five children: Maria Elena (born August 18, 1955), Aurora Corazon
(born December 27, 1957), Benigno Simeon III (born February 8,
1960), Victoria Elisa (born October 27, 1961) and Kristina
Bernadette (born February 14, 1971).
Corazon Aquino had difficulty initially adjusting to provincial
life when she and her husband moved to Concepcion, Tarlac in 1955.
Aquino found herself bored in Concepcion, and welcomed the
opportunity to have dinner with her husband inside the American
military facility at nearby Clark Field.[4]
A member of the Liberal Party, Aquino's husband Ninoy rose to
become the youngest governor in the country and eventually became
the youngest senator ever elected to the Senate of the Philippines
in 1967. During her husband's political career, Aquino remained a
housewife who helped raise their children and played hostess to
her spouse's political allies who would frequent their Quezon City
home.[5] She would decline to join her husband on stage during
campaign rallies, preferring instead to stand at the back of the
audience and listen to him.[4]
Unknown to many, she voluntarily sold some of her prized
inheritance to fund the candidacy of her husband. She led a modest
existence in a bungalow in suburban Quezon City. Ninoy Aquino soon
emerged as a leading critic of the government of President
Ferdinand Marcos. He was then touted as a strong candidate for
president to succeed Marcos in the 1973 elections. However,
Marcos, being barred by the Constitution to seek a third term,
declared martial law on September 21, 1972, and later abolished
the existing 1935 Constitution, thereby allowing him to remain in
office. As a consequence, her husband was among those to be first
arrested at the onset of martial law, later being sentenced to
death. During his incarceration, Ninoy sought strength from
prayer, attending daily Mass and saying the rosary three times a
day. As a measure of sacrifice and solidarity with her husband and
all other political prisoners, she enjoined her children from
attending parties and she also stopped going to the beauty salon
or buying new clothes until a priest advised her and her children
to instead live as normal lives as possible.[4]
In 1978, despite her initial opposition, Ninoy decided to run in
the 1978 Batasang Pambansa elections. A reluctant speaker, Corazon
Aquino campaigned in behalf of her husband, and for the first time
in her life delivered a political speech. In 1980, upon the
intervention of U.S. President Jimmy Carter,[1] Marcos allowed
Senator Aquino and his family to leave for exile in the United
States, where he sought medical treatment.[6] The family settled in
Boston, and Aquino would later call the next three years as the
happiest days of her marriage and family life. On August 21, 1983,
however, Ninoy ended his stay in the United States and returned
without his family to the Philippines, only to be assassinated on
a staircase leading to the tarmac of the Manila International
Airport, which was later renamed in his honor (see Assassination
of Benigno Aquino, Jr.). Corazon Aquino returned to the
Philippines a few days later and led her husband's funeral
procession, in which more than two million people participated.[1]
1986 Presidential campaign[edit]
Main article: Philippine presidential election, 1986
Following her husband's assassination in 1983, Aquino became
active and visible in various demonstrations and protests held
against the Marcos regime. She began to assume the mantle of
leadership left by her husband Ninoy and started to become the
symbolic figurehead of the anti-Marcos political opposition. In
the last week of November 1985, Marcos surprised the nation by
announcing on American television that he would hold a snap
presidential election in February 1986, in order to dispel and
remove doubts against his regime's legitimacy and authority.[7]
Reluctant at first, Aquino was eventually prevailed upon to heed
the people's clamor, after one million signatures urging her to
run for president were presented to her. Despite this, the
erstwhile favorite opposition candidate, Laurel, did not
immediately give way to his close friend's widow. Laurel was only
convinced to run as Aquino's Vice President upon the urging of
Jaime Cardinal Sin, the politically influential Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Manila. As a compromise, Aquino agreed to run under
Laurel's machinery, the United Nationalist Democratic Organization
(UNIDO), then the country's largest opposition party. With that,
the Aquino-Laurel tandem was formally launched to challenge Marcos
and finally put an end to his two-decade rule.
In the subsequent political developments and events, Marcos
charged that Aquino was being supported by communists and agreed
to share power with them once elected into power. A political
novice, Aquino categorically denied Marcos' charge and even stated
that she would not appoint a single communist to her cabinet. [8]
Running on the offensive, the ailing Marcos also accused Aquino of
playing "political football" with the United States with respect
to the continued United States military presence in the
Philippines at Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base.[9] Further, the
male strongman derided Aquino's womanhood, by saying that she was
"just a woman" whose place was in the bedroom.[1] In response to her
opponent's sexist remark, and in reference to the fact that the
ailing and feeble Marcos was increasingly seen as being largely a
front man for his wife Imelda, Aquino simply remarked that "may
the better woman win in this election". Marcos also attacked
Aquino's inexperience and warned the country that it would be a
disaster if a woman like her with no previous political experience
was tb be elected president, to which Aquino cleverly and
sarcastically responded, admitting that she had "no experience in
cheating, lying to the public, stealing government money, and
killing political opponents".
The snap election called by Marcos which was held on February 7,
1986, was marred by massive electoral fraud, violence,
intimidation, coercion and disenfranchisement of voters. Election
Day proved to be bloody as one of Aquino's staunchest allies,
former Antique province Governor Evelio Javier, was brutally
murdered, allegedly by some of Marcos' supporters in his province.
Further, during the counting and tallying of votes conducted by
the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), 30 poll computer
technicians walked out to dispute and contest the alleged
election-rigging being done in favor of Marcos. Despite this, the
Batasang Pamabansa, which was dominated by Marcos' ruling party
and its allies, declared President Marcos as the winner on
February 15, 1986. In protest to the declaration of the Philippine
parliament, Aquino called for a rally dubbed "Tagumpay ng Bayan"
(People's Victory Rally) the following day, during which she
claimed that she was the real winner in the snap election and
urged Filipinos to boycott the products and services by companies
controlled or owned by Marcos' cronies. The rally held at the
historic Rizal Park in Luneta, Manila drew a mammoth-sized crowd,
which sent a strong signal that Filipinos were quite tired of
Marcos' two decades of rule and the lengths to which he would go
to perpetuate it. Further, the dubious election results drew sharp
reactions from both local quarters and foreign countries. The
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a
statement strongly criticizing the conduct of the election which
was characterized by violence and fraud. The United States Senate
likewise condemned the election.[5][10] Aquino rejected a power-
sharing agreement proposed by the American diplomat Philip Habib,
who had been sent as an emissary by U.S. President Ronald Reagan
to help defuse the tension.[10]
Accession as President[edit]
Main article: People Power Revolution
Corazon Aquino takes the Oath of Office before Chief Justice
Claudio Teehankee, Sr. in Club Filipino, San Juan on February 25,
1986
On February 22, 1986, disgruntled and reformist military officers
led by then-Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel
V. Ramos, surprised the entire nation and the international
community when they announced their defection from the Marcos
government, citing strong belief that Aquino was the real winner
in the contested presidential elections. Enrile, Ramos, and the
rebel soldiers then set up operations in Camp Aguinaldo, the
headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Camp
Crame (headquarters of the Philippine Constabulary) across
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). Cardinal Sin appealed to the
public in a broadcast over Church-run Radio Veritas, and millions
of Filipinos trooped to the part of Epifanio De los Santos Avenue
between the two camps to give their support and prayers for the
rebels.
At that time, Aquino was meditating in a Carmelite convent in
Cebu, and upon learning of the defection, she urged people to
rally behind Minister Enrile and General Ramos. Aquino flew back
to Manila to prepare for the takeover of the government, and after
three days of peaceful mass protests, was sworn in as the eleventh
President of the Philippines on February 25, 1986.[citation needed]
Presidency[edit]

