Tita Cory

“I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life.”
-- Corazon Aquino

If there is any indication of the healing masses offered daily by her friends it is this...Tita Cory is well-loved and admired. The X and Y generation may no longer know her accomplishments other than being the mother of TV personality Kris Aquino so I took the time to write about her and what she has done.

The Philippines has shown the world that a peaceful transition of power from dictatorship to democracy can be done. The turning point was 1986. And the person who emerged as the country's beacon of hope for a new Philippines was Tita Cory.

Born Maria Corazon Cojuangco on January 25, 1933, Tita Cory belonged to the wealthy Cojuangco clan of Tarlac. She received her basic and secondary education from Assumption in Manila, an exclusive school for girls. She earned her Bachelor of Arts major in French and minor in Mathematics from College of Mount Saint Vincent, New York City. Upon her return to the Philippines to pursue law, she met Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., a brilliant young senator, whom she later married. What could have been a blissful marriage turned bitter at the turn of events.

Wanting to end Marcos' tyrannical rule, Sen. Ninoy Aquino returned from his US exile on August 21, 1983 amidst the objections of his family. He was shot dead on his way down the tarmac at the Manila International Airport. The Philippines hope for freedom seemingly crushed with his untimely demise.

In order to unite the opposition, Tita Cory reluctantly agreed to run for president against Ferdinand Marcos. Being the widow of a well-respected senator, support from various groups rallied behind her: the Roman Catholic church, the civil society and the military. The 1986 presidential elections gave the win to Marcos to the dismay of Filipinos. Nonetheless, a series of non-violent civil disturbances were launched by Aquino supporters that culminated in the peaceful People Power in EDSA on February 25, 1986. Marcos and his cronies fled and Tita Cory assumed the presidency from 1986-1992.

For her works to restore democracy in the country, Tita Cory received numerous accolades and honorary degrees. Among them were TIME Magazine's Woman of the Year (1986) and TIME Asia's Asian Heroes (2006).

Visit her official website to learn more.