Corazon Aquino

Profession: 11th President of the Philippines

Nationality:

Biography: Named the “Mother of Philippine Democracy”, Aquino was the 1st woman to become President of the Philippines and the most prominent figure of the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the 20-year authoritarian rule of Ferdinand Marcos.

Corazon Aquino was wife of prominent opposition politician Benigno Aquino and when he was assassinated in 1983 and Marco's government implicated, she rose to political prominence.

In February 1986, Marcos announced a snap election and Aquino ran against him in an election marred by corrupt practices and violence. Aquino contested the declaration of Marcos' win and when the military supported her, Marcos and his supporters fled the country.

Some of Aquino's first efforts in power were to create a Constitutional Commission to draft a new constitution, giving strong emphasis to civil liberties. Aquino also set up a Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in an attempt to retrieve President Marcos’s ill-gotten wealth.

Throughout her term Aquino focused on restoring the country's dented economic reputation while also focusing on peace talks to try to resolve the ongoing Communist insurgency and Islamist secession movements.

Born: January 25, 1933
Birthplace: Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: August 1, 2009 (aged 76)
Cause of Death: Colon cancer