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FOR THE PEOPLE August 1 2009
Yesterday, the Philippines lost one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. She was Corazon Aquino, the widow of Ninoy Aquino, the simple housewife who brought democracy back to the Philippines in 1986. After a struggle with colon cancer, the revered figure passed on.
Her husband, the opposition leader during the Ferdinand Marcos regime, is one of my personal heroes. He instilled hope among people who suffered under corrupt and authoritarian rule. He said things like, “It is the highest privilege, my last act of freedom, to choose to die at the dictator’s hands, before the eyes of our people and all humanity, rather than live on my knees at the feet of tyranny.” And he did; Ninoy was assassinated the minute he got off the plane when returning to the Philippines from exile. His death threw Cory Aquino into the public eye, as members of the opposition were convinced that she could bring Marcos down. They were right. That moment in 1986, when Marcos was driven away from his own country by a civilian rebellion led by Aquino, is one of the most astonishing scenes in political history. With that, she became the first female president of the Philippines. Through her term, Aquino was an extension of her husband’s political beliefs. She fought for nonviolence, protested corruption, and began the process of restoring the country to solid ground. And ‘til the day she died, she kept on fighting.
May the angels lead her in.
“I don’t have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It’s always the people who make things happen.” - Corazon Aquino
Comments
- C. Aquno on August 3 2009 at 4:44pm says
- “ that's an awesome piece. she's a national treasure who moved mountains for the filipino nation. ”