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Corazon Aquino
Corazon Cojuangco Aquino was born Jan. 25, 1933 in the province of Tarlac in the Philippines. In 1954 she married Benigno Aquino Jr., a popular critic of the current Marcos dictatorship. Marcos imprisoned Benigno and agreed to set him free only if he left the Philippines. Benigno was in critical need of heart surgery, so he took his wife and left for New York. Three years later Benigno returned to the Philippines to run in the presidential election of 1984. As he got out of the plane in Manila, he was shot in the head. Corazon, housewife and widow, found herself in her husband’s place, running for president.
She officially lost the election to Marcos, but since he was in charge of counting the votes, it was believed that he rigged the election. After Marcos was expelled from office by the “People Power” revolution, Corazon became the first female president of the Philippines. Corazon was a well educated woman, well trained in the area of politics. Although she had had no experience she was prepared. Corazon restored democratic institutions, helped to create a new constitution, freed political prisoners, created peace processes that enabled national stability, and prepared the country for economic recovery. She also restored people’s faith in the government. She lead by example and resolved issues without violence.
Corazon has received several honorary degrees as well as recognitions and awards such as: Woman of the Year, the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award, the Canadian International Prize for freedom, the International Leadership Living Legacy Award, and the United Nations Silver Medal. Corazon Aquino served one term that lasted six years. She did not run for re-election.
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