NEWS FLASH
A Memorial Mass for the Filipino Community in Sydney will be held on August 9 at 11am at Mary Immaculate Parish Church, Mimosa Road and Restwell Road, Bossley Park. The mass will be officiated by Father Nards Mercene. The mass is being organised by the Philippine Community Council and the Philippine Consulate General. Lunch to follow after. For further information contact Ronaldo Villaver on 0423 590 561. (Story below.)
Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino succumbed to her battle with colon cancer and died of cardiac pulmonary arrest at 3.18am on 1 August 2009. She passed away at the age of 76 at Makati Medical Hospital.
Despite not being political savvy herself, Cory Aquino stood against Marcos at the 1986 elections and was instrumental in the People Power Revolution which ensued as a result. She succeeded in ousting President Marcos and ending his regime of dictatorship. She took her oath of office on February 25, 1986 and remained in office until 1992.
For her role in restoring democracy to the Philippines, Time Magazine named her “Woman of the Year” that year and she went on to cement her well deserved titled, “Icon of Democracy”. She received numerous international awards and citations and was listed in 1994 as one of the top 100 women who shaped history; in 1996 received the Fullbright Prize for International Understanding; in 1999, Time Magazine’s 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century; and one the 15 Champions of Democracy.
Her six years of presidency saw the much need restoration of the Constitution of 1987 and the Agrarian Reform, the latter garnering some controversy for her Cojuangco family property of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.
Her husband, the late Senator Benigno Aquino was a Marcos adversary which saw himself imprisoned and exiled to the USA in 1980. He was allowed to return to the Philippines in 1983 only to be assassinated upon his arrival at the airport.
She is survived by her only son, Senator Benigno Aquino III and four daughters one of which is famed actress and game show host, Kris Aquino.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalized and announced.
A condolence book will be made available at the Philippine Embassy, Canberra and at the Philippine Consulate at Wentworth Avenue, Sydney for those who wish to sign and pay their respects.
