View source for Corazon Aquino

{{Short description|President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Philippine name|[[Sumulong]]|[[Cojuangco]]|[[Aquino family|Aquino]]|ph=married}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Corazon Aquino
| image               = Corazon Aquino 1986.jpg
| caption             = Aquino in 1986
| order               = 11th
| office              = President of the Philippines
| primeminister       = Salvador Laurel
| vicepresident       = [[Salvador Laurel]]
| term_start          = February 25, 1986
| term_end            = June 30, 1992
| predecessor         = [[Ferdinand Marcos]]
| successor           = [[Fidel V. Ramos]]
| birth_name          = María Corazón Sumulong Cojuangco
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1933|1|25|mf=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Paniqui]], Tarlac, Philippines<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->{{efn|The Philippines was an [[unincorporated territory of the United States]] known as the [[Insular Government of the Philippine Islands|Philippine Islands]] at the time of Aquino's birth.}}
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2009|8|1|1933|1|25|mf=y}}
| death_place         = [[Makati]], Philippines
| resting_place       = [[Manila Memorial Park – Sucat]], Parañaque, Philippines
| party               = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1987–2009)
| otherparty          = [[United Nationalist Democratic Organization|UNIDO]] (1986–87)
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Ninoy Aquino]]|1954|1983|end=[[Assassination of Ninoy Aquino|died]]}}
| relatives           = {{ubl|[[Cojuangco|Cojuangco family]]| [[Aquino family]]}}
| alma_mater          = [[College of Mount Saint Vincent]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Far Eastern University]] (no degree)
| occupation          = Politician
| signature           = Aquino Sig.svg
| website             = {{URL|https://coryaquino.ph/}}
| nickname            = Cory
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=President Corazon Aquino's Inaugural Speech Audio.ogg|title=Corazon Aquino's voice|type=speech|description=Inaugural speech as the president of the Philippines <br /> (Recorded in 1986)}}
}}
{{Corazon C. Aquino series}}
'''María Corazón''' "'''Cory'''" '''Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino'''<ref name="nhcp">{{cite web |title=Maria Corazon Cojuangco Aquino |url=http://nhcp.gov.ph/maria-corazon-cojuangco-aquino/ |website=nhcp.gov.ph |publisher=[[National Historical Commission of the Philippines]] |access-date=August 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822051111/http://nhcp.gov.ph/maria-corazon-cojuangco-aquino/ |archive-date=August 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{post-nominals|list=[[Philippine Legion of Honor|CCLH]]}} ({{IPA|tl|kɔɾaˈsɔn kɔˈhwaŋkɔ aˈkino|lang}}; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was the 11th [[president of the Philippines]], serving from 1986 to 1992. The [[List of elected and appointed female heads of state and government|first female president]] in Philippine history, Aquino was the most prominent figure of the 1986 [[People Power Revolution]], which ended the [[History of the Philippines (1965–1986)|two-decade rule]] of President [[Ferdinand Marcos]] and led to the establishment of the current democratic [[History of the Philippines (1986–present)|Fifth Philippine Republic]]. She has been regarded by media outlets as the "Mother of [[Democracy]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Lo |first=Barnaby |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/filipinos-mourn-mother-of-democracy-cory-aquino/ |title=Filipinos Mourn 'Mother of Democracy' Cory Aquino |work=CBS News |date=August 5, 2009 |access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news-2-15012/filipinos-mourn-the-mother-of-democracy-1-1355068 |title=Filipinos mourn the mother of democracy |newspaper=The Scotsman |access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/tears-for-mother-of-democracy-20090805-ea3c.html |title=Tears for mother of democracy |newspaper=Smh.com.au |date=August 6, 2009 |access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Banggollay |first=Melvin |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/feedback/08/10/09/re-cory-aquino-mother-philippine-democracy |title=Re: Cory Aquino, Mother of Philippine Democracy |work=[[ABS-CBN News]] |access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

Aquino was married to Senator [[Benigno Aquino Jr.]], a prominent critic of President Marcos. The couple have five children, including 15th president [[Benigno Aquino III]] and entertainer [[Kris Aquino]]. After the [[Assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr.|assassination of her husband]] on August 21, 1983, she emerged as leader of the opposition against the president. In late 1985, Marcos called for a [[snap election]], and Aquino ran for president with former Senator [[Salvador Laurel]] as her running mate for [[Vice President of the Philippines|vice president]]. After the [[1986 Philippine presidential election|February 7, 1986, presidential election]], the [[Batasang Pambansa]] proclaimed Marcos and his running mate [[Arturo Tolentino]] as the winners, which prompted allegations of [[electoral fraud]] and Aquino's call for massive [[civil disobedience]] actions. Subsequently, the People Power Revolution, a [[Nonviolent revolution|non-violent]] [[Demonstration (political)|mass demonstration]] movement, took place from February 22 to 25. With support from the [[Catholic Church in the Philippines|Philippine Catholic Church]] and defections from the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]], the People Power Revolution ousted Marcos, and Aquino, with no prior political experience, was sworn in to the presidency on February 25, 1986.

As president, Aquino spearheaded the development of the [[Constitution of the Philippines|1987 Constitution]], which limited the powers of the presidency and re-established the [[bicameral]] [[Congress of the Philippines|Congress]], removing the previous dictatorial government structure. Her economic policies focused on forging good economic standing amongst the international community as well as disestablishing Marcos-era [[crony capitalist]] monopolies, emphasizing the [[free market]] and responsible economy. Her administration pursued peace talks to resolve the [[Moro conflict]], and the result of these talks was creation of the [[Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]]. Aquino was criticized for the [[Mendiola Massacre]], which resulted in the shooting deaths of at least 12 peaceful protesters by Philippine state security forces. The Philippines faced various natural calamities in the latter part of Aquino's administration, such as the [[1990 Luzon earthquake]], [[1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo|1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption]] and [[Tropical Storm Thelma]]. [[Coup attempts against Corazon Aquino|Several coup attempts]] were made against her government. She left office in 1992 and remained active in political activities. Aquino was diagnosed with [[colorectal cancer]] in 2008 and [[Death and funeral of Corazon Aquino|died]] the following year. Her funeral was the subject of global media coverage, and monuments and public landmarks in the country were named in her honor.

==Early life and education==
María Corazón Sumulong Cojuangco was born on January 25, 1933, in [[Paniqui, Tarlac|Paniqui]], Tarlac.<ref name="malacanang.gov.ph">{{cite web |url=http://malacanang.gov.ph/presidents/fifth-republic/corazon-aquino/ |title=Corazon C. Aquino |website=malacanang.gov.ph |access-date=August 25, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104134523/http://malacanang.gov.ph/presidents/fifth-republic/corazon-aquino/ |archive-date=November 4, 2012 }}</ref> She was born to the prominent [[Cojuangco]] family. Her father was [[José Cojuangco]], a prominent Tarlac businessman and former congressman, and her mother was Demetria Sumulong, a pharmacist. Both of Aquino's parents were from prominent political families. Aquino's grandfather from her father's side, Melecio Cojuangco, was a member of the historic [[Malolos Congress]], and Aquino's mother belonged to the politically influential Sumulong family of [[Rizal province]], which included [[Juan Sumulong]], who ran against [[Commonwealth of the Philippines|Commonwealth]] President [[Manuel L. Quezon]] in 1941 and Senator [[Lorenzo Sumulong]], who was later appointed by Aquino in the [[Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986|Constitutional Commission]]. Aquino was the sixth of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. Her siblings were Pedro, Josephine, Teresita, Jose Jr., and Maria Paz.<ref name="Corazon">{{cite web|url=http://www.coryaquino.ph/index.php/essential/article/4a66ceac-f098-11df-b3cf-001617d76479 |title=Essential Cory Aquino: The Young Cory  |access-date=January 25, 2017|publisher=Ninoy & Cory Aquino Foundation }}</ref>

Aquino spent her elementary school days at [[St. Scholastica's College Manila|St. Scholastica's College]] in Manila, where she graduated at the top of her class as valedictorian. She transferred to [[Assumption College San Lorenzo|Assumption Convent]], then also in Manila, to pursue high school studies. After her family moved to the United States, she attended the Assumption-run [[Ravenhill Academy]] in [[Philadelphia]]. She then transferred to [[Notre Dame School (Manhattan)|Notre Dame Convent School]] in [[New York City]], where she graduated from in 1949. During her high school years in the United States, Aquino volunteered for the campaign of U.S. [[Republican Party in the United States|Republican]] presidential candidate [[Thomas Dewey]] against [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] incumbent [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Harry S. Truman]] during the [[1948 United States presidential election]].<ref name="Corazon"/> After graduating from high school, she pursued her college education at the [[College of Mount Saint Vincent]] in New York, graduating in 1953 with a major in French and minor in mathematics.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

==Wife of Benigno Aquino Jr.==
After graduating from college, she returned to the Philippines and studied law at [[Far Eastern University]] in 1953.<ref name="9facts"/> While attending, she met [[Benigno Aquino Jr.|Benigno "Ninoy" S. Aquino Jr.]], who was the son of the late Speaker [[Benigno Aquino Sr.|Benigno S. Aquino Sr.]] and a grandson of General [[Servillano Aquino]]. She discontinued her law education and married Benigno at the [[Our Lady of Sorrows]] Parish in [[Pasay]], [[Rizal (province)|Rizal]] on October 11, 1954.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/08/01/14/throwback-how-ninoy-cory-got-engaged |title=Throwback: How Ninoy, Cory got engaged |work=[[ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs]] |date=August 1, 2014 |access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref> The couple had five children: Maria Elena ("Ballsy"; born 1955), Aurora Corazon ("Pinky"; born 1957), [[Benigno Aquino III|Benigno Simeon III]] ("Noynoy"; 1960–2021), Victoria Elisa ("Viel"; born 1961) and [[Kris Aquino|Kristina Bernadette]] ("Kris"; born 1971).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/37181-ninoy-children-bad-times-good-times |last=Tah |first=B. Allie |title=Ninoy's children remember bad times, good times |work=[[Rappler]] |date=August 24, 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref><ref name="cory1">{{cite web|url=http://www.coryaquino.ph/index.php/essential/article/516835d2-f099-11df-b3cf-001617d76479 |title=Essential Cory Aquino: Her life with Ninoy Aquino |website=coryaquino.com.ph |access-date=August 25, 2016}}</ref>

Aquino had initially had difficulty adjusting to provincial life when she and her husband moved to [[Concepcion, Tarlac]] in 1955. Aquino found herself bored in Concepcion, and welcomed the opportunity to have dinner with her husband inside the [[Clark Air Base|American military facility at nearby Clark Field]].<ref name=lt>{{cite book|author=Lorna Kalaw-Tirol|title=Public Faces, Private Lives|year=2000|publisher=Anvil Publishing, Inc|location=Pasig, Philippines|pages=2–23|isbn=971-27-0851-9}}</ref> Afterwards, the Aquino family moved to a bungalow in suburban [[Quezon City]].

Throughout her life, Aquino was known to be a devout [[Catholic Church in the Philippines|Roman Catholic]].<ref name="9facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.filipiknow.net/facts-about-cory-aquino/ |title=9 Interesting Facts You May Not Know About Corazon Aquino |website=filipiknow |date=September 5, 2014 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref>

Corazon Aquino was fluent in [[French language|French]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and [[English language|English]] aside from her native [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] and [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]].<ref name="9facts"/>

Ninoy Aquino, a former [[Nacionalista Party|Nacionalista]] turned [[Liberal Party (Philippines)|Liberal]], rose to become the youngest governor in the country in 1961 and then the youngest senator ever elected to the [[Senate of the Philippines]] in [[1967 Philippine Senate election|1967]]. For most of her husband's political career, Aquino remained a housewife who raised their children and hosted her spouse's political allies who would visit their Quezon City home.<ref name=pi>{{Cite magazine |author=Pico Iyer |title=Corazon Aquino |url=http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/personoftheyear/archive/stories/1986.html |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=January 5, 1987 |access-date=March 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220000538/http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/personoftheyear/archive/stories/1986.html |archive-date=December 20, 2007 }}</ref> She would decline to join her husband on stage during campaign rallies, instead preferring to be in the back of the audience and listen to him.<ref name=lt/> Unbeknownst to many at the time, Corazon Aquino sold some of her prized inheritance to fund the candidacy of her husband.