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help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources.
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2011)
Main article: Presidency of Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino during a ceremony honoring United States Air force.
The triumph of the peaceful People Power Revolution and the
ascension of Corazon Aquino into power signaled the end of
authoritarian rule in the Philippines and the dawning of a new era
for Filipinos. The relatively peaceful manner by which Aquino came
into power drew international acclaim and admiration not only for
her but for the Filipino people, as well. One of Aquino's first
moves was the creation of the Presidential Commission on Good
Government (PCGG), which was tasked to go after the Marcos ill-
gotten wealth.
Constitutional and political reforms[edit]
Immediately after assuming the presidency, President Aquino issued
Proclamation 3, which established a revolutionary government.
She abolished the 1973 Constitution that was in force during
Martial Law, and by decree issued the provisional 1986 Freedom
Constitution pending the ratification of a more formal,
comprehensive charter. This allowed her to exercise both executive
and legislative powers until the ratification of the 1987
Constitution and the restoration of Congress in 1987.[11]
Aquino promulgated two landmark legal codes, namely, the Family
Code of 1987, which reformed the civil law on family relations,
and the Administrative Code of 1987, which reorganized the
structure of the executive branch of government. Another landmark
law that was enacted during her tenure was the 1991 Local
Government Code, which devolved national government powers to
local government units (LGUs). The new Code enhanced the power of
LGUs to enact local taxation measures and assured them of a share
in the national revenue. Aquino closed down the Marcos-dominated
Batasang Pambansa to prevent the new Marcos loyalist opposition
from undermining her democratic reforms and reorganized the
membership of the Supreme Court to restore its independence.
In May 1986, the reorganized Supreme Court declared the Aquino
government as "not merely a de facto government but in fact and
law a de jure government", whose legitimacy had been affirmed by
the community of nations.[12] This Supreme Court decision affirmed
the status of Aquino as the rightful leader of the Philippines. To
fast-track the restoration of a full constitutional government and
the writing of a new charter, she appointed 48 members of the 1986
Constitutional Commission ("Con-Com"), led by retired activist
Supreme Court Associate Justice Cecilia Muoz-Palma. The Con-Com
completed its final draft in October 1986.[13] On February 2, 1987,
the new Constitution of the Philippines, which put strong emphasis
on civil liberties, human rights and social justice, was
overwhelmingly approved by the Filipino people. The ratification
of the new Constitution was followed by the election of senators
and congress that same year and the holding of local elections in
1988.
Ministerial Cabinet (1986-1987)[14][edit]

OFFICE
NAME
TERM

President
Corazon Cojuancgo Aquino
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Vice-President
Salvador Laurel
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986

Prime Minister
Salvador Laurel
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Presidential Executive Assistant
Joker Arroyo
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Agrarian Reform
Jezreel F. Pattaguan
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Agriculture and Food
Ramon Mitra, Jr.
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Budget and Management
Alberto Romulo
February 26, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Education, Culture and Sports
Lourdes Quisimbing
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Finance
Jaime Ongpin
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Salvador Laurel
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Health
Alfredo Bengzon
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Local Government
and Community Development
Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Justice
Estelito Mendoza
February 25, 1986 February 28, 1986

Neptali Gonzales
February 29, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Labor and Employment
Augusto Snchez
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of National Defense
Juan Ponce Enrile
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Natural Resources
Ernesto Maceda
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Public Works and Highways
Rogaciano M. Mercado
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Minister of Tourism
Jose Antonio Gonzales
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Jose Concepcion
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Ministry of Transportation and Communications
Hernando Perez
February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986
Cabinet (1987-1992)[14][edit]

OFFICE
NAME
TERM

President
Corazon Cojuangco Aquino
March 25, 1986 June 30, 1992
Vice-President
Salvador Laurel
March 25, 1986 June 30, 1992

Executive Secretary
Joker Arroyo
February 25, 1986 September 15, 1987

Catalino Macaraig, Jr.


