An “Ordinary Housewife” Who Became the “Mother of Democracy”: Corazon Aquino

She described herself as an “ordinary housewife,” but she was anything but ordinary. Corazon Aquino lead the “people power” peaceful revolution in the Philippines that saw the end of the brutal, kleptocratic 20-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and the return of the country to democracy.

As a young woman she married an ambitious young politician; they had five children together, and Cory, as she was known to her people, devoted herself to her family, having no political ambitions herself.

When her husband, Benigno Aquino, challenged Marcos’s brutal rule, he was first imprisoned for eight years, then sent to exile, where Cory followed him with their children. After three years of exile, Benigno Aquino returned to the Philippines in 1983 to challenge Ferdinand Marcos in presidential elections. He was assassinated as soon as he landed at Manila airport.

This created an uproar in the country, and the opposition asked Cory to run in her late husband’s place. “What on earth do I know about being president?” she said in an interview, according to New York Times. She repeatedly referred to herself as an ordinary housewife, but she ultimately decided to run: “The only thing I can really offer the Filipino people is my sincerity,” she said.

Ordinary people rallied to her side, as did religious organizations. Marcos initially dismissed her “as just a woman,” according to WomensHistory.org, but eventually realized that this woman was actually going to end his rule, so he attempted to rig the elections, and even claimed the victory when he lost.

Marcos’s refusal to step down created another turmoil in the country. But, Cory lead the “people power” movement in a strictly peaceful manner to ultimately force Marcos out without a single life lost. When she was sworn in as president in 1986, one of her first acts was to reinstate the constitution, return the power to the parliament and limit the power of the president – her own power.

Corazon Aquino survived multiple coup attempts, and successfully lead the country back to democracy.  “I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life,” was one of her better-known quotes.  She remained president of the Philippines for six years, and peacefully transitioned power to her successor at the end of her term.

“There is much that women can bring into politics that would make our world a kinder, gentler place for humanity to thrive in,” she once said. Another famous quote: “I am not embarrassed to tell you that I believe in miracles.”

Is it a miracle to have a woman like Corazon Aquino rise to the heights that she did? If it is, then we all need more miracles like that.

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Counting down toward March 8, the International Women’s Day, I aim to write a short post every day about a woman whose story inspired me. This is the third post in the eight-part series.

#womenshistorymonth