As Ninoy emerged as a leading critic of the government of [[President of the Philippines|President]] [[Ferdinand Marcos]], he became seen as a strong candidate for president to succeed Marcos in the 1973 elections. However, Marcos, who was barred by the [[Constitution of the Philippines#1935 Constitution|1935 Constitution]] to seek a third term, [[Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos|declared martial law on September 21, 1972]] and later abolished the constitution, thereby allowing him to remain in office. Ninoy Aquino was among the first to be arrested at the onset of martial law, and was later sentenced to death. During her husband's incarceration, Corazon Aquino stopped going to beauty salons or buying new clothes and prohibited her children from attending parties, until a priest advised her and her children to try to live as normal lives as possible.<ref name=lt/>

Despite Corazon's initial opposition, Ninoy decided to run in the [[1978 Philippine parliamentary election|1978 Batasang Pambansa elections]] from his prison cell as party leader of the newly created [[Lakas ng Bayan|LABAN]]. Corazon Aquino campaigned on behalf of her husband and delivered a political speech for the first time in her life during this political campaign. In 1980 Ninoy suffered a heart attack, and Marcos allowed Senator Aquino and his family to leave for exile in the United States upon intervention from U.S. president [[Jimmy Carter]] so that Aquino could seek medical treatment.<ref name=fb>{{cite web |last1=Aquino |first1=Corazon |title=Speech Upon Receipt Of The Fulbright Prize - Oct. 11, 1996 |url=https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2017/03/21/speech-upon-receipt-of-the-fulbright-prize-oct-11-1996/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528113740/https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2017/03/21/speech-upon-receipt-of-the-fulbright-prize-oct-11-1996/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2021 |website=Iowa State University |access-date=May 28, 2021}}</ref><ref name=campaign>{{cite news|title=Aquino's 'Flesh-to-Flesh Campaign'|author=Branigin, William|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 2, 1986|page=A1}}</ref>  

On August 21, 1983, Ninoy ended his stay in the United States and returned without his family to the Philippines, where he was [[Assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr.|immediately assassinated]] on a staircase leading to the tarmac of [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport|Manila International Airport]]. The airport is now named Ninoy Aquino International Airport, renamed by the [[Congress of the Philippines|Congress]] in his honor in 1987. Corazon Aquino returned to the Philippines a few days later and led her husband's funeral procession, in which more than two million people participated.<ref name=fb/>

==1986 presidential campaign==
{{Main|1986 Philippine presidential election}}

Following her husband's assassination in 1983, Corazon Aquino became active in various demonstrations held against the Marcos regime. She began to assume the mantle of leadership left by her husband and became a figurehead of the anti-Marcos political opposition. On November 3, 1985, during an interview with American journalist [[David Brinkley]] on ''[[This Week with David Brinkley]]'', Marcos suddenly announced [[snap election]]s that would be held within three months to dispel doubt against his regime's legitimate authority, an action that surprised the nation.<ref>{{cite news|author=Milt Freudenheim, Henry Giniger & Richard Levine|title=Marcos Moves Toward A Vote|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/17/weekinreview/the-world-marcos-moves-toward-a-vote.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 17, 1985|access-date=April 15, 2008 }}</ref> The election was later scheduled to be held on February 7, 1986. A petition was organized to urge Aquino to run for president, headed by former newspaper publisher [[Chino Roces|Joaquin Roces]].<ref>{{cite news |title=1 Million Back Candidacy of Aquino Widow |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-25-mn-1740-story.html |access-date=May 28, 2021 |agency=[[United Press International]] |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 25, 1985}}</ref> On December 1, the petition of 1.2 million signatures was publicly presented to Aquino in an event attended by 15,000 people, and on December 3, Aquino officially declared her candidacy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Flashback to 1985: A Cory memory |url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/health-and-family/2017/08/07/1726265/flashback-1985-cory-memory |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=The Philippine Star |date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> [[United Nationalist Democratic Organization|United Opposition (UNIDO)]] party leader [[Salvador Laurel]] was chosen as Aquino's running mate as candidate for vice president.

During the campaign, Marcos attacked Corazon Aquino on her husband's previous ties to [[Philippine Communist Party|communists]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Ninoy linked up with the Left to aid presidential ambition|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/198820/news/specialreports/ninoy-networked-with-everyone-reds-included|newspaper=GMA News|date=August 18, 2010}}</ref> characterizing the election as a fight "between democracy and communism".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Ab |title=Marcos: Communists at Issue |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/01/06/marcos-communists-at-issue/dfb2583d-ff6d-4d47-a04b-bc0710aeb62e/ |access-date=May 28, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 6, 1986}}</ref> Aquino refuted Marcos' charge and stated that she would not appoint a single communist to her cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|author=Milt Freudenheim & Richard Levine|title=A Marcos Charge Irks Mrs. Aquino|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/12/weekinreview/the-world-a-marcos-charge-irks-mrs-aquino.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 12, 1986|access-date=April 15, 2008 }}</ref> Marcos also accused Aquino of playing "[[political football]]" with the United States in regards to the continued United States military presence in the Philippines at [[Clark Air Base]] and [[Subic Naval Base]].<ref>{{cite news|agency=United Press International|title= Marcos Says Rival Trifles With U.S. Bases|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/31/world/around-the-world-marcos-says-rival-trifles-with-us-bases.html|work=The New York Times|date=December 31, 1985|access-date=April 15, 2008 }}</ref> Another point of attack for Marcos was Aquino's inexperience in public office. Marcos' campaign was characterized by [[sexist]] attacks, such as remarks by Marcos that Aquino was "just a woman" and that a woman's remarks should be limited to the bedroom.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mydans |first1=Seth |title=Aquino Adds a Bit of Swagger to Her Style |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/01/world/aquino-adds-bit-of-swagger-to-her-style.html |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=December 1, 1986}}</ref><ref name=fb/>

The [[1986 Philippine presidential election|snap election]] was held on February 7, 1986, and was marred by massive electoral fraud, violence, intimidation, coercion, and disenfranchisement of voters. On February 11, while votes were still being tabulated, former [[Antique (province)|Antique]] Governor [[Evelio Javier]], who had been director of Aquino's campaign in Antique, was assassinated. During the tallying of votes conducted by the [[Commission on Elections]] (COMELEC), 30 poll computer technicians walked out to contest the alleged election-rigging being done in favor of Marcos. Years later it was claimed that the walkout of computer technicians was led by Linda Kapunan,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1990/10/03/the-final-report-of-the-fact-finding-commission-iv-military-intervention-in-the-philippines-1986-1987/ |title=The Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission: IV: Military Intervention in the Philippines: 1986 – 1987 &#124; GOVPH |date=October 3, 1990 |access-date=September 20, 2016 |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021023713/http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1990/10/03/the-final-report-of-the-fact-finding-commission-iv-military-intervention-in-the-philippines-1986-1987/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> wife of Lt Col Eduardo Kapunan, a leader of [[Reform the Armed Forces Movement]] that plotted to attack the [[Malacañang Palace]] and kill Marcos and his family, leading to a partial reevaluation of the walkout event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/84953-gringo-plot-kill-marcos-almonte-memoir|title=Gringo plotted to kill Marcos – Almonte|date=February 24, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Manila Times">{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Manila Times]] |title=Setting the record straight on Edsa 1|url=http://manilastandardtoday.com/opinion/columns/virtual-reality-by-tony-lopez/141677/setting-the-record-straight-on-edsa-1.html|access-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610115431/http://manilastandardtoday.com/opinion/columns/virtual-reality-by-tony-lopez/141677/setting-the-record-straight-on-edsa-1.html|archive-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref>

On February 15, 1986, the [[Batasang Pambansa]], which was dominated by Marcos' ruling party and its allies, declared President Marcos as the winner of the election. However, [[National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections|NAMFREL]]'s electoral count showed that Corazon Aquino had won. Aquino claimed victory according to NAMFREL's electoral count and called for a rally dubbed "Tagumpay ng Bayan" (People's Victory Rally) the following day to protest the declaration by the Batasang Pambansa.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Speech of President Aquino at the anniversary of Tagumpay ng Bayan, February 16, 2012 (English translation)|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/02/16/speech-of-president-aquino-at-the-anniversary-of-tagumpay-ng-bayan-february-16-2012-english-translation/|url-status=live|access-date=February 25, 2022|date=February 16, 2012|website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518094855/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/02/16/speech-of-president-aquino-at-the-anniversary-of-tagumpay-ng-bayan-february-16-2012-english-translation/ |archive-date=May 18, 2021 }}</ref> Aquino also called for boycotts against products and services from companies controlled or owned by individuals closely allied with Marcos. The rally was held at the historic [[Rizal Park]] in Luneta, Manila and drew a pro-Aquino crowd of around two million people. The dubious election results drew condemnation from both domestic and foreign powers. The [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines]] issued a statement strongly criticizing the conduct of the election, describing the election as violent and fraudulent. The [[United States Senate]] likewise condemned the election.<ref name=pi/><ref name=bbc>{{cite news|title=Filipino coup leaders tell Marcos to go|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/22/newsid_2519000/2519155.stm|work=BBC|date=February 22, 1986|access-date=April 15, 2008 }}</ref> Aquino rejected a power-sharing agreement proposed by the American diplomat [[Philip Habib]], who had been sent as an emissary by U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]] to help defuse the tension.<ref name=bbc/>

===Accession as president===
{{Main|People Power Revolution}}
[[File:Corazon Aquino inauguration.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Aquino takes the oath of office before [[Chief Justice of the Philippines|Chief Justice]] [[Claudio Teehankee|Claudio Teehankee Sr.]] in [[Club Filipino]], [[San Juan, Metro Manila|San Juan]] on February 25, 1986]]
On February 22, 1986, disgruntled and reformist military officers led by Defense Minister [[Juan Ponce Enrile]] and General [[Fidel V. Ramos]] surprised the nation and the international community by the announcement of their defection from the Marcos government, citing a strong belief that Aquino was the real winner in the contested presidential election. Enrile, Ramos, and the rebel soldiers then set up operations in [[Camp Aguinaldo]], the headquarters of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]], and [[Camp Crame]], the headquarters of the [[Philippine Constabulary]], across [[Epifanio de los Santos Avenue]] (EDSA). Cardinal Sin appealed to the public in a broadcast over Church-run [[DZRV-AM|Radyo Veritas]], and millions of Filipinos gathered to the part of [[EDSA|Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue]] between the two camps to give their support and prayers to the rebels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/579772/timeline-feb-22-1986-day-one |title=Timeline: Feb. 22, 1986, Day One |website=Inquirer.net |date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=August 26, 2016}}</ref> At that time, Aquino was meditating in a [[Carmelite]] convent in [[Cebu]]. Upon learning of the defection, Aquino and Cardinal Sin appeared on Radyo Veritas to rally behind Enrile and Ramos. Aquino then flew back to Manila to prepare for the takeover of the government.