September 17, 1987 December 14, 1990

Oscar Orbos
December 16, 1990 July 14, 1991

Franklin Drilon
July 15, 1991 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Agrarian Reform
Jezreel F. Pattaguan
March 25, 1986 March 30, 1986

Conrado Estrella, Sr.


March 30, 1986 May 1, 1986

Heherson lvarez
May 1, 1986 March 7, 1987

Philip Juico
July 23, 1987 July 1, 1989

Miriam Defensor Santiago


July 20, 1989 January 4, 1990

Florencio Abad
January 4, 1990 April 5, 1990

Benjamin Leong
April 6, 1990 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Agriculture
Ramon Mitra, Jr.
March 25, 1986 June 30, 1987

Carlos Dominguez
June 30, 1987 January 1990

Senen Bacani
January 1990 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Budget and Management
Alberto Romulo
March 25, 1986 March 13, 1987

Guillermo Carague
March 13, 1987 February 12, 1992
Salvador Enriquez, Jr.
February 12, 1992 December 31, 1993
Secreary of Education, Culture and Sports
Lourdes Quisimbing
March 25, 1986 December 1989

Isidro Cario
January 3, 1990 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
Ernesto Maceda
March 25, 1986 December 1, 1986

Carlos Dominguez
December 2, 1986 March 9, 1987

Fulgencio S. Factoran
March 10, 1987 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Finance
Jaime Ongpin
March 25, 1986 September 14, 1987

Vicente Jayme
September 15, 1987 December 31, 1989

Jess Estanislao
January 1, 1990 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Salvador Laurel
March 25, 1986 September 1987

Ral Manglapus
October 1987 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Health
Alfredo Bengzon
March 25, 1986 February 7, 1992

Antonio O. Periquet
February 10, 1992 June 30, 1992
Minister of Local Government
Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.
March 25, 1986 December 7, 1986

Jaime Ferrer
December 8, 1986 August 2, 1987
Secretary of Local Government
Lito Monico C. Lorenzana
August 3, 1987 November 8, 1987

Luis T. Santos
November 9, 1987 December 10, 1991
Secretary of the Interior
and Local Government
Cesar N. Sarino
December 11, 1991 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Justice
Neptali Gonzales
March 25, 1986 March 1987

Sedfrey A. Ordoez
March 1987 January 1990

Franklin Drilon
January 4, 1990 July 14, 1991

Silvestre Bello III


July 1991 February 1992

Eduardo Montenegro
February 1992 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Labor and Employment
Augusto Snchez
March 25, 1986 June 30, 1992
Secretary of National Defense
Juan Ponce Enrile
March 25, 1986 November 23, 1986

Rafael Ileto
November 23, 1986 January 21, 1988

Fidel V. Ramos
January 22, 1988 July 18, 1991

Renato de Villa
July 20, 1991 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Public Works and Highways
Rogaciano M. Mercado
March 25, 1986 November 1986

Vicente Jayme
November 1986 1987

Juanito Ferrer
1987 1988

Fiorello Estaur
1988 1990

Jose de Jesus
1990 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
Mito Pardo de Tavera
1986 1992
Secretary of Tourism
Jose Antonio Gonzales
March 25, 1986 April 14, 1989

Narzalina Lim
April 14, 1989 June 7, 1989
in acting capacity

Peter Garrucho
June 8, 1989 January 8, 1991

Rafael Alunan III


January 9, 1991 February 16, 1992

Narzalina Lim
February 17, 1992 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Trade and Industry
Jose Concepcion
March 25, 1986 January 8, 1991

Peter Garrucho
January 9, 1991 June 30, 1992
Secretary of Transportation and Communications
Hernando Perez
March 25, 1986 March 16, 1987

Rainerio Reyes
March 16, 1987 January 3, 1990

Oscar Orbos
January 3, 1990 December 9, 1990

Arturo Corona
December 20, 1990 May 16, 1991

Pete Nicomedes Prado


March 23, 1991 June 30, 1992
Press Secretary
Teodoro Benigno
September 6, 1986 June 14, 1989

Adolfo Azcuna
June 16, 1989 December 31, 1989

Tomas Gomez III


January 4, 1990 February 11, 1992

Horacio Paredes
February 12, 1992 June 30, 1992

Director-General
of the National Economic and Development Authority
Winnie Monsod
July 22, 1987 1989
Jess Estanislao
1989 1990

Cayetano Paderanga, Jr.


