Aquino, Corazon (Maria Corazon “Cory” Aquino) [key], 1933–2009, Philippine politician, president of the Philippines (1986–92), b. Maria Corazon Cojuangco. Her husband, Benigno Servillano “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., 1932–83, was Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos's chief political opponent. In 1983 he was assassinated by government agents as he returned to the Philippines from exile in the United States. When the accused agents were acquitted, Corazon Aquino declared her candidacy for the presidency. After the election (1986), both sides claimed victory although most agreed that Aquino had won. When Marcos refused to step down, Aquino organized strikes and boycotts, asserting what was dubbed “people power”. With the nation on the brink of civil war, Marcos accepted asylum in the United States, and Aquino assumed the presidency, ending Marcos's 20-year regime and becoming the first woman president of the country. Promised changes and improvements largely failed to materialize during Aquino's term in office, which was plagued by economic difficulties and ineffectual leadership, and there were six coup attempts against her. In 1992, she did not run again but supported the successful presidential candidacy of Fidel Ramos. Benigno Aquino's accused assassins were later retried and convicted (1990) of his murder. The Aquinos' son, Benigno Aquino 3d, was also elected (2010) president of the Philippines.
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