Aquino was sworn in as the eleventh president of the Philippines on February 25, 1986. An hour after Aquino's inauguration, Marcos held his own inauguration ceremony at the Malacañang Palace. Later that same day, Ferdinand E. Marcos fled from the Philippines to [[Hawaii]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Corazon-Aquino|title=Corazon Aquino {{!}} Biography|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=October 24, 2017}}</ref>

== Presidency (1986–1992) ==
{{Main|Presidency of Corazon Aquino}}
[[File:Cory Aquino during a ceremony honoring US Air Force.jpg|thumb|left|Aquino during a ceremony honoring the United States Air Force|alt=]]
Corazon Aquino's accession to the presidency marked the end of authoritarian rule in the Philippines. Aquino is the first female president of the Philippines and is still the only president of the Philippines to have never held any prior political position. Aquino is regarded as the first [[List of elected and appointed female heads of state|female president]] in [[Asia]].

===Transitional government and creation of new constitution===
{{Infobox President styles
|name = Corazon Aquino
|image = [[File:Prior Pres Seal.png|100px]]
|dipstyle = [[Excellency|Her Excellency]]
|offstyle = Your Excellency
|altstyle = Madam President
}}
On February 25, 1986, the first day of her administration, Aquino issued Proclamation No. 1, which announced an intention to reorganize the government and called on all officials appointed by Marcos to resign, starting with members of the [[Supreme Court of the Philippines|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aquino |first1=Corazon |title=Proclamation No. 1, s. 1986 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1986/02/25/proclamation-no-1-s-1986/ |website=Philippines Official Gazette |date=February 25, 1986 |publisher=Government of the Philippines |access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref> On March 25, 1986, President Aquino issued [[s:Constitution of the Philippines (1973)#1986 Amendment (Proclamation No. 3 and the 1986 Provisional Constitution)|Proclamation No. 3]], which announced a transitional government into a democratic system. She abolished the [[Sb. 1973|1973 Constitution]] that was in force during the [[Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos|martial law era]], and by decree issued the [[provisional constitution|provisional]] [[Constitution of the Philippines#"Freedom Constitution" (1986)|1986 Freedom Constitution]], pending the ratification of a more formal and comprehensive charter. This constitutional allowed her to exercise both executive and legislative powers during the period of transitional government.

After the issuance of Proclamation No. 1, all 15 members of the Supreme Court submitted their resignations.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Constitutional History of the Supreme Court of the Philippines |url=https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/387/ |website=Supreme Court of the Philippines |access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref> Aquino then reorganized the membership of the Supreme Court with the stated purpose of restoring its [[judicial independence]]. On May 22, 1986, in the case ''Lawyers League v. President Aquino'', the reorganized Supreme Court declared the Aquino government as "not merely a ''[[de facto]]'' government but in fact and law a ''[[de jure]]'' government", and affirmed its legitimacy.<ref>{{cite court|litigants=Lawyers League v. President Aquino, G.R. No. 73748|court=Supreme Court of the Philippines|date=May 22, 1986|url=http://elibrary.supremecourt.gov.ph/resolutions.php?doctype=Minute%20Resolutions&docid=a45475a11ec72b843d74959b60fd7bd645abb094dee22}}</ref>

Aquino appointed all 48 members of the [[Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986|1986 Constitutional Commission]] ("Con-Com"), led by retired activist and former Supreme Court Associate Justice [[Cecilia Muñoz-Palma]], which was tasked with writing a new constitution. The Commission completed its final draft of the Constitution in October 1986.<ref>, Bernas, p. 19</ref>

On February 2, 1987, the [[Constitution of the Philippines]] was ratified by [[1987 Philippine constitutional plebiscite|nationwide plebiscite]]. It remains the [[constitution]] of the Philippines to the present day. The Constitution established a [[bill of rights]] and a three-branch government consisting of the executive department, the legislative department, and the judicial department. The Constitution restored the [[bicameralism|bicameral]] Congress, which in 1973 had been abolished by Marcos and replaced with first the [[Batasang Bayan]] and later the Batasang Pambansa.<ref>{{cite book|author=[[Joaquin G. Bernas]]|title=The Intent of the 1986 Constitution Writers|publisher=Rex Book Store|location=Manila, Philippines|year=1995|pages=2–4}}</ref> The ratification of the new Constitution was soon followed by the [[1987 Philippine Senate election|election of senators]] and the [[1987 Philippine House of Representatives elections|election of House of Representatives members]] on May 11, 1987, as well as [[1988 Philippine local elections|local elections]] on January 18, 1988.

===Legal reforms===
After the ratification of the constitution, Aquino promulgated two landmark [[Philippine legal codes|legal codes]], namely, the [[Family Code of the Philippines|Family Code of 1987]], which reformed the [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]] on family relations, and the [[Philippine legal codes#Philippine legal codes|Administrative Code of 1987]], which reorganized the structure of the [[Executive Departments of the Philippines|executive department of government]]. Another landmark law that was enacted during her tenure was the 1991 [[Local Government Code]], which devolved national government powers to local government units (LGUs). The new Code enhanced the power of LGUs to enact local taxation measures and assured them of a share in the national revenue.

During Aquino's tenure, vital economic laws such as the Built-Operate-Transfer Law, Foreign Investments Act, and the Consumer Protection and Welfare Act were also enacted.

===Socio-economic policies===
{{Infobox
|name       =
|title      = <small>Economy of the Philippines under</small><br />President Corazon Aquino<br /><small>1986–1992</small>
|titlestyle   =
|above      =
|imagestyle   =
|captionstyle =
|image      =
|caption      =
|image2       =
|caption2     =
|bodystyle = width:30em; padding: 0px;
|abovestyle = background: lightblue;
|headerstyle = background: lightblue;
|labelstyle = font-weight: normal;
|header1  = Population<ref name="Philippine Presidency Project">{{cite web |title=Philippine Presidency Project |url=http://filipinopresidency.multiply.com/photos/album/26#photo=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714131730/http://filipinopresidency.multiply.com/photos/album/26#photo=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |website=Philippine Presidency Project |access-date=June 26, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Malaya book">{{cite book |last1=Malaya |first1=Jonathan |last2=Malaya |first2=Eduardo |title=So Help Us God... The Inaugurals of the Presidents of the Philippines |date=2005 |publisher=Anvil Publishing}}</ref>
|label2   = '''1986'''
|data2    = <math>\approx</math> 56&nbsp;million
|header3  = Gross Domestic Product (constant 1985 prices)<ref name="Philippine Presidency Project"/><ref name="Malaya book"/>
|label4   = '''1986'''
|data4    =  {{increase}} [[Philippine peso|PHP]] 591,423 million
|label5   = '''1991'''
|data5    =  {{increase}} [[Philippine peso|PHP]] 716,522 million
|header6 = Real GDP growth (% change)<ref>{{cite web |title=International Monetary Fund - Philippines |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/PHL#whatsnew |website=International Monetary Fund |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |access-date=June 26, 2021}}</ref>
|label7 = '''1986'''
|data7 = {{increase}} 3.4%
|label8 = '''1987'''
|data8 = {{increase}} 4.3%
|label9 = '''1988'''
|data9 = {{increase}} 6.8%
|label10 = '''1989'''
|data10 = {{increase}} 6.2%
|label11 = '''1990'''
|data11 = {{increase}} 3.0%
|label12 = '''1991'''
|data12 = {{decrease}} -0.4%
|label13 = '''1992'''
|data13 = {{increase}} 0.4%
|label14 = '''Average yearly growth rate, 1986-92'''
|data14 = {{increase}} 3.4%
|header15 = Per capita income (constant 1985 prices)<ref name="Philippine Presidency Project"/><ref name="Malaya book"/>
|label16 = '''1986'''
|data16 =  {{increase}} [[Philippine peso|PHP]] 10,622
|label17 = '''1991'''
|data17 =  {{increase}} [[Philippine peso|PHP]] 11,250
|header18 = Total exports<ref name="Philippine Presidency Project"/><ref name="Malaya book"/>
|label19 = '''1986'''
|data19 =  {{increase}} [[Philippine peso|PHP]] 160,571 million
|label20 = '''1991'''
|data20 =  {{increase}} [[Philippine peso|PHP]] 231,515 million
|header21 = [[Exchange rate]]s<ref name="Philippine Presidency Project"/><ref name="Malaya book"/>
|label22 = '''1986'''
|data22 = 1 [[United States dollar|USD]] = 20.38 [[Philippine peso|PHP]]<br />1 [[Philippine peso|PHP]] = 0.05 [[United States dollar|USD]]
|label23 = '''1991'''
|data23 = 1 [[United States dollar|USD]] = 27.61 [[Philippine peso|PHP]]<br />1 [[Philippine peso|PHP]] = 0.04 [[United States dollar|USD]]
}}

The economy posted a positive growth of 3.4% during Aquino's first year in office, and continued to grow at an overall positive rate throughout her tenure for an average rate of 3.4% from 1986 to 1992. Real GDP growth suffered a 0.4% decrease in 1991 in the aftermath of the [[1989 Philippine coup attempt|1989 coup attempt]] by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, which shook international confidence in the Philippine economy and hindered foreign investment.

Aquino made fighting inflation one of her priorities after the nation suffered from skyrocketing prices during the last years of the Marcos administration. The last six years of the Marcos administration recorded an average annual inflation rate of 20.9%, which peaked in 1984 at 50.3%. From 1986 to 1992, the Philippines recorded an average annual inflation rate of 9.2%. During the Aquino administration, the annual inflation rate peaked at 18.1% in 1991; a stated reason for this increase was [[panic buying]] during the [[Gulf War]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Her Term About to End, Aquino 'Hasn't Made Much Difference' to the Poor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/08/world/her-term-about-to-end-aquino-hasn-t-made-much-difference-to-the-poor.html|access-date=February 27, 2010|first=DE|last=Sanger|date=June 8, 1992|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>[http://www.bles.dole.gov.ph/PUBLICATIONS/Yearbook%20of%20Labor%20Statistics/STATISTICAL%20TABLES/PDF/CHAPTER%2011/Tab11.2.pdf ''Year of Labor Statistics'']{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Overall, the economy under Aquino had an average growth of 3.8% from 1986 to 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Philippines-OVERVIEW-OF-ECONOMY.html|title=Philippines Overview of economy, Information about Overview of economy in Philippines|publisher=Nationsencyclopedia.com|access-date=March 13, 2010}}</ref>

====De-monopolization====
One of Aquino's first actions as president was to seize Marcos' multi-billion dollar [[Ferdinand Marcos#Ill-gotten wealth and kleptocracy|fortune of ill-gotten wealth]]. On February 28, 1986, four days into her presidency, Aquino formed the [[Presidential Commission on Good Government]] (PCGG), which was tasked with retrieving Marcos' domestic and international fortune.

After his declaration of martial law in 1972 and his consolidation of authoritarian power, President Ferdinand Marcos issued various government decrees that awarded [[monopoly]] or [[oligopoly]] power over entire industries to various [[Cronies of Ferdinand Marcos|close associates]], in a scheme later regarded as [[crony capitalism]]. President Aquino pursued a [[Free market|market liberalization]] agenda to combat this problem. President Aquino particularly targeted the [[Sugar industry of the Philippines|sugar industry]] and the [[Coconut production in the Philippines|coconut industry]] for de-monopolization.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/1986/1017/oclay-f.html Aquino's 1st major land reform plan. Plan, simple in design, could be tough to implement]. [[Christian Science Monitor]]. 	Clayton Jones. October 17, 1986</ref>

====Debt====
[[File:Vice President Dan Quayle and President Corizon Aquino of the Philippines participate in the Veterans' Day Service at Arlington National Cemetery, 10 Nov 89.jpg|thumb|Aquino with U.S. Vice President [[Dan Quayle]] participate in the Veterans' Day Service at [[Arlington National Cemetery]] on November 10, 1989.]]
Throughout the tenure of President Ferdinand Marcos, government [[External debt|foreign debt]] had ballooned from less than $3 billion in 1970 to $28 billion by the end of his administration, through [[privatization]] of bad government assets and [[deregulation]] of many vital industries. The debt had badly tarnished the international credit standing and economic reputation of the country.