1990 June 30, 1992
Solicitor General
Sedfrey A. Ordoez
1986 1987

Francisco Chavez
1987 February 6, 1992

Ramon Desuasido
February 6, 1992 June 30, 1992
Chairman
of the Metropolitan Manila Authority
Jejomar Binay
1990 1991

Ignacio Bunye
1991 June 30, 1992
Socio-economic programs and policies[edit]
Economy of the Philippines under
President Corazon Aquino
19861992
Population
1986
56.00 million
Gross Domestic Product
1986
Php 591,423 million
1991
Php 716,522 million
Growth rate, 1986-91
3.33%
Per capita income
1986
Php 10,622
1991
Php 11,250
Total exports
1986
Php 160,571 million
1991
Php 231,515 million
Exchange rates
1 US US$ = Php 27.61
1 Php = US US$ 0.04
Sources: Philippine Presidency Project
Malaya, Jonathan; Eduardo Malaya. So Help Us God... The Inaugurals
of the Presidents of the Philippines. Anvil Publishing, Inc.
Economic management[edit]
As soon as she assumed the presidency of the Philippines, Aquino
moved quickly to tackle the issue of the US$28 billion-foreign
debt incurred by her predecessor, which has badly tarnished the
international credit standing and economic reputation of the
country. After weighing all possible options such as choosing not
to pay, Aquino eventually chose to honor all the debts that were
previously incurred in order to clear the country's image. Her
decision proved to be unpopular but Aquino defended that it was
the most practical move. It was crucial for the country at that
time to regain the investors' confidence in the Philippine
economy. Beginning in 1986, the Aquino administration paid off $4
billion of the country's outstanding debts to regain good
international credit ratings and attract the attention of future
markets. Although it borrowed an additional $9 billion, increasing
the net national debt by $5 billion within six years after the
ouster of former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986,[15] due to the
need to infuse capital and money into the economy, the Aquino
administration succeeded in wrangling lower interest rates and
longer payment terms in settling the country's debts. From 87.9
percent when it inherited the foreign debt from the Marcos regime,
the Cory Aquino administration was able to reduce by 30.1 percent
the Philippines' external debt-to-GDP ratio to 67.8 percent in
1991.[16]
Further, recognizing how crony capitalism weakened the economy due
to collusion between government and big business and adhering to
the Catholic social principle of subsidiarity, President Aquino
set out on a course of market liberalization agenda while at the
same time emphasizing solidarity, people empowerment and civic
engagement to help alleviate poverty in the country. The Aquino
administration also sought to bring back fiscal discipline in
order as it aimed to trim down the government's budget deficit
that ballooned during Marcos' term through privatization of bad
government assets and deregulation of many vital industries. As
president, Aquino sought out to dismantle the cartels, monopolies
and oligopolies of important industries that were set up by Marcos
cronies during the dark days of Martial Law, particularly in the
sugar and coconut industries. By discarding these monopolies and
allowing market-led prices and competition, small farmers and
producers were given a fair chance to sell their produce and
products at a more reasonable, competitive and profitable price.
This, in a way, also helped a lot in improving the lot of farmers
who are in dire need of increasing their personal income and
earnings. It was also during Aquino's time that vital economic
laws such as the Built-Operate-Transfer Law, Foreign Investments
Act and the Consumer Protection and Welfare Act were enacted.
The economy posted a positive growth of 3.4% during her first year
in office. But in the aftermath of the 1989 coup attempt by the
rightist Reform the Armed Forces Movement, international
confidence in the Philippine economy was seriously damaged. During
her presidency, Mrs. Aquino made fighting inflation one of her
priorities, after reeling from skyrocketing prices during the
Martial Law years, in which at one point inflation reached 50.3
percent in 1984. Although inflation peaked at 18.1 percent during
the 1991 Gulf War, which caused panic among Filipinos who have
many family members working in the Middle East, inflation during
Mrs. Aquino's time averaged 9.6 percent from 1986 to 1992, which
was way lower than the average 20.9 percent-inflation rate that
was recorded during the last 6 years of the Marcos dictatorship.[17]
[18]
Overall, the economy under Aquino had an average growth of 3.8%
from 1986 to 1992.[19]
Soon after taking office, Aquino declared that the presence of
U.S. military forces in the Philippines was an affront to national
sovereignty. She ordered the United States military to vacate U.S.
Naval Base Subic Bay and Clark Air Base. The United States
objected, pointing that they had leased the property and the
leases were still in effect. Also, thousands of Filipinos worked
at these military facilities and they would lose their jobs and
the Filipino economy would suffer if the U.S. military moved out.
The United States stated that the facilities at Subic Bay were
unequaled anywhere in Southeast Asia and a U.S. pullout could make
all of that region of the world vulnerable to an incursion by the
Soviet Union or by a resurgent Japan. She refused to back down and
insisted that the United States get out. The matter was still
being debated when Mount Pinatubo erupted in June 1991, covering
the entire area with volcanic ash. The destruction to the bases
was so severe that the United States decided that it would best to
pull out after all, so the bases were closed and the United States
departed.[citation needed]
Agrarian reform[edit]
See also: Land reform in the Philippines
President Aquino envisioned agrarian and land reform as the
centerpiece of her administration's social legislative agenda.
However, her family background and social class as a privileged
daughter of a wealthy and landed clan became a lightning rod of
criticisms against her land reform agenda. On February 22, 1987,
three weeks after the resounding ratification of the 1987
Constitution, agrarian workers and farmers marched to the historic
Mendiola Street near the Malacaan Palace to demand genuine land
reform from Aquino's administration. However, the march turned
violent when Marine forces fired at farmers who tried to go beyond
the designated demarcation line set by the police. As a result, 12
farmers were killed and 19 were injured in this incident now known
as the Mendiola Massacre. This incident led some prominent members
of the Aquino Cabinet to resign their government posts.
In response to calls for agrarian reform, President Aquino issued
Presidential Proclamation 131 and Executive Order 229 on July 22,
1987, which outlined her land reform program, which included sugar
lands. In 1988, with the backing of Aquino, the new Congress of
the Philippines passed Republic Act No. 6657, more popularly known
as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law". The law paved the way
for the redistribution of agricultural lands to tenant-farmers
from landowners, who were paid in exchange by the government
through just compensation but were also allowed to retain not more
than five hectares of land.[20] However, corporate landowners were
also 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.[21] Despite the
flaws in the law, the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality
in 1989, declaring that the implementation of the comprehensive
agrarian reform program (CARP) provided by the said law, was "a
revolutionary kind of expropriation".[22]
Despite the implementation of CARP, Aquino was not spared from the
controversies that eventually centered on Hacienda Luisita, a
6,453-hectare estate located in the Province of Tarlac, which she,
together with her siblings inherited from her father Jose
Cojuangco (Don Pepe).[23]
Critics argued that Aquino bowed to pressure from relatives by
allowing stock redistribution under Executive Order 229. Instead
of land distribution, Hacienda Luisita reorganized itself into a
corporation and distributed stock. As such, ownership of
agricultural portions of the hacienda were transferred to the
corporation, which in turn, gave its shares of stocks to farmers.
[23]

