Corazon C. Aquino was born on 25 January 1933 in Manila. She was the daughter of Jose Cojuangco Sr. of Tarlac and Demetria Sumulong of Rizal. She studied in Manila and finished a bachelor’s degree in French and Mathematics in Mount Saint Vincent College, New York, in 1953. She was the widow of the late Benigno S. Aquino Jt., the opposition party leader during the Marcos regime.
After the EDSA People Power Revolution, Corazon Aquino served as the president of the Philippines. She founded a transitory revolutionary government since the success of the People Power Revolution was a clear denouncement of 1973 Constitution by the people.
Corazon C. Aquino was the 7th president of the Philippines Republic. Her term started on 25 February 1986. She was the first woman president of the republic. (Villangca 1988)
At the beginning of her term she faced the challenges of reorganizing the government, rebuilding the economy, and keeping peace and order. Her government almost collapsed due to various coups.
With the aim of reorganizing the government, President Aquino did the following:
- Abolished the Batasang Pambansa;
- Appointed new members of the cabinet, officers, and staff of the Executive branch;
- Delegated Officers-in-charge (OIC’s) in the local governments;
- Created the Presidential Commission on Government Reorganization (PCGR) whose task is to formulate a new system of government that will respond more efficiently to the needs of a democratic way of life.