President Aquino inherited the debt of the Marcos administration and weighed all options on what to do with the debt, including not paying the debt. Aquino eventually chose to honor all the debts that were previously incurred in order to clear the country's economic reputation. Her decision proved to be unpopular but Aquino defended it, saying that was the most practical move. Beginning in 1986, the Aquino administration paid off $4 billion of the country's outstanding debts to improve its international credit ratings and attract the attention of foreign investors. This move also ensured lower interest rates and longer payment terms for future loans. During the Aquino administration, the Philippines acquired an additional $9 billion debt, increasing the net national debt by $5 billion within six years due to the need to infuse capital and money into the economy.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 21, 1992|title=Manila Plan To Cut Debt|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/21/business/manila-plan-to-cut-debt.html|access-date=February 27, 2010}}</ref> The Aquino administration was able to reduce the Philippines' external [[debt-to-GDP ratio]] by 20.1 percent, from 87.9 percent at the start of the administration to 67.8 percent in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://malacanang.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/ThePresidentReport.pdf |title=The Aquino Management of the Presidency |website=malacanang.gov.ph |access-date=August 25, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083529/http://malacanang.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/ThePresidentReport.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref>

====Agrarian reform====
{{See also|Land reform in the Philippines}}

[[File:President Aquino at IRRI.jpg|thumb|right|Aquino holds talks with the officials from the [[International Rice Research Institute]] in [[Los Baños, Laguna|Los Baños]], [[Laguna (province)|Laguna]].]]
President Aquino envisioned agrarian and land reform as the centerpiece of her administration's social legislative agenda. However, her family background and social class as a privileged daughter of a wealthy and landed clan became a lightning rod of criticisms against her land reform agenda.

After the Mendiola Massacre and in response to calls for agrarian reform, President Aquino issued Presidential Proclamation 131 and Executive Order 229 on July 22, 1987, which outlined her land reform program, including sugar lands. In 1988, with the backing of Aquino, the new Congress of the Philippines passed Republic Act No. 6657, more popularly known as the "Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law" (CARP), which paved the way for the redistribution of agricultural lands from landowners to tenant-farmers. Landowners were paid in exchange by the government through [[just compensation]], and were also not allowed to retain more than five hectares of land.<ref name="RA6657">{{cite PH act|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/1988/06jun/19880610-RA-6657-CCA.pdf |title=Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 |chamber=Ra |number=6657 |date= June 10, 1988 |access-date=October 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118071855/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/1988/06jun/19880610-RA-6657-CCA.pdf |archive-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref>{{rp|at=Section 6}} The law also allowed corporate landowners to "voluntarily divest a proportion of their [[stock|capital stock]], equity or participation in favor of their workers or other qualified beneficiaries", in lieu of turning over their land to the government for redistribution.<ref name="RA6657" />{{rp|at=Section 31}} Despite the flaws in the law, the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality in 1989, declaring that the implementation of CARP was "a revolutionary kind of expropriation".<ref>{{cite court|litigants=Association of Small Landowners v. Luz|vol=175|reporter=SCRA|opinion=343|pinpoint=386|court=[[Supreme Court of the Philippines]]|date=July 14, 1989|url=http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1989/jul1989/gr_78742_1989.html }}</ref>

Corazon Aquino herself was subject to a controversy that centered on [[Hacienda Luisita]], a 6,453-hectare estate located in the province of Tarlac which she and her siblings inherited from her father José Cojuangco. Instead of land distribution, Hacienda Luisita reorganized itself into a corporation and distributed stock. As such, ownership of agricultural portions of the hacienda was transferred to the corporation, which in turn, gave its shares of stocks to farmers. Critics argued that Aquino bowed to pressure from relatives by allowing stock redistribution in lieu of land redistribution under CARP.<ref name="pdihl">{{cite news|author=Russell Arador|date=May 4, 2007|title=Life once 'sweeter' at Hacienda Luisita|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=64019|url-status=dead|access-date=March 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005095533/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=64019|archive-date=October 5, 2008}}</ref>

The stock redistribution scheme was revoked in 2006, when the [[Department of Agrarian Reform]] ordered the mandatory redistribution of land to tenant-farmers of Hacienda Luisita. The Department of Agrarian Reform had looked into its revocation since 2004, when violence erupted in the hacienda over the retrenchment of workers, leaving seven people dead.<ref name="pdihl" />

===Coup attempts on Aquino government===
{{Main|1986–1990 Philippine coup attempts}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2021}}
From 1986 to 1990 numerous [[Coup d'état|coup]] attempts were enacted on the Aquino administration and the new Philippine government. Many of these attempts were conducted by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, who attempted to establish a [[military government]], while other attempts were conducted by loyalists to former President Marcos.

===Mendiola massacre and cabinet infighting===
{{Main|Mendiola Massacre}}
On January 22, 1987, during the era of transition government and shortly before the nationwide plebiscite to ratify the Constitution, 12 citizens were killed and 51 were injured in the [[Mendiola Massacre]]. The incident was initially a peaceful protest by agrarian workers and farmers who had marched to the historic Mendiola Street near the [[Malacañan Palace]] to demand genuine land reform. The massacre occurred when Marines fired at farmers who tried to go beyond the designated demarcation line set by the police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1993/mar1993/gr_84607_1993.html|title=Supreme Court G.R. No. 84607|website=www.lawphil.net|access-date=August 28, 2017}}</ref> The massacre resulted in several resignations from Aquino's cabinet, including [[Jose W. Diokno]], head of the Presidential Committee on Human Rights, chairman of the [[Commission on Human Rights]] (CHR), and chairman of the government panel in charge of negotiations with rebel forces resigned from his government posts. His daughter Maris said, "It was the only time we saw him near tears."<ref name=dalisaybio>{{cite web|last=Dalisay|first=Jose Jr.|title=Jose W. Diokno: The Scholar-Warrior|url=http://diokno.org/about|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414204612/http://diokno.org/about|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 14, 2013|access-date=March 3, 2011}}</ref>

In September 1987, Vice President Doy Laurel resigned as secretary of foreign affairs. In his resignation letter to Aquino, Laurel stated, "the past years of Marcos are now beginning to look no worse than your first two years in office. And the reported controversies and scandals involving your closest relatives have become the object of our people's outrage. From 16,500 NPA regular when Marcos fell, the communists now claim an armed strength of 25,200. From city to countryside, anarchy has spread. There is anarchy within the government, anarchy within the ruling coalesced parties and anarchy in the streets."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://manilastandardtoday.com/opinion/columns/back-channel-by-alejandro-del-rosario/140961/doy-laurel-s-letter-to-cory-aquino.html |title=Doy Laurel's letter to Cory Aquino |last=Del Rosario |first=Alejandro |date=February 19, 2014 |work=Manila Standard |access-date=September 24, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927015810/http://manilastandardtoday.com/opinion/columns/back-channel-by-alejandro-del-rosario/140961/doy-laurel-s-letter-to-cory-aquino.html |archive-date=September 27, 2016}}</ref>

Finance Minister [[Jaime Ongpin]], who had successfully advocated for paying external debt incurred during Marcos' administration, was dismissed by Aquino in September 1987 and later died in an apparent suicide in December 1987.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 10, 1987|title=Philippine Debt Dispute|agency=Reuters|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/10/business/philippine-debt-dispute.html|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> His widow stated that he had been depressed due to infighting in Aquino's cabinet and lack of significant change since the People Power Revolution.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/737701/ongpin-last-top-official-take-his-life |title=Ongpin last top official to take his life |last=Robles |first=Alan |date=February 8, 2011 |work=South China Morning Post}}</ref>

Soon after the Mendiola Massacre, the Aquino administration and Congress worked to pass significant agrarian reform, which culminated in the passage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARP).

===Peace talks with Moro and communist insurgencies===
{{See also|Moro conflict|Communist rebellion in the Philippines}}
President Aquino conducted peace talks with the [[Moro National Liberation Front]] (MNLF), an armed [[Moro people|Moro]] [[Muslim]] insurgency group that sought to establish an independent Moro state within [[Mindanao]]. Aquino met with MNLF leader [[Nur Misuari]] and various MNLF groups in [[Sulu]]. In 1989, the [[Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]] (ARMM) was created under Republic Act No. 6734 or the ARMM Organic Act, which established the Moro majority areas in the Mindanao island group as an [[Autonomous regions of the Philippines|autonomous region]] with its own government.<ref>{{cite web |title=ARMM history and organization |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/content/112847/armm-history-and-organization/story/ |website=GMA News Online |date=August 11, 2008 |publisher=[[GMA Network]] |access-date=June 27, 2021}}</ref> The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao lasted from 1989 to 2019, after which it was succeeded by the [[Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]] (BARMM).

The establishment of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was opposed by the [[Moro Islamic Liberation Front]] (MILF), a militant splinter group from the MNLF that sought to [[Secession|secede]] from the Philippines to establish an [[Islamic state]] in Mindanao.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Conde |first1=Carlos H. |title=Cease-Fire Fails in the Philippines as Soldiers Clash With Rebels |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/13/world/cease-fire-fails-in-the-philippines-as-soldiers-clash-with-rebels.html |access-date=June 27, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=February 13, 2003}}</ref> Peace talks with MILF began in 1997 under President Fidel Ramos and violent insurgency officially continued until 2014, when peace accords were formally signed between MILF and the administration of President Benigno Aquino III that would lead to the creation of the BARMM.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Whaley |first1=Floyd |title=Philippines and Rebels Agree on Peace Accord to End Insurgency |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/world/asia/philippines-and-rebels-agree-on-peace-accord-to-end-insurgency.html |access-date=June 27, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=January 25, 2014}}</ref>

The establishment of the ARMM also led to the establishment of [[Abu Sayyaf]], a [[terrorism|terrorist]] group founded in 1989 by [[Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani]] and composed of radical former members of the MNLF. Terrorist attacks by Abu Sayyaf would start in 1995 and continue to the present day, including the [[M/V SuperFerry 14|2004 bombing of the MV ''Superferry 14'']] that resulted in the deaths of 116 people.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bomb caused Philippine ferry fire |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3732356.stm |access-date=June 27, 2021 |work=BBC News |date=October 11, 2004}}</ref>

Shortly after becoming president, Aquino ordered the release of hundreds of [[political prisoner]]s imprisoned during the Marcos era, including [[Communist rebellion in the Philippines|communist insurgents]] belonging to the [[Communist Party of the Philippines]]. These releases included leaders such as Communist Party of the Philippines founder [[Jose Maria Sison]] and [[New People's Army]] founder [[Bernabe Buscayno]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Mapping Militant Organizations: Communist Party of the Philippines–New People's Army |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/print_view/149 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120005219/https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/print_view/149 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |website=stanford.edu |publisher=[[Stanford University]] |access-date=June 27, 2021}}</ref> which the military strongly resisted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fineman |first1=Mark |last2=Tempest |first2=Rone |title=Aquino Begins Release of Political Prisoners : 9 Freed; Hundreds More Jailed for Opposing Marcos Will Get Out Soon, Spokesman Says |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-28-mn-12720-story.html |access-date=11 August 2024 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=28 February 1986}}</ref> Preliminary peace talks with the CPP ended after the Mendiola Massacre on January 22, 1987, during which at least 12 farmers were killed at a protest rally.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mydans |first1=Seth |title=Troops in Manila Kill 12 in Crowd at Leftist Rally |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/23/world/troops-in-manila-kill-12-in-crowd-at-leftist-rally.html |access-date=June 27, 2021 |work=The New York times |date=January 23, 1987}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=de Guzman |first1=Nicai |title=The Bloody Mendiola Massacre Took Place 34 Years Ago Today |url=https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/the-bloody-mendiola-massacre-took-place-32-years-today-a1729-20190122-lfrm2 |access-date=June 27, 2021 |work=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |date=January 22, 2019}}</ref>

