Aquino, Corazon (1933–)

Philippine president. Name variations: Cory. Born Maria Corazon Cojuangco, Jan 25, 1933, in Tarlac Province, Philippines; 6th of 8 children of José Cojuangco and Demetria "Metring" Sumulong (dau. of Juan Sumulong, a nationally known Philippine senator; the Sumulongs, were among the wealthiest landowners of Rizal Province); educated at an exclusive girls' school in Manila; finished education at 2 Roman Catholic convent schools—Raven Hill Academy in Philadelphia and Notre Dame School in NY City; graduated from Mount St. Vincent College with a major in French, 1953; m. Benigno Aquino Jr. (1932–1983, governor), Oct 11, 1954; children: 5.

Political leader and president of the Philippines (1986–92), who led a quiet revolution that overthrew the Marcos regime without a single shot; before becoming a major opponent of Ferdinand Marcos, served as political wife while husband Benigno Aquino Jr. served as mayor, senator, and governor; saw husband and thousands of the opposition arrested (1972); became speaker for Benigno, lobbying for his release; when husband was released from prison for reasons of health, family went into exile in US (1980); after husband, returning to the Philippines, was murdered as he stepped off the plane (Aug 21, 1983), became his surrogate, leading a revolution in the streets that ousted the Marcos regime; was sworn in as president (Feb 25, 1986); cleaned up corruption, instituted land reform, and rewrote the constitution; saw opposition to her term of office continue and six coups staged against her administration; despite immense challenges, brought the Philippines through troubled times, leaving a more stable democracy when her term ended (1992).

See also Lucy Komisar, Corazon Aquino: The Story of a Revolution (George Braziller, 1987); and Women in World History.