Saturday, August 1, 2009

Former Pres. Cory Aquino died of cancer at 76

Posted on Saturday, August 01, 2009 by The Observer

NINOY and CORY




Her son, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, said his mother died at 3:18 a.m. Saturday (1918 GMT Friday).

Aquino was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer last year and confined to a Manila hospital for more than a month. Her son said the cancer had spread to other organs and she was too weak to continue her chemotherapy.

Supporters have been holding daily prayers for Aquino in churches in Manila and throughout the country for a month.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is on an official visit to the United States, said in a statement that "the entire nation is mourning" Aquino's demise. Arroyo declared a period of national mourning and announced a state funeral would be held for the late president.


TV stations on Saturday were running footage of Aquino's years together with prayers while her former aides and supporters offered condolences.

Aquino's unexpected rise began in 1983 when her husband, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was assassinated on the tarmac of Manila's international airport (now named after him) as he returned from exile in the United States to challenge Marcos, his longtime adversary under the fictitious name "Marcial Bonifacio".

The killing enraged many Filipinos and unleashed a broad-based opposition movement that thrust Aquino into the role of national leader.

"The Manila Times Internet Edition reported M/Sgt. Pablo Martinez said he lied about everything he knew about the Aquino assassination."

Maria Corazon Cojuangco was born on Jan. 25, 1933, into a wealthy, politically powerful family in Paniqui, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Manila.

No Response to "Former Pres. Cory Aquino died of cancer at 76"

Leave A Reply

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)