Remembering Cory Aquino

Artwork by: Agustin Jakosalem

Maria Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was the President of the Philippines and a world-renowned advocate of democracy, peace, women’s empowerment, and religious piety. She served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the first female president of the Philippines and was Asia’s first female president.

In relation to Negros, Daniel ‘Bitay’ Lacson Jr., former Negros Occidental Governor during the Aquino Administration said that “Aquino helped lots of Negrenses. We were only one of the four provinces in the country that she piloted under the deregulation program where she gave each one of us P120-million. At that time, Negros was poor.”

The former Governor noted that part of the master plan for the P120M budget included programs to energize the barangays, post-harvest facilities, water system and creation of cooperatives.

Bitay furthermore said, “We should give thanks to Cory for standing up against the dictator. The reason that the Filipino people support her is because she is the symbol of democracy and the pain suffered by the country under the Martial Law regime.”

Malacañang has declared Wednesday, Aug. 5, as a special non-working holiday for the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino. The private funeral of Aquino will be held on Wednesday. She will be buried beside her late husband, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park. According to deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, the declaration of Wednesday as a special non-working holiday will allow the nation to witness the moments before Aquino is brought to her final resting place, radio dzMM reported.