===Closing of United States military bases===
[[File:Corazon Aquino 1992.jpg|thumb|Aquino addresses base workers at a rally at Remy Field concerning jobs for Filipino workers after the Americans withdraw from the U.S. facilities.]]
Soon after Aquino took office, several Philippine senators declared that the presence of U.S. military forces in the Philippines was an affront to national sovereignty. The senators called for the United States military to vacate [[U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay]] and Clark Air Base, and Aquino opposed their demand.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/28/world/philippines-orders-us-to-leave-strategic-navy-base-at-subic-bay.html |last=Sanger |first=David E. |title=Philippines Orders the U.S. to Leave Strategic Navy Base at Subic Bay |website=The New York Times |date=December 28, 1991 |access-date=August 25, 2016}}</ref> The United States objected by stating that they had leased the property and that the leases were still in effect.<ref>Baker 2004 p. 123</ref> The United States stated that the facilities at [[Subic Bay]] were unequaled anywhere in [[Southeast Asia]] and a U.S. pullout could make all of that region of the world vulnerable to an incursion by the Soviet Union or by a resurgent Japan. Another issue with the demand was that thousands of Filipinos worked at these military facilities and they would lose their jobs if the U.S. military moved out. Aquino opposed the Senate's demand and believed that the bases should have remained. Aquino organized a protest against the pullout, which only gathered between 100,000 and 150,000 supporters, far short of the 500,000 to 1 million that had been originally expected.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-11-mn-1923-story.html|title=100,000 March With Aquino to Back U.S. Treaty : Philippines: 'People power' is used to pressure the Senate, but the crowd falls short of her expectations. A bomb disrupts rally, injures 6.|date=September 11, 1991|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 5, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>

The matter was still being debated when [[Mount Pinatubo]] erupted in June 1991, covering the entire area with [[volcanic ash]]. Despite attempts to continue the Subic Base, Aquino finally conceded. In December 1991, the government served notice that the U.S. had to close the base by the end of 1992.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-27-mn-909-story.html|title=Close Subic Base by End of '92, Manila Tells U.S.|date=December 27, 1991|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 5, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>

===Natural disasters and calamities===
On December 20, 1987, the [[MV Doña Paz|MV ''Doña Paz'']] sank after a collision with the oil tanker MV ''Vector''. The final death toll exceeded 4,300 people, and the sinking has been called the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster of the 20th century.<ref name="Hooke">Hooke, Norman. ''Maritime Casualties, 1963-1996''. Lloyd's of London Press, 1997</ref> In the aftermath, Aquino addressed the incident as "a national tragedy of harrowing proportions".<ref>{{cite news|author=Barbara Crosette|date=December 23, 1987|title=It's Gloom And Glitter For Manila|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/23/world/it-s-gloom-and-glitter-for-manila.html|access-date=December 24, 2008}}</ref>

The [[1990 Luzon earthquake]] was a 7.8 [[Moment magnitude scale|magnitude]] earthquake that struck the island of [[Luzon]]. It left an estimate of 1,621 people dead and massive property damage.

In 1991, a [[1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo|volcanic eruption]] of Mount Pinatubo, then thought to be dormant, killed around 800 people and caused widespread long-term devastation of agricultural lands in [[Central Luzon]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Cataclysmic 1991 Eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1997/fs113-97|access-date=March 22, 2008|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]}}</ref> Around 20,000 residents had to be evacuated and around 10,000 people were left homeless by the event. It was the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century.

On November 1, 1991 [[Tropical Storm Thelma]] (also known as Typhoon Uring) caused massive flooding in [[Ormoc City]], leaving around 5,000 dead in what was then considered to be the deadliest typhoon in Philippine history. On November 8, Aquino declared all of [[Leyte]] a [[disaster area]].<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Vindicator|date=November 9, 1991|access-date=May 7, 2013|title=The Philippines: Search continues for bodies of victims|page=A3|location=Manila, Philippines|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CedYAAAAIBAJ&pg=1325%2C4260781}}</ref>

===Electrical power grid inadequacy===
During Aquino's presidency, electric [[power outage|blackouts]] became common in Manila. The city experienced 7–12 hours-long blackouts, which severely affected its businesses. By the departure of Aquino in June 1992, businesses in Manila and nearby provinces had lost nearly $800 million since the preceding March.

Corazon Aquino's decision to deactivate the [[Bataan Nuclear Power Plant|Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP)]], which was built during the Marcos administration, contributed to further electricity crises in the 1990s, as the 620 megawatts capacity of the plant would have been enough to cover the shortfall at that time.<ref name="LA Times on blackout">{{cite news |last1=Drogin |first1=Bob |title=Brownouts Darken Outlook for Aquino : Philippines: Power outages cripple industry and snarl traffic. Criticism has focused on the president. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-24-mn-336-story.html |access-date=June 27, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 24, 1990}}</ref> Critics of the BNPP had stated that the power plant was unsafe, and cited the millions of dollars in bribes paid to President Marcos to allow its construction.<ref name="LA Times on blackout"/> The administration had failed to provide for an adequate replacement for the plant before her term had completed, and President Corazon Aquino ended her term in 1992 with the country reeling under a severe power shortage crisis.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brownouts Darken Outlook for Aquino: Philippines: Power outages cripple industry and snarl traffic. Criticism has focused on the president.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-24-mn-336-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=April 24, 1990}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2014/09/19/1370749/legacy-darkness|title=A legacy of darkness|first=Marichu A.|last=Villanueva|website=[[The Philippine STAR]] }}</ref>

===Influence in 1992 presidential election===
The 1987 Constitution limited the president to a single six-year term with no possibility of re-election. As the end of her presidency drew near, close advisers and friends told Aquino that since she was not inaugurated under the 1987 Constitution, her term beginning 1986, she was still 'eligible' to seek the presidency again in the upcoming [[1992 Philippine presidential election|1992 elections]], the first presidential elections held under normal and peaceful circumstances since 1965. However, Aquino firmly declined the requests for her to seek reelection, citing her strong belief that the presidency was not a lifetime position.

Initially, she named [[Ramon V. Mitra]], Speaker of the [[Philippine House of Representatives]] who had been a friend of her husband, as her preferred candidate for the 1992 presidential elections. However, she later backtracked and instead supported the candidacy of General [[Fidel V. Ramos]], who was her defense secretary and a key figure in the EDSA Revolution. Ramos had consistently stood by her government during the various coup attempts that were launched against her administration. Her sudden change of mind and withdrawal of support from Mitra drew criticism from her supporters in the liberal and [[social democratic]] sectors. Her decision also drew criticism from the Catholic Church, which questioned her support of Ramos due to his being a [[Protestantism|Protestant]]. General Ramos won the 1992 elections with 23.58% of the total votes in a wide-open campaign.

On June 30, 1992, Corazon Aquino formally and peacefully handed over power to Fidel Ramos. On that day, Fidel V. Ramos was [[Inauguration of Fidel Ramos|inaugurated]] as the twelfth president of the Philippines. After the inauguration, Aquino left the ceremony in a simple white [[Toyota Crown]] she had purchased, rather than the lavish government-issued [[Mercedes-Benz]] in which she and Ramos had ridden on the way to the ceremonies, to make the point that she was once again an ordinary citizen.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Sandra|last=Burton|title=Time 100: Corazon Aquino|url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazine/1999/990823/aquino1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010128150400/http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazine/1999/990823/aquino1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 28, 2001|magazine=Time |date=August 23–30, 1999|access-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref>

=== Administration and cabinet ===
{{Main|Presidency of Corazon Aquino#Administration and cabinet}}

== Post-presidency (1992–2009) ==
[[File:Aquino 2003.jpg|thumb|Corazon Aquino speaks before the 2003 Ninoy Aquino Award ceremony at the [[Embassy of the United States, Manila|U.S. Embassy]] in [[Manila]].]]

===Domestic===
During Aquino's retirement and stay as a private citizen, she remained active in the Philippine political scene. Aquino would voice her dissent to government actions and policies that she deemed threats to the democratic foundations of the country.

In 1997, Aquino, together with Cardinal [[Jaime Sin]], led a rally opposing President Fidel Ramos' attempt to extend his term through his [[Constitutional reform in the Philippines#Ramos administration|proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution's restriction on presidential term limits]]. Ramos' proposed charter change would fail, leaving term limits and the presidential system in place.

During the [[1998 Philippine presidential election]], Aquino endorsed the candidacy of former police general and Manila Mayor [[Alfredo Lim]] who is the [[Liberal Party (Philippines)|Liberal]] nominee for president. Lim would lose to Vice President [[Joseph Estrada]], who won by a landslide.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lozada misses Cory Aquino in Navotas Mass|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/86302/Lozada-misses-Cory-Aquino-in-Navotas-Mass|publisher=GMA News.TV|date=March 26, 2008|access-date=April 14, 2008 }}</ref> In 1999, Aquino and Cardinal Jaime Sin again worked together to oppose [[Constitutional reform in the Philippines#Estrada adaminsitration|a second plan to amend the Constitution to remove term limits]], this time under President Estrada. President Estrada stated that his plan to amend the Constitution was intended to lift provisions that 'restrict' economic activities and investments, and Estrada denied that it was an attempt to extend his stay in office. Estrada's proposed charter change would also fail.

In 2000, Aquino joined the mounting calls for Estrada to resign from office, amid a series of corruption scandals, including strong allegations of bribery charges and gambling kickbacks. Estrada was impeached by the House of Representatives in November 2000 but acquitted by the Senate in December, which in January 2001 led to the [[Second EDSA Revolution]], which ousted Estrada. During the Second EDSA Revolution, Aquino enthusiastically supported the ascendancy of Vice President [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]] to the position of president.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mark Landler|title=In Philippines, The Economy As Casualty; The ped, a Credibility Repair Job|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/09/business/philippines-economy-casualty-president-ousted-credibility-repair-job.html|work=The New York Times|date=February 9, 2001|access-date=April 14, 2008}}</ref> In the subsequent [[trial of Joseph Estrada]], Estrada was acquitted of [[perjury]] but found guilty of [[plunder]] and sentenced to ''[[reclusion perpetua]]'' with the accessory [[sanctions (law)|penalties]] of perpetual disqualification from [[public office]] and [[Asset forfeiture|forfeiture]] of ill-gotten wealth on September 12, 2007. Estrada was pardoned by President Macapagal-Arroyo on October 26, 2007.

In 2005, after a series of revelations and exposes that implicated President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in [[2005 Philippine electoral crisis|rigging]] the [[2004 Philippine general election|2004 presidential elections]], Aquino called on Arroyo to resign in order to prevent bloodshed, violence and further political deterioration.<ref>{{cite news|author=Carlos H. Conde|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/09/international/asia/09filip.html|title=Allies of Philippine President Call on Her to Step Down|work=The New York Times|date=July 9, 2005|access-date=April 14, 2008}}</ref> Aquino once again led massive street-level demonstrations, this time demanding the resignation of President Arroyo.<ref>{{cite news|author=Carlos H. Conde|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E4D9143BF932A35750C0A96E9C8B63|title=Ex-Presidents Join Anti-Arroyo Rally|work=The New York Times|date=March 1, 2008|access-date=April 14, 2008 }}</ref>

During the [[2007 Philippine general election|2007 senatorial elections]], Aquino actively campaigned for her only son, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who went on to win his race. Less than a year after Corazon Aquino's death in 2009, Benigno Aquino III won the [[2010 Philippine presidential election]] and served as the 15th president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016.

