Ritam Banati
Don’t go by her outward fragility. Judge her by the strength that she portrays in her grace and dignity. Philippines ex-President orazon Aquino who passed away at age 76 was an icon of democracy. The wave that she started resulted in the defeat of Communism in Eastern Europe at the time.
This is perhaps what led ex-President Joseph Estrada, who was toppled in the second "people power" revolt — backed by Aquino — in 2001, say that the Philippines had "lost the true mother of democracy".
Maria Corazon Cojuangco was born on January 25, 1933, into a wealthy, politically powerful family in Paniqui, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Manila.
It is true that she entered politics on account of her being the wife of Opposition leader Ninoy Aquino, who was assassinated on returning from exile in the US after three years. At the time Corazon or Cory, as she was popularly called, was in the US along with their children. After initial reluctance, the “home-maker by choice” woman decided to take up cudgels against the anti-democratic forces of her country.
This woman had plans to become a teacher but took up studying law which she left after her marriage. Destiny, it seems had a bigger plan for her. She charted on her political course when she stood for elections in the country. The polls were announced by ruler dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos won but many voices criticised his win alleging fraud.
There were massive protests and the colossal “Peoples Power Revolution” successfully challenged the corrupt rule of Marcos. Corazon Aquino became the first female President of her country and also of an Asian country. And the interesting bit is that her uprising which ended the 20-year repressive regime of Ferdinand Marcos was non-violent.
She won lot of global awards and international level doctorates and this reflected her immense popularity across the world.
Not that there was no opposition to her rule from within parties that also challenged communism in the country. But her dedication to the cause that she wanted to establish in her nation withstood it all.
When Armed Forces Vice-Chief of Staff General Fidel Ramos told her to join forces with him and be his running mate she successfully convinced him to be the running mate instead and merged her political party with his.
Till the end Ramos stood by her like a rock. He became the second-most powerful person in the government and helped in the defeat of forces which were hell bent on overthrowing her democratic rule. The first five military coup attempts were nipped in the bud but the last two resulted in several casualties and injuries.
This made President Aquino revamp her government and sack people with Leftist leanings.
There were other troubles also in store for Cory. The agrarian reform bill that she signed virtually exempted large plantations like her family's sugar estate from being distributed to landless farmers.
When farmers protested outside the Malacanang Presidential Palace on Jan. 22, 1987, troops opened fire in which some were killed and several wounded. Aquino also attempted to negotiate with Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines, but made little progress.
During her reign from 1986-1992, Cory promulgated two legal codes that sparked off reforms—the Family Code of 1987, which reformed the civil law on family relations, and the Administrative Code of 1987, which reorganized the structure of the executive.
Aquino tried to block a historic Senate vote to force US out of its two major bases in the Philippines. This was because she wanted to keep America in good humour. In the end, the US Air Force pulled out of Clark Air Base in 1991. But this was after Mount Pinatubo erupted leaving the base heavily damaged. The last American vessel left Subic Bay Naval Base in November 1992.
Besides, she also faced enormous pressure when her country went through a severe economic crisis-perhaps the worst in the country so far.
She may have been criticised on a number of other counts as well. But then which politician on earth isn’t? Like she herself said in an interview, "People used to compare me to the ideal President, but he doesn't exist and never existed. He has never lived."
Her erstwhile top Cabinet aide Franklin Drilon summed up the feelings that people close to her either personally or professionally maybe feeling on hearing the sad news, "President Cory was the most sincere person I have known in my life. ... Part of me died this morning."
Aquino lost the battle of life to colon cancer leaving behind a treasure of memories. Some of them tinged with her bold sense of humour. For instance, in September of 1986, when the iron-willed woman delivered a speech before a joint session of the Congress of the United States, Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole said to Aquino, "Cory, you hit a home run." Without blinking an eyelid, Aquino smiled and replied: "I hope the bases were loaded."
First Published: Saturday, August 01, 2009, 22:57