Maria Corazon "Cory" Aquino was the first female president of the Philippines. She served from 1986 to 1992 after leading the People Power Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos from power. Some of her accomplishments included establishing a new democratic constitution, instituting agrarian reform, and decentralizing government powers to local levels. Her presidency faced numerous coup attempts and natural disasters, including the 1990 Luzon earthquake and 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

1. Maria Corazon "Cory" SumulongCojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009)

3. Well- bred

4. Devout believer in the Catholic faith

5. Was a ‘plain housewife’ who would often choose to be in the background

6. A mother to five: a son, Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, who was elected to the Philippine Senate in 2007, and four daughters, Maria Elena "Ballsy" A. Cruz, Aurora Corazon "Pinky" A. Abellada, Victoria Eliza "Viel" A. Dee, and actress-television host Kristina Bernadette C. Aquino-Yap.Died on August 1, 2009 of colon caner at the age of 76

7. Some Accomplishments "Icon of Philippine Democracy“ -served from 1986 to 1992 She was the first female president of the Philippines Woman of the Year 1986- TIME Magazine Eleventh President of the Philippines

8. Ascension to power Snap Elections 1985 Nov. 3: President Marcos announces that he is ready to call a "snap election," while being interviewed in the "David Brinkley Show.“ Dec. 2:. Marcos signs Cabinet Bill No. 7, formally setting the Snap elections to Feb. 7, 1986

9. 1985 Second week of February: There is still no declared winner a week after the snap elections. The National Movement for Free Elections, or NAMFREL, figures show that Cory and her vice presidential running Salvor "Doy" Laurel are consistently in the lead. NAMFREL's final tabulation of Cory's votes is of 7,853,070 Laurel 7,441,313 votes. Marcos obtains 7,053,068

10. The people power trigger The government declared Marcos the winner After the election Cory Aquino spoke to a crowd of one million people at a rally in Manila > She proposed a seven-part program of nonviolent resistance, including a one-day work stoppage and a boycott of Marcos-controlled banks, stores and newspapers. She urged people to "experiment with nonviolent forms of protest" and declared: "...if Goliath refuses to yield, we shall keep dipping into our arsenal of nonviolence and escalate our nonviolent struggle." The revolution had begun.

11. The people power trigger DEFECTION On February 22, 1986 Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrileand Deputy Chief of Staff Fidel Ramos defect from the Marcos government "They are cornered," he says. They "can be easily wiped out with simple artillery and tank fire." He declares: "I intend to stay as President and if necessary I will defend this position with all the force at my disposal."

12. The people power revolution Rising mass support During the height of the revolution, an estimated one to three million people filled EDSA from Ortigas Avenue all the way to Cubao. At dawn, Sunday, government troops arrived to knock down the main transmitter of Radio Veritas, cutting off broadcasts to people in the provinces. The station switched to a standby transmitter with a limited range of broadcast

13. The capture of Channel 4 At around that time, June Keithleyreceived reports that Marcos had left Malacañang Palace and broadcasted this to the people at EDSA. The crowd celebrated and even Ramos and Enrile came out from Crame to appear to the crowds. The jubilation was however short-lived as Marcos later appeared on television on the government-controlled Channel 4,(using the forclosed ABS-CBN facilites, transmitter and compound) declaring that he would not step down. It was thereafter speculated that the false report was a calculated move against Marcos to encourage more defections.

14. The people power revolution Two inaugurations Later in the morning, Corazon Aquino was inaugurated as President of the Philippines in a simple ceremony at Club Filipino in Greenhills, about a kilometer from Camp Crame. She was sworn in as President by Senior Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee, and Laurel as Vice-President by Justice Vicente Abad Santos

15. An hour later, Marcos conducted the inauguration at Malacañang. Loyalist civilians attended the ceremony, shouting "Marcos, Marcos, Marcos pa rin! (Marcos, Marcos, still Marcos!)". On the Palace balcony, Marcos took his oath as the President of the Philippines, broadcast by channels 13 and channel 7.