In December 2008, Corazon Aquino publicly expressed regret for her participation in the 2001 Second EDSA Revolution, which installed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as president. She apologized to former President Joseph Estrada for the role she played in his ouster in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aquino says sorry to Estrada; concedes EDSA II was a mistake|author=Leah Salaverria|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081223-179471/Aquino-says-sorry-to-Estrada|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=December 23, 2008|access-date=December 23, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108152044/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081223-179471/Aquino-says-sorry-to-Estrada|archive-date=January 8, 2009}}</ref> Aquino's apology drew criticisms from numerous politicians.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cory apologizes for EDSA 2, get flak|url=http://angperyodiko.net/home/?p=9|access-date=February 28, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723013602/http://angperyodiko.net/home/?p=9|archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref> In June 2009, two months before her death, Aquino issued a public statement in which she strongly denounced and condemned the [[Constitutional reform in the Philippines#Arroyo administration|Arroyo administration's plans of amending the 1987 Constitution]], calling it a "shameless abuse of power".

===International===
Shortly after leaving the presidency, Aquino traveled abroad, giving speeches and lectures on issues of democracy, development, human rights, and women empowerment. At the 1994 meeting of the [[UNESCO]] World Commission on Culture and Development in Manila, Aquino delivered a speech urging the unconditional release of Burmese democratic leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] from detention.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} She petitioned for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cory wishes Suu Kyi freedom |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2005/06/20/282691/cory-wishes-suu-kyi-freedom |access-date=11 August 2024 |work=[[The Philippine Star]] |date=June 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811092500/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2005/06/20/282691/cory-wishes-suu-kyi-freedom |archive-date=11 August 2024}}</ref>

Aquino was a member of the [[Council of Women World Leaders]], an international organization of former and current female heads of state, from the group's inception in 1996 to her death.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In 1997, Aquino attended the wake and funeral of Saint [[Mother Teresa of Calcutta]], whom she met during the latter's visit in Manila in 1989.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 13, 1997 |title=Cory, Gina represent RP at Mother Teresa rites |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m48VAAAAIBAJ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811011921/https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=m48VAAAAIBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_all_issues_r&cad=1#v=onepage&q&f=true |archive-date=August 11, 2024 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |work=[[Manila Standard]] |pages=4}}</ref> In 2005, Aquino joined the international community in mourning the death of [[Pope John Paul II]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Romero |first=Paul |date=April 4, 2005 |title=RP: A deep sense of grief, loss |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2005/04/04/272610/rp-deep-sense-grief-loss |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811005355/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2005/04/04/272610/rp-deep-sense-grief-loss |archive-date=August 11, 2024 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |work=[[The Philippine Star]]}}</ref>

In 2002, Aquino became the first woman named to the Board of Governors at the [[Asian Institute of Management]], a leading graduate business school and think tank in the Asia Pacific region.<ref>{{cite web|title=Asian Institute of Management: History |url=http://www.aim.edu/aboutaim/history.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211114310/http://www.aim.edu/aboutaim/history.asp |archive-date=February 11, 2008 |publisher=Asian Institute of Management |access-date=April 15, 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> She served on the Board until 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Asian Institute of Management: News and Announcements |url=http://www.aim.edu/home/announcementc.asp?id=727 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124071707/http://www.aim.edu/home/announcementc.asp?id=727 |archive-date=January 24, 2008 |publisher=Asian Institute of Management |access-date=April 15, 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Charitable and social initiatives===
After her term as president, Aquino was involved in several charitable activities and socio-economic initiatives. From 1992 until her death, Aquino was chairperson of the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Foundation, which she set up in her husband's honor after his assassination in 1983. Aquino supported the [[Gawad Kalinga]] social housing project for the poor and homeless. In 2007, Aquino helped establish the PinoyME Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to provide [[microfinance|microfinancing]] programs and projects for the poor. Aquino also painted and would occasionally give away her paintings to friends and family or auction her paintings and donate the proceeds to charity. She never sold her art for her own profit.<ref name=RCATA>{{cite news|url= https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-and-culture/art/196833-remembering-corazon-cory-aquino-artist |title=Remembering Corazon Aquino, the artist |last=Radovan |first=Jill Tan |work=Rappler |date=February 25, 2018 |access-date=February 26, 2018}}</ref>

==Illness and death==
{{Main|Death and funeral of Corazon Aquino}}
On March 24, 2008, Aquino's family announced that the former president had been diagnosed with [[colorectal cancer]]. Upon her being earlier informed by her doctors that she had only three months to live,<ref>{{cite news|author=Maila Ager|title=Aquino blood pressure fluctuating – family|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090728-217645/Aquino-blood-pressure-fluctuating--family|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=July 28, 2009|access-date=July 28, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729212054/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090728-217645/Aquino-blood-pressure-fluctuating--family|archive-date=July 29, 2009}}</ref> she pursued medical treatment and [[chemotherapy]]. A series of healing [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]es for Aquino, who was a devout Catholic, were held throughout the country for her recovery. In a public statement during one healing Mass on May 13, 2008, Aquino said that her blood tests indicated that she was responding well to treatment, although her hair and appetite loss were apparent.<ref>{{cite news|author=Abigail Kwok|title=Aquino: 'My body is responding positively to the treatment'|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080513-136351/Aquino-My-body-is-responding-positively-to-the-treatment|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=May 13, 2008|access-date=September 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515013515/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080513-136351/Aquino-My-body-is-responding-positively-to-the-treatment |archive-date=May 15, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

By July 2009, Aquino was reported to be suffering from loss of appetite and in very serious condition. At that time she was confined to [[Makati Medical Center]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Fe Zamora|title=Prayers sought for ailing Cory Aquino; Friend says ex-leader in 'serious' condition|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090701-213331/Prayers-sought-for-ailing-Cory-Aquino|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=July 1, 2009|access-date=July 1, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704055050/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090701-213331/Prayers-sought-for-ailing-Cory-Aquino|archive-date=July 4, 2009}}</ref> It was later announced that Aquino and her family had decided to stop chemotherapy and other medical interventions for her.<ref>{{cite news|title=No more chemotherapy for Cory, says close family friend|publisher=GMA News.TV|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/166389/No-more-chemotherapy-for-Cory-says-close-family-friend|date=July 2, 2009|access-date=July 2, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=[[Agence France-Presse]]|title=No more treatment for Aquino—spokeswoman|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090702-213497/No-more-treatment-for-Aquinospokeswoman|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=July 2, 2009|access-date=July 2, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704063118/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090702-213497/No-more-treatment-for-Aquinospokeswoman|archive-date=July 4, 2009}}</ref>

Aquino died in the Makati Medical Center at 3:18&nbsp;a.m. on August 1, 2009, due to [[cardiorespiratory arrest]] at the age of 76.<ref name="AgerInquirer1">{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090801-218235/Cory-Aquino-dies|title=Cory Aquino dies|last=Ager|first=Maila|date=August 1, 2009|publisher=Inquirer.net|access-date=July 31, 2009}}</ref>

===Wake and funeral===
[[File:Line at the Corazon Aquino wake at the Manila Cathedral.jpg|thumb|Queue for Aquino's wake in front of the [[Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila]] campus, which had opened its facilities for the mourners.<ref>{{cite news|title=PLM opens facilities for Cory supporters|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/168980/PLM-opens-facilities-for-Cory-supporters|work=GMANews.tv|access-date=August 4, 2009|date=August 5, 2009}}</ref> The cross topping the dome of [[Manila Cathedral]] is visible in the upper right of the photo.]]
[[File:Benigno Aquino III family tombs CNE 02.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The shared tomb of Corazon, Ninoy, and Noynoy Aquino at the [[Manila Memorial Park – Sucat|Manila Memorial Park]] in [[Parañaque]], [[Philippines]], photographed in 2025.]]

On the day of Aquino's death, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced a 10-day mourning period for the former president and issued Administrative Order No. 269 detailing the necessary arrangements for a [[state funeral]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Palace declares week of mourning on the passing of Cory|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/168753/Palace-declares-week-of-mourning-on-passing-of-Cory|work=GMANews.tv|access-date=August 1, 2009|date=August 1, 2009}}</ref> Arroyo was on a state visit to the United States at the time of Aquino's death and returned to the Philippines on August 5, cutting her visit short to pay her last respects to Aquino.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090805-218816/Arroyo-pays-last-respects-to-Aquino|title=Arroyo pays last respects to Aquino|author=Veronica Uy, Kristine L. Alave|date=August 5, 2009|publisher=Inquirer.net|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819113117/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090805-218816/Arroyo-pays-last-respects-to-Aquino|archive-date=August 19, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Arroyo cuts short US trip, sets 5 August holiday for Cory|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/168833/Arroyo-cuts-short-US-trip-sets-August-5-holiday-for-Cory|work=GMAnews.tv|access-date=August 2, 2009|date=August 2, 2009}}</ref> Aquino's children declined Arroyo's offer of a state funeral for their mother.<ref>{{cite web|author=Noel Orsal & Paul Mata|url=http://www.pep.ph/news/22688/Kris-Aquino-explains-why-family-chose-not-to-have-state-funeral-for-former-President-Corazon-Aquino|title=Kris Aquino explains why family chose not to have state funeral for former President Corazon Aquino|publisher=Pep.ph|access-date=March 13, 2010}}</ref>

All churches in the Philippines celebrated requiem masses simultaneously throughout the country and all government offices flew the Philippine flag at half-mast. Hours after her death, Aquino's body [[lay in repose]] for public viewing at the [[La Salle Green Hills]] campus in [[Mandaluyong]]. On August 3, 2009, Aquino's body was transferred from La Salle Green Hills to the [[Manila Cathedral]] in [[Intramuros]], during which hundreds of thousands of Filipinos lined the streets to view and escort the former leader's body. On the way to the cathedral, Aquino's funeral cortege passed along [[Ayala Avenue]] in Makati, stopping in front of the monument to her husband Ninoy, where throngs of mourners gathered and sang the patriotic protest anthem "''[[Bayan Ko]]''{{-"}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/03/09/120000-show-cory|title=120,000 Show up for Cory|work=ABS-CBN News |publisher=Abs-cbnnews.com|access-date=March 13, 2010}}</ref> Aquino's casket was brought inside the cathedral by mid-afternoon that day. Following her death, all Roman Catholic dioceses in the country held [[Requiem Mass]]es.<ref>{{cite news|title=Churches start requiem Masses for Cory Aquino|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/168757/Churches-start-requiem-Masses-for-Cory-Aquino|work=GMANews.tv|access-date=August 1, 2009|date=August 1, 2009}}</ref>

On August 4, 2009, [[Bongbong Marcos]] and [[Imee Marcos]], two prominent children of late former President [[Ferdinand Marcos Sr.|Ferdinand Marcos]], paid their last respects to Aquino in spite of the two families' longstanding feud. The Marcos siblings were received by Aquino's daughters María Elena, Aurora Corazon, and Victoria Elisa.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marcos children pay last respects to Aquino |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090804-218722/Marcos-children-pay-last-respects-to-Aquino |work=Inquirer.net|access-date=August 4, 2009|date=August 4, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805201342/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090804-218722/Marcos-children-pay-last-respects-to-Aquino|archive-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref>

A final Requiem Mass was held on the morning of August 5, 2009, with [[Archbishop of Manila]] [[Gaudencio Rosales|Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales]], [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga|Bishop of Balanga]] [[Socrates B. Villegas]], and other high-ranking clergymen [[concelebration|concelebrating]]. Aquino's daughter Kris spoke on behalf of her family towards the end of the Mass. Aquino's flag-draped casket was escorted from the cathedral to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque, where she was interred beside her husband in her family mausoleum. Aquino's funeral procession took more than eight hours to reach the burial site, as tens of thousands of civilians lined the route to pay their respects. [[Philippine Air Force]] [[UH-1]] helicopters showered the procession with yellow confetti and ships docked at Manila's harbor blared their sirens to salute the late president.