The arrangement remained in force until 2006, when the Department


of Agrarian Reform revoked the stock distribution scheme adopted
in Hacienda Luisita, and ordered instead the redistribution of a
large portion of the property to the tenant-farmers. The
Department stepped into the controversy when in 2004, violence
erupted over the retrenchment of workers in the Hacienda,
eventually leaving seven people dead.[23]
Natural disasters and calamities[edit]
During her last two years in office, President Aquino's
administration faced series of natural disasters and calamities.
Among these were the 1990 Luzon earthquake, which left around
1,600 people dead and the 1991 volcanic eruption of what was then
thought to be a dormant Mount Pinatubo, which was the second
largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century,[24] killing around
300 people and causing widespread long-term devastation of
agricultural lands in Central Luzon. The worst loss of life
occurred when Tropical Storm Thelma (also known as Typhoon Uring)
caused massive flooding in Ormoc City in November 1991, leaving
around 6,000 dead in what was considered to be the deadliest
typhoon in Philippine history. It was also during Aquino's term
that the MV Doa Paz sank, the world's worst peacetime maritime
disaster of the 20th century in terms of loss of lives. The
disaster occurred in December 1987 and killed more than 1,700
people.[citation needed]
Electrical power grid inadequacy[edit]
During Aquino's presidency, electric blackouts became common in
Manila, her administration found that The Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas was ransacked on orders by the Marcoses leaving nothing
to pay for Crude oil importation. The capital experienced
blackouts lasting 712 hours, bringing numerous businesses to a
halt. By the departure of Aquino in June 1992, businesses in
Manila and nearby provinces had lost nearly $800 million since the
preceding March.
Influence in 1992 presidential campaign[edit]

President Corazon Aquino addresses base workers at a rally at Remy


Field concerning jobs for Filipino workers after the Americans
withdraw from the U.S. facilities
As the end of her presidency drew near, close advisers and friends
told Aquino that since she was not inaugurated under the 1987
Constitution, she was still eligible to seek the presidency again
in the upcoming 1992 elections, the first presidential elections
held under normal and peaceful circumstances since 1965. President
Aquino strongly declined the requests for her to seek reelection
and wanted to set an example to both citizens and politicians that
the presidency is not a lifetime position.
Initially, she named Ramon V. Mitra, a friend of her husband Ninoy
and then Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, as
her candidate for the presidential race in 1992. However, she
later on backtracked and instead threw her support behind the
candidacy of her defense secretary and EDSA Revolution hero,
General Fidel V. Ramos, who constantly stood by and defended her
government from the various coup attempts and rebellions that were
launched against her. Her sudden change of mind and withdrawal of
support from Mitra drew criticism not only from her supporters in
the liberal and social democratic sectors but also from the Roman
Catholic Church, which questioned her anointing of Ramos since the
latter was a Protestant. Nevertheless, Aquino's candidate
eventually won the 1992 elections, albeit with only 23.58% of the
total votes in a wide-open campaign, and was sworn in as the 12th
President of the Philippines on June 30, 1992.
Post-presidency and continued political activism[edit]