16. Political developments Proclamation No. 1 calling all appointive public officials to submit their courtesy resignations >> Feb. 25, Cory, in her inaugural address, issues her first edict

17. Proclamation No. 3 >> March 25 An orderly transition to a government with a new constitution which is popularly known as the “Freedom Constitution” Adopts the provisions of the following from the 1973 Constitution: Article I (National Territory) Article III (Citizenship) Article IV (Bill of Rights) Article V (Duties and Obligations of Citizens) Article VI (Suffrage) The provisions of the 1973 Constitution on the BatasangPambansa (Article VIII), the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (Article IX), Amendments (Article XVI), the Transitory Provisions (Article XVII), and all the amendments thereto are superseded. Provides that the Philippines is a democratic and republican state where sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them (Article II, Section I)

18. Proclamation No. 9>> April 23 Provides for the creation of the Constitutional Commission (ConCom) She appoints 48 men and women, led former justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma, to be members of the Concom 1987 Commission was finished within four months

19. Family Code of 1987 Executive Order 209 Reformed the civil law on family relations Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Instituted on June 10, 1988 Centerpiece program of Aquino’s administration Aimed not only to grant land to the tillers but also provide them with the necessary support services

20. Administrative Code of 1987 promulgated by Aquino to reorganize the structure of the executive branch of the government Local Government Code Further devolved national government powers to local government units The provisions included in it shall govern the exercise by provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays of their taxing and other revenue- raising powers.

21. Coups in abundance 1986 November 22 The coup attempt is called "God Save the Queen“ 1987 January 27-29 Another coup attempt arises under the leadership of Colonel Oscar Canlas April 18 Fifty six rebel soldiers raid the Fort Bonifacio in what became known as the The "Black Saturday" coup. August 28 Col. Gregorio Honasan, former top aide to Enrile, leads rebel soldiers to launch an attack against Malacañang early morning.The siege is repelled within hours but with several military and civilian casualties. Cory's only son, Noynoy is wounded during the siege.

22. August 29 The previous day's coup ends leaving 53 people dead and over 200 wounded. Honasan evades capture while Enrile denies involvement in the coup. 1989 December 1 Col. Gregorio Honasan and retired Gen. Jose Ma. Zumel lead RAM and troops loyal to Marcos respectively to stage the most serious coup d'etat attempt in the Aquino administration.

23. Economic developments On Nov. 9 She opens United States trading in the First Philippine Fund Inc. She later spoke at a meeting of the United States Chamber of Commerce and the United States-Philippine Business Committee, where she urged American business to increase its investment in the Philippines. Economy needs to reconstruct its $27B debt under: Easier terms (negotiations) conditions Generate jobs Improve the material welfare of the people “Pump- prime” the economy Win markets for our export products Strive for greater self- reliance on options other than debts (sarilingsikap) Revamp the government Friendly ties with other countries

24. social developments The 1990 Luzon Earthquake Occurred on July 16, 1990 The earthquake stretched from Dingalan, Aurora to Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya Baguio was one of the hardest hit areas with the number of deaths at about 1,000. Electric, water and communication lines in Baguio were destroyed. Food and fuel were scarce. The city was completely inaccessible.

25. “The Sleeping Giant Awakens” On June 15, 1991, the Pinatubo Volcano erupted violently after 400 years of slumber. 847 people were killed, 184 injured, 23 missing, and more than 1 million displaced. This phenomenon caused the world's temperature to drop by an average of 1 degree Celsius. The world’s most violent and destructive volcanic event of the 20th century.

26. Tropical Storm Thelma or Auring Occurred from November 2-7, 1991 Ormoc City Casualties: Dead = 5,080 Injured = 292 Missing = 1,264

28. Laws and regulations affecting mass media Proclamation No. 2 Lifted the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus “so that the guardian of liberty and freedom may be available to all.” 2. Executive Order No. 8 “to uphold and respect the people’s civil liberties and human rights.” 3. Executive Order No. 11 Board of Administrators was created Mandated to ensure freedom of the press is maintained

29. 4. Executive Order No. 29 “penalized the printing, possession, distribution, and circulation of certain leaflets, handbills and propaganda materials against the government.” 5. RA no. 7079 “An Act Providing for the Development and Promotion of Campus Journalism”

30. In 1954, she married Benigno Aquino, one of the most ambitious and promising politicians in the country. Before they met, however, Benigno had dated a young beauty queen named Imelda Romualdez.

31. The Martyr's WifeWith Benigno Aquino's political star rising, Marcos assumed dictatorial powers in 1972 and imprisoned his archrival

32. Freedom of the press Marked the end of dictatorship Press was restored Newspaper chains were given back Unrestrained form of writing Excited for the restoration – questions arise