===Reaction===
Both local and international leaders showed respect for Aquino's achievements in the process of democratization in the Philippines.

====National reaction====
Various politicians across the political spectrum expressed their grief and praise for the former Philippine leader. President Arroyo, once an ally of Aquino, remembered the sacrifices she made for the country and called her a "national treasure".<ref name="AgerInquirer2">{{cite news|url=http://www.inquirer.net/specialreports/coryaquino/view.php?db=1&article=20090801-218238|title=Arroyo orders 10 days of mourning|last=Cabacungan|first=Gil Jr.|date=August 1, 2009|publisher=Inquirer.net|access-date=August 2, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810212450/http://www.inquirer.net/specialreports/coryaquino/view.php?db=1&article=20090801-218238|archive-date=August 10, 2009}}</ref> Former President Estrada said that the country had lost its mother and guiding voice with her sudden death. He also described Aquino as the "Philippines' most loved woman".<ref>{{cite news|title=Estrada: Aquino RP's 'most loved' woman|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090726-217311/Estrada-Aquino-RPs-most-loved-woman|work=Inquirer.net|access-date=August 3, 2009|date=August 3, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729122752/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090726-217311/Estrada-Aquino-RPs-most-loved-woman|archive-date=July 29, 2009}}</ref> Although they were at one time political foes, Aquino and Estrada had reconciled and joined forces in opposing President Arroyo.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nation lost 'mother, guiding voice'|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090801-218244/Nation-lost-mother-guiding-voice|work=Inquirer.net|access-date=August 1, 2009|date=August 1, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802013601/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090801-218244/Nation-lost-mother-guiding-voice|archive-date=August 2, 2009}}</ref>

[[Communist Party of the Philippines]] founder [[Jose Maria Sison]] joined in mourning Aquino's death, saying his relationship with her was "exceptional".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Galicia |first1=Loui |title=Joma, Cory had 'exceptional' relationship |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/pinoy-migration/08/03/09/joma-cory-had-exceptional-relationship |access-date=25 July 2023 |work=[[ABS-CBN News]] |date=August 3, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101005745/https://news.abs-cbn.com/pinoy-migration/08/03/09/joma-cory-had-exceptional-relationship |archive-date=November 1, 2020}}</ref> Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who had been Aquino's defense minister and later a fierce critic of Aquino, asked the public to pray for her eternal repose. Although former Aquino interior minister and Senate minority floor leader [[Aquilino Pimentel Jr.]] revealed that he had "mixed feelings" about Aquino's death, he also said that the country "shall be forever indebted to Cory for rallying the nation behind the campaign to topple dictatorial rule and restore democracy".<ref>{{cite news|title=Senators remember Cory's greatness|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/168760/Senators-remember-Corys-greatness|work=GMANews.tv|access-date=August 1, 2009|date=August 1, 2009}}</ref>

Filipino citizens throughout the country wore either yellow shirts or held masses to pay tribute to Aquino. Yellow ribbons, which were a symbol of support for Aquino after the 1986 election and during the People Power Revolution, were tied along major national roads as a sign of solidarity and support for Aquino and her grieving family. On popular social networking sites such as [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]], Filipinos posted yellow ribbons on their accounts as tribute. Following her death, Filipino Catholics called on the Church to have Aquino canonized and declared as a [[saint]]. Days after her funeral, the [[Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas]] (BSP) announced that it supported calls to put the former president on the [[Philippine five hundred-peso note|500-Peso banknote]] alongside Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., her deceased husband. The bill had previously featured a portrait of only Benigno Aquino Jr. since 1987.<ref>{{cite news|title=BSP backs adding Cory image to P500 bill|url=http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20090806-219048/BSP-backs-adding-Cory-image-to-P500-bill|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|access-date=August 6, 2009|date=August 6, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808203647/http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20090806-219048/BSP-backs-adding-Cory-image-to-P500-bill|archive-date=August 8, 2009}}</ref>

====International reaction====
Messages of sympathy were sent by various national heads of state and international leaders.

Pope [[Benedict XVI]], in his letter to Archbishop Rosales, recalled Aquino's "courageous commitment to the freedom of the Filipino people, her firm rejection of violence and intolerance" and called her a woman of courage and faith.

U.S. President [[Barack Obama]], through White House Press Secretary [[Robert Gibbs]], said that "her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation". U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] expressed sadness over the death of Aquino, to whom she had sent a personal letter of best wishes for recovery while she was still in hospital in July 2009. Clinton said that Aquino was "admired by the world for her extraordinary courage" in leading the fight against dictatorship.<ref>{{cite news|title=World mourns Aquino's death|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090801-218251/World-mourns-Aquinos-death|work=Inquirer.net|access-date=August 1, 2009|date=August 1, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804033534/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090801-218251/World-mourns-Aquinos-death|archive-date=August 4, 2009}}</ref>

South African President [[Jacob Zuma]] called Aquino "a great leader who set a shining example of peaceful transition to democracy in her country".<ref>{{cite news|title=Aquino mourned at wake by thousands of Filipinos |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgwQ8MfOS2fuOym9WcK126G9-UQgD99QM71O0 |last=Gomez |first=Jim |agency=Associated Press |access-date=August 4, 2009 |date=August 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240524110449/https://www.webcitation.org/5imI9aEUA?url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgwQ8MfOS2fuOym9WcK126G9-UQgD99QM71O0 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

[[Queen Elizabeth II]] of the United Kingdom, through the British Ambassador in Manila, sent a message to the Filipino people which read: "I am saddened to hear of the death of Corazon 'Cory' Aquino the former president of the Republic of the Philippines". She also added, "I send my sincere condolences to her family and to the people of the Philippines. Signed, Elizabeth R".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/08/06/09/british-queen-saddened-death-rps-true-queen|title=British Queen saddened with death of RP's 'true queen'|date=August 6, 2008|newspaper=ABS-CBN News|access-date=December 20, 2009}}</ref>

Russian President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] stated in a telegram to President Arroyo that "the name of Corazon Aquino is associated with a period of profound reforms and the democratic transformation of Filipino society". Medvedev also lauded Aquino's sympathy to Russian people and her contribution to the improvement of [[Philippines–Russia relations|Russian-Filipino relations]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/text/news/2009/08/220411.shtml|title=Dmitry Medvedev expressed his condolences to President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo following the passing of former President of the Republic Corazon Aquino.|date=August 1, 2009|publisher=[[Presidential Press and Information Office]]|access-date=August 2, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807055946/http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/text/news/2009/08/220411.shtml|archive-date=August 7, 2009}}</ref>

[[Timor-Leste]] President [[José Ramos-Horta]] and [[Wan Azizah]], wife of Malaysian opposition leader [[Anwar Ibrahim]], came to the Philippines to express their sympathies and attend Aquino's funeral.

Soon after her 2010 release from her two-decade prison sentence, Aung San Suu Kyi of [[Myanmar]] publicly cited Aquino as one of her inspirations. She also expressed her good wishes for Aquino's son, then-incumbent president of the Philippines [[Benigno S. Aquino III]].

==In popular culture==
In 2008, a musical play about Aquino entitled ''Cory, the Musical'' was staged at the [[Meralco Theater]]. It was written and directed by [[Nestor Torre Jr.]] and starred Isay Alvarez as Aquino. The musical featured a [[libretto]] of 19 original songs composed by Lourdes Pimentel, wife of Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.<ref>{{cite news|title=Musical on Cory Aquino to be staged at Meralco Theater|url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080620-143874/Musical-on-Cory-Aquino-to-be-staged-at-Meralco-Theater|date=June 20, 2008|access-date=June 29, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20081005103023/http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080620-143874/Musical-on-Cory-Aquino-to-be-staged-at-Meralco-Theater|archive-date=October 5, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/121033/Bing-Pimentel-writes-musical-play-for-Cory|title=Bing Pimentel writes musical play for Cory|date=September 17, 2008 |publisher=Gmanews.tv|access-date=March 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/09/16/08/coming-october-cory-musical|title=Coming this October: 'Cory' the Musical|publisher=Abs-cbnnews.com|date=September 16, 2008|access-date=March 13, 2010}}</ref>

==Legacy and honors==
[[File:Jf9883Corazon Aquino Monument Nueva Ecijafvf 07.JPG|thumb|Cory Aquino memorial at [[General Tinio, Nueva Ecija]]]]
[[File:BantayogWall20181115Alternativity-2009.jpg|thumb|Detail of the Wall of Remembrance at the [[Bantayog ng mga Bayani]], showing names from the 2009 batch of Bantayog Honorees, including that of Corazon Aquino]]
[[File:2010-NHI-Corazon C. Aquino.png|thumb|Corazon Aquino historical marker in Tarlac City issued by the [[National Historical Commission of the Philippines|NHI]] in 2010]]

After her peaceful accession to the presidency and the ousting of President Marcos, Aquino was named ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's [[Time Person of the Year|Woman of the Year]] in 1986.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ayer |first=Pico |date=January 5, 1987 |title=Woman of the Year: President Corazon Aquino |url=https://time.com/vault/issue/1987-01-05/page/5/ |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405142631/https://time.com/vault/issue/1987-01-05/page/5/ |access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-date=April 5, 2021 }}</ref> In August 1999, Aquino was chosen by ''Time'' as one of the 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Nisid Hajari|title=Asians of the Century|url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazine/1999/990823/cover1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010128155400/http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazine/1999/990823/cover1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 28, 2001|magazine=Time |date=August 23–30, 1999|access-date=April 15, 2008 }}</ref> ''Time'' also cited her as one of 65 great Asian Heroes in November 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Sheila Coronel|title=60 Years of Asian Heroes: Corazon Aquino|url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/2006/heroes/nb_aquino.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127183343/http://www.time.com/time/asia/2006/heroes/nb_aquino.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 27, 2006|magazine=Time |access-date=April 15, 2008|date=November 13, 2006}}</ref> 

In 1994, Aquino was cited as one of ''100 Women Who Shaped World History'' in a reference book written by Gail Meyer Rolka.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 Most Influential Women of All Time: A Ranking Past and Present|url=http://www.adherents.com/people/100_women.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051119104714/http://www.adherents.com/people/100_women.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 19, 2005|publisher=Adherents.com|access-date=April 15, 2008 }}</ref>

In 1996, she received the [[Fulbright Program|J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding]] from the Fulbright Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino Receives 1996 J. William Fulbright Prize For International Understanding|url=http://www.fulbrightalumni.org/olc/pub/FBA/fulbright_prize/aquino_pr.html|publisher=Fulbright Association|access-date=April 15, 2008 }}</ref>

In 1998, she was awarded the [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] in recognition of her role in peaceful revolution to attain democracy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aquino, Corazon Cojuangco |url=https://www.rmaward.asia/awardees/aquino-corazon-cojuangco/ |website=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref>