Mrs. Aquino speaking before the 2003 Ninoy Aquino Award ceremony
at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
Activities and drives[edit]
Political causes[edit]
On June 30, 1992, President Aquino formally and peacefully handed
over power to her anointed candidate and democratically elected
General Fidel Ramos, after six years of hard-fought democratic
transition and restoration. After the inauguration of the new
President, Aquino chose to leave by riding in a simple white
Toyota Crown she had purchased, rather than the lavish government-
issued Mercedes Benz which she and Ramos had ridden in on the way
to the ceremonies, to make the point that she was once again an
ordinary citizen.[25]
After Aquino retired to private life following the end of her term
she remained active in the Philippine political scene, constantly
voicing opposition and dissent to government actions and policies,
which she deemed as threats to the liberal traditions and
democratic foundations of the country. In 1997, Aquino, together
with Cardinal Jaime Sin, led a huge rally which succeeded in
thwarting then President Fidel Ramos' attempt to extend his term
by amending the 1987 Constitution's restriction on presidential
term limits. In 1998, Aquino endorsed the candidacy of former
police general and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim for president. Lim,
however, lost to then Vice-President Joseph Estrada, who won by a
landslide.[26] The following year, Aquino again with Cardinal Sin
successfully opposed President Estrada's plan to amend the
Constitution, which he said was intended to lift provisions that
'restrict' economic activities and investments; he denied that it
was another ploy for him to extend his stay in office.
In 2000, Aquino joined the mounting calls for Estrada to resign
from office, amid strong allegations of bribery charges and
gambling kickbacks and a series of corruption scandals, which
eventually led to his unsuccessful impeachment in December of that
year. In her Preface to Frank-Jrgen Richter and Pamela Mar's book
Asia's New Crisis[27] (see Amazon), she decries that the unique
Asian way of doing business has given rise to much crony
capitalism and opacity in Asia, including the Philippines. In
January 2001, during the EDSA Revolution of 2001 which ousted
Estrada, Aquino enthusiastically supported the ascendancy of
another woman, then Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to
power.[28]
In 2005, after a series of revelations and exposes alleged and
implicated President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in rigging the 2004
presidential elections, Aquino called on Macapagal-Arroyo to
resign in order to prevent bloodshed, violence and further
political deterioration.[29] Aquino was once again in the streets
leading massive demonstrations demanding the resignation of
President Arroyo.[30]
In the 2007 senatorial elections, Aquino actively campaigned for
the senatorial bid of her only son, Noynoy Aquino, who ran
successfully. In December 2008, Corazon Aquino publicly expressed
regret for her participation in the EDSA Revolution of 2001, which
installed Arroyo into power. She apologized to former President
Joseph Estrada for the role she played in his ouster in 2001. [31]
For this action, many politicians criticized Aquino.[32] In June
2009, two months before her death, Aquino issued a public
statement which strongly denounced and condemned the Arroyo
administration's plan of amending the 1987 Constitution, calling
such attempt as a "shameless abuse of power."
International engagements[edit]
Shortly after leaving the presidency, Aquino traveled abroad,
giving speeches and lectures on issues of democracy, development,
human rights and women empowerment. In 1997, Aquino attended the
wake and funeral of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whom she
met during the latter's visit in Manila in 1989. In the 2000s
(decade), Aquino joined various global leaders and democratic
icons in urging the Government of Burma to unconditionally release
Burmese democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi from detention, whom
she delivered a speech on behalf in the 1994 meeting of the UNESCO
World Commission on Culture and Development in Manila. In 2005,
Aquino joined the international community in mourning the death of
Pope John Paul II.[citation needed]
Charitable and social initiatives[edit]
Aside from being visible in various political gatherings and
demonstrations, Aquino was heavily involved in several charitable
activities and socio-economic initiatives. From 1992 until her
death, Aquino was chairperson of the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.
Foundation which she set up in her husband's honor right after his
brutal assassination in 1983. Further, she supported other causes
such as the Gawad Kalinga social housing project for the poor and
homeless. In 2007, Aquino helped establish the PinoyME Foundation,
a non-profit organization which aims to provide microfinancing
programs and projects for the poor. She was also a lifelong member
of the Council of Women World Leaders, an international
organization of former and current female heads of state and
government.
Illness and death[edit]
Main article: Death and funeral of Corazon Aquino

Wikinews has related news: Former Philippine President Corazon


Aquino dies at age 76
On March 24, 2008, Aquino's family announced that the former
President had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Upon her
being earlier informed by her doctors that she had only three
months to live,[33] she pursued medical treatment and chemotherapy.
A series of healing Masses for Aquino (a devout Catholic) were
held throughout the country. In a public statement during one
healing Mass on May 13, 2008, Aquino said that her blood tests
indicated that she was responding well to treatment; her hair and
appetite loss were apparent.[34]
By July 2009, Aquino was reported to be in very serious condition,
suffering from loss of appetite, and was confined to the Makati
Medical Center.[35] It was later announced that Aquino and her
family had decided to stop chemotherapy and other medical
interventions for her.[36][37]
Aquino, aged 76 years old, died peacefully at the Makati Medical
Center at 3:18 a.m., of cardiorespiratory arrest.[38]
Wake and funeral[edit]

Queue for Aquino's wake in front of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng


Maynila campus, which had opened its facilities including a clinic
and restrooms for the mourners.[39] The cross topping the dome of
Manila Cathedral is visible in the upper right of the photo.
Upon learning of Aquino's death, incumbent President Macapagal-
Arroyo, who was then on a state visit to the United States,
announced a 10-day mourning period for the former President and
issued Administrative Order 269 detailing the necessary
arrangements for a state funeral.[40] Aquino's children, however,
declined the government's offer of a state funeral for their
mother.[41]
All churches in the Philippines celebrated requiem masses
simultaneously throughout the country and all government offices
flew the Philippine flag at half mast. Hours after her death on
August 1, Aquino's body lay in state for public viewing at the La
Salle Green Hills campus in Mandaluyong City. On August 3, 2009,
Aquino's body was transferred from La Salle Greenhills to Manila
Cathedral in Intramuros, during which hundreds of thousands of
Filipinos lined the streets to view and escort the former leader's
body. En route to the Cathedral, Aquino's funeral cortege passed
along Ayala Avenue in Makati, stopping in front of the monument to
her husband Ninoy, where throngs of mourners gathered and sang the
patriotic protest anthem "Bayan Ko".[42] Aquino's casket was
solemnly brought inside the Cathedral by mid-afternoon that day.
Following her death, all Roman Catholic dioceses in the country
held requiem Masses.[43]

