By Prime Sarmiento and Anna Martelino
MANILA, Aug 1 2009 (IPS)

An icon of democracy whose unexpected rise to power in 1986 gave birth to the term “people power” in the world’s political lexicon. A reluctant president and survivor of six coup attempts. A moral force known for her stubbornness even if told she was wrong.

These are some of the ways that Filipinos are remembering former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, who died before dawn Saturday after a battle with colon cancer. She was 76.

But for many in this South-east Asian country of more than 90 million people, Aquino – a widow who led a popular movement against the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and was later catapulted to power in a bloodless revolt – was simply ‘Tita Cory’ (Auntie Cory).

“She was the only President we called ‘auntie’ because she was the only one really close to our hearts”, mused one woman who had come to the memorial park where Aquino’s body was first brought Saturday.

Later on, amid a shower of yellow confetti, the former President’s body was brought to La Salle high school gymnasium for the public wake before the private burial on Wednesday. Thousands, many in yellow – the pro-Cory Aquino colour — had gathered outside the gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday, flags flew at half-mast across the country. Masses were said in churches in this mainly Catholic nation. Volleys of fire in 30-minute intervals, traditionally given when former presidents pass away, took place in military camps in the country.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a 10-day period of national mourning and said the country had “lost a national treasure”. The Aquino family however has chosen not to have a state funeral usually given to former presidents.

While the death did not come as a surprise since Aquino had taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks and she had been a private citizen since stepping down from the presidency in 1992, her death made many Filipinos reflect on the state of democracy and political affairs in their country.

Aquino’s transition from being a partner to her husband Benigno, who had been Marcos’ nemesis, to president began in 1983.

Against the backdrop of a country reeling from difficult economic ties and a growing communist rebellion, Filipinos’ anger deepened after Corazon’s husband was assassinated upon his arrival at the Manila airport on Aug. 21, 1983. Opposition grew over the next years, until Marcos called a snap election on his rule in February 1986.

Massive cheating occurred and Filipinos found in Corazon Aquino the symbol of the end to Marcos’ 20-year dictatorship they wanted.

Within four days in February 1986 – the ‘People Power’ revolt — top military leaders withdrew their support from Marcos. Millions flooded into the city’s streets, demanding that he step down from power and on Feb. 25, with the nudging of the U.S. government, Marcos flew into exile in Hawaii.

Aquino was president for six years, during which she oversaw the drafting of a new Constitution, restored democratic institutions and reopened Congress that Marcos shut down during martial rule, began the unfinished process of recovering billions in dollars in Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth, and restored press freedom.

She had her critics, from those who said she did not introduce radical enough reforms to others who said she was not presidential material.

But in retrospect, Aquino’s legacy goes beyond those, some say, to her brand of integrity.

“Aquino will always symbolise the pure, understated power of just causes and how the justness and sheer righteousness of a cause can make plain housewives triumph over powerful tyrants,” Teodoro Casino, party-list representative in the lower house of Congress, said in an interview.

Casino recalls that as a student activist, he was disappointed by Aquino’s failure to institute social and economic reforms. But “her failures, which left me frustrated and disillusioned, will always pale in comparison to that singular triumph of People Power,” he said.

Like Casino, University of the Philippines professor and former anti-Marcos activist Pamela Fernandez is critical of aspects of Aquino’s presidency – including the failure to pass a genuine land reform programme. But “she’s part of the actualisation of the destiny of our nation, ” Fernandez said, because of her part in restoring democratic institutions in the country.

“It was her moral ascendancy, impeccable integrity and sincere love for country,” Gwen Garcia, governor of the central province of Cebu, said of her legacy. “Whether we agreed with what she was doing or not, we knew that she loved the Philippines and she truly believed that it was the right thing to do.”

In her retirement, Aquino set up a foundation that sought to help people with microfinance and empowerment. She had also taken up painting.

Aquino mostly stayed out of politics. But in December 2008, she caused a furore when she apologised to former President Joseph Estrada for supporting a popular movement in 2001 to oust him from office on accusations of corruption. “We all make mistakes, so please forgive me,” she said to Estrada. Supporters later said her remarks had been misinterpreted.

She had also been critical of incumbent President Arroyo, whose resignation she sought in 2005 after allegations of electoral fraud.

As heavy rains poured over the Philippine capital, hours after Aquino’s son Benigno, a senator named after his assassinated father, announced her death, 40-something year-old domestic worker Norma Nicol cried. “It’s raining. Everyone’s weeping because Cory died.”

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