Since her death in 2009, the legacy of Corazon Aquino has prompted various namings of public landmarks and creations of memorials. Among these are as follows:
* From 2009 to the first print run of [[New Generation Currency Series]] on November 2010 in preparation for its release to the public on December 16, 2010, Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) approved the production and release of newly designed 500-peso banknotes that feature both Senator [[Benigno Aquino Jr|Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.]] and Corazon Aquino.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/208501/money/cory-ninoy-together-again-on-new-500-peso-bill |last=Sisante |first=Jam |title=Cory, Ninoy together again on new 500-peso bill |website=GMA News |date=December 16, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2016}}</ref> The [[New Design series|New Design/BSP Series]] featured only Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and had been in circulation from August 21, 1987 to January 3, 2018 (although Corazon's signature was featured on NDS 500-peso banknotes that were printed from the said date of August 1987 to June 30, 1992).
* On November 30, 2009, Aquino's name was enshrined at the [[Bantayog ng mga Bayani]], a monument dedicated to individuals who fought for the restoration of Philippine democracy and opposed the Marcos dictatorship. Her husband Ninoy was among the first to be enshrined at the monument's Wall of Remembrance.
* On August 1, 2010, the first anniversary of her death, a 200&nbsp;ft by 250&nbsp;ft [[Photographic mosaic|photo mosaic]] of Aquino was unveiled near the Quirino Grandstand at the [[Luneta Park]] in the presence of her son, President Benigno Aquino III, and her supporters.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/197469/news/nation/despite-rains-noynoy-leads-unfurling-of-giant-photo-mosaic-for-cory |last=Merueñas |first=Mark |title=Despite rains, Noynoy leads unfurling of giant photo mosaic for Cory |website=GMA News |date=February 8, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2016}}</ref> It was submitted to ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' to be certified as the largest photo mosaic in the world, and the record was later certified by the World Record Academy.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Cory mosaic sets world record |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/11/04/10/cory-mosaic-sets-world-record |access-date=June 13, 2021 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=November 4, 2010}}</ref>
* On October 9, 2010, Manila Mayor [[Alfredo S. Lim]] inaugurated a public market in [[Baseco Compound|Baseco]], [[Port Area, Manila|Port Area]] known as the President Corazon C. Aquino Public Market.<ref>{{citation|url=|title=New public market named after late President Cory Aquino inaugurated in Baseco Compound |date=October 9, 2010 |access-date=}}</ref>
* On February 13, 2013, the Corazon Aquino Democratic Space was launched at the [[De La Salle University]], alongside the formal inauguration of the new Henry Sy, Sr. Hall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thelasallian.com/2013/02/15/president-aquino-attends-donors-night-and-cory-aquino-democratic-space-launch-at-hssc/|title=President Aquino attends Donor's Night and Cory Aquino Democratic Space launch at HSSH|date=February 15, 2013|publisher=[[The LaSallian]]|first=Carina|last=Cruz}}</ref>
* On July 28, 2014, the Republic Act No. 10663, which named a circumferential road in [[Iloilo City]] to President Corazon C. Aquino Avenue, was signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III.<ref>{{cite PH act |title=An Act Naming As the "President Corazon C. Aquino Avenue" the Circumferential Road Which Commences at the Junction of the Iloilo-Dumangas Coastal Road in Balabago, Jaro District, Iloilo City, Then Follows a General Westward Direction Along the Floodway's South Bank Towards Buhang, Jaro; Tacas, Jaro and Ungka Ii, Pavia, Then Traverses Southwards to the Mandurriao District, Iloilo City-Pavia-San Miguel Tri-Border, and Ends at the Iloilo-Antique Road, Near the Center of Arevalo District, Iloilo City |chamber=RA |number=10663 |date=July 28, 2014 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2015/07jul/20150703-RA-10663-BSA.pdf |accessdate= |ref=}}</ref>
* In 2015, the new [[Corazon C. Aquino Hospital]] in Barangay Biasong, [[Dipolog]] was opened to the public.
* On December 10, 2015, the Republic Act No. 10716, which renamed Batasan Hills High School (BHES) into "President Corazon C. Aquino Elementary School" in [[Batasan Hills, Quezon City]], was signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III.<ref>{{cite PH act |title=An Act Changing the Name of Batasan Hills National High School in Barangay Batasan Hills, City of Quezon, Metro Manila to Corazon C. Aquino National High School |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2015/12dec/20151210-RA-10716-BSA.pdf |chamber=RA |number=10716 |date=December 10, 2015 |access-date=October 4, 2023}}</ref>
* On June 29, 2018, Republic Act No. 11045, which renamed the Kay Tikling-Antipolo-Teresa-Morong National Road to Corazon C. Aquino Avenue, was signed into law by President [[Rodrigo Duterte]]. Corazon C. Aquino Avenue is a road traversing from [[Taytay, Rizal|Taytay]] to [[Morong, Rizal|Morong]] in [[Rizal (province)|Rizal]] (including the segment of [[Ortigas Avenue]] Extension from Taytay to [[Antipolo]]).<ref>{{cite PH act |title=An Act Renaming the Kay Tikling-Antipolo-Teresa-Morong National Road in the Province of Rizal, Traversing Through Barangay Dolores in the Municipality of Taytay up to Barangay Maybancal in the Municipality of Morong, as Corazon C. Aquino Avenue |chamber=RA |number=11045 |folio = |language= |date=June 29, 2018 |year=|article= |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2018/06jun/20180629-RA-11045-RRD.pdf |accessdate=October 4, 2023 |ref=}}</ref>

In 2018, Aquino, along with her late husband [[Ninoy Aquino]] and 126 other individuals were recognized by the Human Rights Victims Claims Board as a ''[[motu proprio]]'' human rights violations victim of the [[Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos|Ferdinand Marcos Sr. dictatorship]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official List of Recognized Motu Proprio Human Rights Violations Victims- |url=https://hrvvmc.gov.ph/roll-of-victims/roll-of-victims-motu-proprio/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=[[Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission]]}}</ref>

==Awards and achievements==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2023}}

===National===
* {{Flag|Philippines}}
** [[File:PHL Legion of Honor - Chief Commander BAR.png|60px]] Chief Commander of the [[Philippine Legion of Honor]]
** [[File:PHI Order of Sikatuna 2003 Grand Collar BAR.svg|60px]] Grand Collar of the [[Order of Sikatuna]]

===Foreign honors===
* {{Flag|Argentina}}
** [[File:ARG Order of the Liberator San Martin - Grand Cross BAR.png|60px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Liberator General San Martín]]
* {{Flag|France}}
** [[File:Ordre national du Merite GC ribbon.svg|60px]] Grand Cross of the [[Ordre national du Mérite|National Order of Merit]]
* {{Flag|Italy}}
** [[File:Cordone di gran Croce OMRI BAR.svg|60px]] [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]], 1st class<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=14729|title=Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana|editor=quirinale.it|accessdate=22 May 2014}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Japan}}
** [[File:JPN Daikun'i kikkasho BAR.svg|60px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Chrysanthemum]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gov.ph/featured/filipino-recipients-of-japanese-decorations-and-japanese-recipients-of-philippine-decorations/ |title=Elenco dei filippini insigniti di onorificenze giapponesi e dei giapponesi insigniti di onorificenze filippine. |accessdate=29 June 2023 |archivedate=13 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013003612/http://www.gov.ph/featured/filipino-recipients-of-japanese-decorations-and-japanese-recipients-of-philippine-decorations/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{Flag|Pakistan}}
** [[File:Nishan-e-Pakistan ribbon bar.svg|60px]] [[Nishan-e-Pakistan|Order of Pakistan]]
* {{Flag|Thailand}} 
** [[File:Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|60px]] Knight Grand Order of [[Order of the White Elephant]] (declined)

===Recognition===
* 1986 ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' [[Time Person of the Year|Woman of the Year]]
* 1986 [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] Human Rights Award
* 1986 United Nations Silver Medal
* 1986 Canadian International Prize for Freedom
* 1986 International Democracy Award from the International Association of Political Consultants
* 1987 [[Prize For Freedom]] Award from [[Liberal International]]
* 1993 Special Peace Award from the Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Awards Foundation and Concerned Women of the Philippines
* 1995 Path to Peace Award
* 1996 [[Fulbright Program|J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding]] from the U.S. Department of State
* 1998 [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] for International Understanding
* 1998 Pearl S. Buck Award
* 1999 One of ''Time'' magazine's 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century
* 2001 [[World Citizenship Award]]
* 2005 [[David Rockefeller]] Bridging Leadership Awards
* 2005 One of the ''World's Elite Women Who Make a Difference'' by the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame
* 2006 One of ''Time'' magazine's 65 Asian Heroes
* 2008 One of A Different View's 15 Champions of World Democracy
* EWC Asia Pacific Community Building Award
* Women's International Center International Leadership Living Legacy Award
* [[King Center for Nonviolent Social Change#Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize|Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize]]
* [[United Nations Development Fund for Women]] Noel Foundation Life Award

===Honorary doctorates===
* Doctor of International Relations, honoris causa, from:
** [[Boston University]] in Boston
** [[Eastern University (United States)|Eastern University]] in St. David, Pennsylvania
** [[Fordham University]] in New York
** [[Waseda University]] in Tokyo
* Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa, from:
** [[Far Eastern University]] (59th Commencement Exercises, March 1987)
* Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from:
** [[University of the Philippines Diliman]] in Quezon City
** [[University of Santo Tomas]] in Manila
** [[University of Hong Kong]] in Hong Kong
* Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from:
** [[Ateneo de Manila University]]
** [[College of Mount Saint Vincent]] in New York
** [[Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan]] in Cagayan de Oro
* Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, from:
** [[Bicol University]] (Posthumous) in Legazpi
** [[San Beda College]] in Manila
** [[Seattle University]]
** [[Stonehill College]] in [[Easton, Massachusetts]]
** [[University of Oregon]]
* Doctor of Public Administration, honoris causa, from:
** [[Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila]] (University of the City of Manila)

==See also==
* [[List of Filipino Nobel laureates and nominees]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
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* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JHDaAAAAMAAJ |last=Kalaw-Tirol |first=Lorna |title=Asia's New Crisis: Renewal Through Total Ethical Management |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons|Wiley]] |location=United States |year=2004 |isbn=9780470821299 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Richter |first=Frank-Jürgen |author-link=Frank-Jürgen Richter |title=Public Faces, Private Lives |publisher=[[Policy Press]] |location=Germany |year=2014 |isbn= 9781447316374 }}
* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RWA5BAAAQBAJ |last=Skard |first=Torild  |title=Public Faces, Private Lives |publisher=[[Policy Press]] |location=Great Britain |year=2014 |isbn= 9781447316374 }}

==External links==
{{wikisource|works=or}}
{{Commons category|Corazon Aquino}}
* [http://www.coryaquino.ph/ Official website of Corazon Aquino] – maintained by the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071104122404/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,963185,00.html ''Time'' Woman of the Year: Corazon "Cory" Aquino]
* {{YouTube|WX9ysynaIq0|Aquino's historic speech before the U.S. Congress }}
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/world/asia/01aquino.html ''New York Times'' obituary]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091222045537/http://www.bayangmagiliw.info/pangulong-cory-aquino-sa-time-magazine/ President Aquino in ''Time'' magazine's year ender]
* [[World Socialist Web Site]] obituary: [http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2009/08/cory-a04.html part one] and [http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2009/08/cory-a05.html part two]
* {{C-SPAN|10581}}

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| before = [[Ferdinand Marcos]]
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{{s-ttl
| title = [[President of the Philippines]]
| years = February 25, 1986–June 30, 1992
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{{s-aft
| after = [[Fidel V. Ramos]]
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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-new|first
| rows = 2
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{{s-ttl
| title = [[United Nationalist Democratic Organization|UNIDO]] nominee for President of the Philippines
| years = [[1986 Philippine presidential election|1986]]
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{{s-non
| reason = Party dissolved
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|-
{{s-ttl
| title = [[PDP–Laban]] nominee for President of the Philippines
| years = [[1986 Philippine presidential election|1986]]
}}
{{s-vac|next=[[Rodrigo Duterte]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Corazon Aquino}}
{{Symbols of the Philippines}}
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{{Aquino cabinet}}
{{Ramon Magsaysay Award Winners}}
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