Corazon Aquino's funeral procession, with an Honour Guard composed


of one serviceman from each branch of the Armed Forces and the
Philippine National Police.
On August 4, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., and Imee Marcoschildren of
the late strongman Ferdinand Marcospaid their last respects to
the woman who helped depose their father in 1986. The Marcos
siblings were received by Aquino's daughters Mara Elena Aquino-
Cruz, Aurora Corazn Aquino-Abellada, and Victoria Elisa Aquino-
Dee.[44] Early the next morning, President Macapagal-Arroyo, who had
cut short her trip in the United States, briefly paid her last
respects to her erstwhile ally President Aquino.
A final requiem Mass was held on the morning of August 5, with
then-Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, then-Bishop
of Balanga Socrates B. Villegas, and other high-ranking clergymen
concelebrating. Aquino's daughter Kris spoke on behalf of her
family towards the end of the Mass. Aquino's flag-draped casket
was escorted from the Cathedral to Manila Memorial Park in
Paraaque, where she was interred beside her husband in the family
mausoleum. Aquino's funeral procession took more than eight hours
to reach the burial site, as tens of thousands of civilians lined
the route to pay their respects. Philippine Air Force UH-1
helicopters showered the procession with yellow confetti and ships
docked at Manila's harbour blared their sirens, all to salute the
late President, .
Reaction[edit]
Both local and international leaders showed respect for Aquino's
achievements in the process of democratization in the Philippines.
Local reaction[edit]
Various politicians across the political spectrum expressed their
grief and praise for the former Philippine leader. President
Arroyo, once an ally of Aquino, remembered the sacrifices she made
for the country and called her a "national treasure."[38] Former
President Estrada said that the country had lost its mother and
guiding voice with her sudden death. He also described Aquino as
the "Philippines' most loved woman."[45] Though once bitter
political foes, Aquino and Estrada reconciled and joined hands
together in opposing President Arroyo.[46]
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Aquino's defense minister and
later fierce critic, asked the public to pray for her eternal
repose. Although former Aquino interior minister and Senate
Minority floor leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., revealed that he had
"mixed feelings" about Aquino's death, he also said that the
country "shall be forever indebted to Cory for rallying the nation
behind the campaign to topple dictatorial rule and restore
democracy".[47]
Ordinary Filipinos throughout the country wore either yellow
shirts or held masses for Aquino as their way of paying tribute to
the woman who once led them in a revolution that changed the
course of their country's history. Yellow Ribbons, which were once
used during Aquino's battle with Marcos, were tied along major
national roads and streets as a sign of solidarity and support for
the now deceased Aquino and her grieving family. In popular social
networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, Filipinos posted
yellow ribbons in their accounts as a tribute to the former
Philippine leader. Following her death, Filipino Catholics called
on the Church to have Aquino canonized and declared as a saint.
During her lifetime, Aquino was known and praised for her strong
spirituality and sincere devotion to the Catholic faith. Days
after her funeral, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced
that it supported calls to put the former President on the 500-
Peso banknote alongside her husband, Ninoy Aquino.[48]
International reaction[edit]
Across the globe, messages of sympathy and solidarity with the
Filipino people were sent by various heads of state and
international leaders. Pope Benedict XVI, in his letter to
Archbishop Rosales, recalled Aquino's "courageous commitment to
the freedom of the Filipino people, her firm rejection of violence
and intolerance" and called her a woman of courage and faith. U.S.
President Barack Obama, through White House Press Secretary Robert
Gibbs, said that "her courage, determination, and moral leadership
are an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the
Filipino nation". U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
expressed sadness over the passing of Aquino, to whom she had sent
a personal letter of best wishes for recovery while she was still
in hospital in July 2009. Clinton said that Aquino was "admired by
the world for her extraordinary courage" in leading the fight
against dictatorship.[49] Meanwhile, South Africa President Jacob
Zuma called Aquino "a great leader who set a shining example of
peaceful transition to democracy in her country".[50]
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, through the British
Ambassador in Manila, sent a message to the Filipino people which
read: "I am saddened to hear of the death of Corazon Cory Aquino
the former President of the Republic of the Philippines". She also
added, "I send my sincere condolences to her family and to the
people of the Philippines. Signed, Elizabeth R".[51]
Furthermore, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in a telegram to
President Arroyo, said that "the name of Corazon Aquino is
associated with a period of profound reforms and the democratic
transformation of Filipino society". Medvedev also lauded Aquino's
sympathy to Russian people and her contribution to the improvement
of Russian-Filipino relations.[52]
Moreover, global democratic icons such as Timor-Leste President
Jose Ramos-Horta and Wan Azizah, wife of Malaysian opposition
leader Anwar Ibrahim, came to the Philippines not just to express
their sympathies but to attend their friend Aquino's death and
funeral, as well.
After her release from imprisonment for almost 20 years, Aung San
Suu Kyi, Burma's democratic opposition leader, publicly stated
that Aquino is one of her inspirations as she continues to
champion the cause of democracy in Myanmar. She has also expressed
her good wishes for Aquino's son, incumbent Philippine president
Benigno S. Aquino III.
Honors[edit]
After leaving the presidency, Aquino received several awards and
citations. In 1994, Aquino was cited as one of 100 Women Who
Shaped World History in a reference book written by Gail Meyer
Rolka and published by Bluewood Books in San Francisco,
California.[53] In 1996, she received the J. William Fulbright Prize
for International Understanding from the Fulbright Association,
joining past recipients such as Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela.[54]
In August 1999, Aquino was chosen by Time Magazine as one of the
20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th century.[55] The same
magazine cited her in November 2006 as one of 65 great Asian
Heroes, along with Aung San Suu Kyi, Deng Xiaoping, Lee Kuan Yew,
Mahatma Gandhi, and King Bhumibol Adulyadej.[56] In 2002, Aquino
became the first woman named to the Board of Governors of the
Board of the Asian Institute of Management, a leading graduate
business school and think tank in the Asia Pacific region. [57] She
served on the Board until 2006.[58]
In popular culture[edit]

