(1933-) President of The Philippines, 1986-1992

Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco was born into a very wealthy family in Manila on January 25, 1933. Her childhood life was one of privilege. She was educated at the Assumption Convent in the Philippines; Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Notre Dame Convent School in New York; the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, New York (Bachelor of Arts, 1953); and Far Eastern University in the Philippines.

In 1955, she married Benigno Aquino, Jr., who had just been elected Mayor of Concepcion. Benigno rose through the political ranks to be a Governor and then a Senator, but ran afoul of President Ferdinand Marcos when he joined the growing ranks of Filippinos protesting Marcos' rule. On the same night in 1972 when Marcos declared martial law, he sent troops to arrest Benigno. After serving a seven-year prison sentence, he and Corazon were allowed to go to the United States. On August 21, 1983, believing that Marcos was dying, the Aquinos decided it was time to return to the Philippines; Benigno was gunned down just minutes after his plane landed at the airport in Manilla.

The murder of her husband propelled Corazon into the spotlight, and into the "snap elections" called by Marcos for February 1986. She had plenty of public support, but no political experience or backing. The only other prime candidate to unseat Marcos was Salvador H. Laurel, who had plenty of political experience but no public support. After difficult negotiations, Laurel agreed