Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino died August 1, 2009. 3:18 a.m. (GMT) after battling colon cancer for over a year. She was 76.
Aquino is hailed as the leader of the People Power movement that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos out of power in 1986. She stealthily took the reins of the revolution after her husband, Benigno Aquino, was assassinated in 1983, having just returned from exile. She took the streets accusing Marcos of murder and led protestors against the Marcos regime.
She had a tumultuous reign as president from 1986 to 1992, and has since become an iconic figure not only to the Philippines, but internationally as well. She is recognized as the first female president of an Asian nation. To her nation’s people she is lovingly referred to as Cory and is associated with the color yellow—a color that has since come to symbolize the People Power movement itself.
Diagnosed in March 2008 with colon cancer, Aquino concealed her disease and continued to appear publicly. A devout Catholic, Aquino attended mass weekly until late June of this year, when she was admitted to the hospital.
Just as the Philippine people rallied behind Aquino’s leadership of the revolution over two decades ago, they again showed their support holding a constant vigil to pray for her struggle with cancer.
Her memory stands as a constant reminder of the importance of advocating peace, democracy, and the empowerment of women.
Laban was her trademark rallying cry—and fight is exactly what Aquino did until the very end.
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Image by Aaron Favila/Associated Press
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By catherine on August 5, 2009 - 8:30pm
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I don't have TFC, so I've just been piecing things together via internet videos and whatnot.
What are people's thoughts on the people's reaction/attendance/and the overall mood of the services?