The "New Generation" 500 peso note featuring the portrait of


Corazon Aquino and her husband Benigno Aquino, Jr..

Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino's grave is next to her


husband Ninoy Aquino's at the Manila Memorial Park in Paraaque,
Philippines
Aquino was portrayed by Laurice Guillen in the 1988 HBO miniseries
A Dangerous Life. Aquino was a main character in Boy Noriega's
1987 stage comedy Bongbong at Kris (Bongbong and Kris), about an
imagined romantic coupling between the only son of Ferdinand
Marcos and the youngest daughter of the Aquinos. In the movie
Alfredo Lim: Batas ng Maynila, Aquino was portrayed by Filipino
actress Luz Valdez. Aquino was portrayed by Tess Villarama in The
Obet Pagdanganan Story (1997) and in Chavit (2003). She was also
portrayed by Geraldine Malacaman in the 1998 musical play Lean. In
the defunct comedy gag show Ispup, Madz Nicolas played a parodized
version of Aquino who often reminisces about life with Ninoy. In
2004, Aquino was portrayed by Irma Adlawan in the miniseries Sa
'Yo Lamang (Only Yours).
In 2008, a musical play about Aquino starring Isay Alvarez as
Aquino, was staged at the Meralco Theater. Entitled Cory, the
Musical, it was written and directed by Nestor Torre and featured
a libretto of 19 original songs composed by Lourdes Pimentel, wife
of Senator Aquilino Pimentel.[59][60][61] A two-part special of
Maalaala Mo Kaya aired on January 23 and 30, 2010. Actors Bea
Alonzo played Corazon Aquino and Piolo Pascual portrayed Ninoy
Aquino.
Legacy[edit]

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improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources.
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2011)

Cory Aquino memorial at General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.


As the guiding light of the People Power Revolution, Corazon
Aquino is fondly remembered and deeply revered by Filipinos as the
"mother of Philippine democracy", the "housewife who led a
revolution" and the "woman who restored democracy". Many also see
her both as a hero and a saint. She has also been hailed as a
modern-day Joan of Arc by international observers.
Despite the accolades she has received for assuming the mantle of
leadership of the democratic struggle against the Marcos
dictatorship, Aquino has always stated that it was actually the
Filipino people, not her, who restored democracy in the
Philippines and maintained that she was only an instrument.
As president, for all the challenges and headaches her
administration faced, Aquino will be remembered for bringing back
democratic, republican and constitutional rule in the Philippines
with the unveiling and ratification of the 1987 Constitution. She
also promulgated the New Civil Code of the Philippines and the
Family Code of the Philippines. Also, her presidency would be
remembered for its emphasis on decentralization of governmental
powers by pressing for more involvement of local governments and
pushing for autonomy as a means to ward off ethnic secessionism in
the Cordillera and Muslim Mindanao regions.
In terms of economics, despite the setbacks, the Aquino
Administration will be best remembered for trying hard to shore up
investments in the Philippines, liberalizing and deregulating
failing government-owned corporations and entities. Aquino also
laid down the foundations for a socially oriented market economy
in the Philippines that would be marked by market reforms and
people empowerment.
To preserve and celebrate her legacy, various types of
commemorations and memorials in honor of President Aquino were
made. Among these are as follow:
On February 3, 2010, Grand Prize winner Julian Eymard
Paguiligan of Bulacan State University's College of
Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) made his painting entry
entitled Ika-25 ng Pebrero, 1986 presented in the last year's
24th Visual Arts National Competition for the Directories
Philippines Corporation's directory cover as a paid tribute.
He made a portrait of the late President Aquino in
27.5x34.25" watercolor on paper, as a symbol for her
contribution not only for democracy, but also in the
successes of the EDSA Revolution in the past.
On June 15, 2010, Batasan Hills Elementary School (BHES) in
Batasan Hills, Quezon City changed its name to the "President
Corazon C. Aquino Elementary School" or (PCCAES).
On August 1, 2010, the first anniversary of her death, a
200x250 Photo Mosaic of Aquino was unveiled near the Quirino
Grandstand at the Luneta Park, Manila in the presence of her
son, President Benigno Aquino III and supporters of the late
President. It has been submitted to the Guinness World
Records to be certified as the largest photo mosaic in the
world.
On October 9, 2010, Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim inaugurated
on Friday a public market in Baseco, Port Area named after
the late President Corazon C. Aquino. The President Corazon
C. Aquino Public Market, which lies at the heart of the
community, has 77 stalls selling meat, fresh fruits, cooked
food, rice, vegetables and a variety of dry goods including
condiments, garments, and plastic wares.
On December 16, 2010, President Noynoy Aquino and Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines)
announced the release of new 500-peso bill and presented
their new design, which features both Ninoy and Cory Aquino.

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