Maria Corazon C. Aquino, 11 th President of the Philippines, a self-proclaimed plain housewife" died August 1, 2009 of colon cancer.
Advocate of democracy, peace, women's empowerment, religious piety.
Renowned widow of the assassinated Philippine Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. who was the leading opposition against the autocratic l eader, President Marcos.
Icon of democracy, installed as President by the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution
Awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize. Awarded the1986 Eleonor Roosevelt Human Rights Award
" Cory" was the name she was universally and affectionately known, was the Philippine president quite unlike her predecessors.
One of the 65 great Asian Heroes cited by Time Magazine in 1999 and as one of the 100 Women Who Shaped World History in a reference book written by Gail Meyer Rolka.
Received Doctor of International Relations, honoris causa from: Boston University in Boston , Eastern University in St. David , PA , Fordham University in New York and Waseda University in Tokyo and received other honorary doctorates from colleges and universities in the Philippines and the U.S.
Awarded the J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding. She joined past recipients such as Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela.
Zealously supported and campaigned in behalf of her imprisoned husband who decided to run for president against Marcos. Her husband was later assassinated when he returned to the Philippines from exile in the U.S.
One of Time Magazine's 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20 th Century (1999), One of the World's Elite Women Who Make a Difference by the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame (2005)
Nominated in 1986 for the Nobel Peace Prize, United Nations Development Fund for Women Noel Award for Polictical Leadership
Attended Saint Scholastica's College in Manila as class valedictorian, a Attended Assumption Convent in Manila, Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia, the Notre Dame Convent School in New York and the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York. Studied Law at Far Eastern University in the Philippines .
Quitely impressed the joint session of the United States Congress when she delivered a speech in September 1986 of which then U.S. House Speaker Tip O'Neil hailed it as the "finest speech he had ever heard in his 34 years in Congress." The then Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole said to her, "Cory, you hit a home run." Without missing a beat, Aquino smiled and shot back: "I hope the bases were loaded."
Unifying force and became the focal point of the opposing party against President Marcos and was drafted to run against Marcos in the 1986 snap presidential election.
Iron-willed, headstrong, smiling and wearing yellow dress. In the Philippines ' macho culture, the bespectacled lady president had to act tough to earn respect.
No political ambition and with no prior political experience, and because of the death of her husband she catapulted into becoming the first female president of the Philippines and the first female president in Asia .
Openly religious, she drew strength from prayers, did a ten-hour meditation session at a Catholic convent before she accepted the nomination to become the presidential candidate to run against Marcos.
The author has written the above in an Acrostic form where the first letter of each line forms a word when you read them looking downward.
By Nenita Wells
Source: Wikipedia, Yahoo News
If you love to read and write prose and poetry, why not become a new author at http://www.searchwarp.com and join the community of writers.
The author was born in one of the 7,100 islands in the Philippines, in Leyte where the famous American five-star general, Douglas MacArthur landed during WWII. She is one of eight children, five sisters, two brothers and thirty-five nieces and nephews. She was raised by her parents to be a good Christian. Attended public school both in Elementary and High School in the Philippines. She went to college under the work and study program, earned her bachelor's degree with honors and her first paid full-time job was as a secretary to the High School Principal, her first boss was a Benedictine Sister from Germany who was the Administrator of the Catholic school. She lived in New York, N.Y. with her husband in 1977 until 2004 and now lives in Providence, Rhode Island. She loves to read and write poetry.
» left by Nenita Wells from Providence, RI (108 days 8 hours ago.)
Hi Connor.
Thank you for reading and commenting on my article. Mrs. Aquino will be missed tremendously, a very remarkable woman and inspired a lot of people including myself.
» left by Nenita Wells from Providence, RI (108 days ago.)
Hi Rob.
Thank you for stopping by, reading and commenting my article. She truly was an outstanding woman. She was a "National Treasure" of the Philippine poeple.
» left by norman bucasas from philippines (105 days 18 hours ago.)
yes, i bid farewell too. Because of her, lots have changed. I also debt her for my working at the airport which has also improved my life. Thanks for the poem. She will be missed.
» left by Nenita Wells from Providence, RI (105 days ago.)
Hi Norman.
Yes, it is a loss for the Filipinos for she was a remarkable and unforgettable woman. You can tell your children about her when they are grown and be inspired by her as I am.
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