Cory Aquino, the first woman president in Asia and symbol of democracy, dies

(August 1, 2009) Maria Corazon C. Aquino, the first woman president of Asia and 7th President of the Philippines died early morning of August 1^st at 3:18 local time from colon cancer. She was 76 years old. Fr. Laguerta, rector of the seminary of San Carlos said that Aquino - familiarly known as "Tita (aunt) Cory" - "was a woman of faith, full of courage and a symbol of democracy." In 1986, Aquino with the collaboration of the late Cardinal Jaime Sin, archbishop of the capital, and the support millions led the “rosary revolution" that resulted in the ousting of Dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy in the country after years of martial law and political attacks, in 1983. Current President Gloria Arroyo, who owes her election to the support of Cory, has declared 10 days of national mourning. Thousands of people are flocking to her house and the Edsa Shrine in Quezon City, where the “rosary revolution” culminated, praying, leaving flowers and yellow bows, the colour of that uprising. The shrine, dedicated to Our Lady of Peace, was built in 1989 to celebrate the end of the dictatorship in a peaceful manner, without bloodshed. Cory Aquino was born July 25 1933 in Tarlac, the daughter of a very rich family. After studying in the U.S. in '54 she married Benigno Aquino, a journalist and was known as "a perfect wife and a very careful mother." After the murder of her husband she led the revolution with her message of honesty and justice, and disgust for the violence of the Marcos regime. The nation will remember her forever because she was a symbol of freedom", a "gift of God to the Philippines."