REPORTED BY:

MAPESO, ALEXANDRA A.

PRADILLA, EMIE LOU

Corazon C. Aquino (1986-1992)

Maria Corazon "Cory" Aquino (née Cojuangco; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009),
popularly known as Cory Aquino, was a Filipina politician who was the 11th President of
the Philippines, the first woman to hold that office and the first female president in Asia.
Aquino was the most prominent figure of the 1986 People Power Revolution, which
toppled the 21-year authoritarian rule of President Ferdinand E. Marcos and restored
democracy to the Philippines. She was named Time magazine's "Woman of the Year"
in 1986. Prior to this, she had not held any other elective office.

A self-proclaimed "plain housewife", she was married to Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.,
the staunchest critic of President Marcos. She emerged as leader of the opposition after
her husband was assassinated on August 21, 1983 upon returning to the Philippines
from exile in the United States. In late 1985, Marcos called for snap elections, and
Aquino ran for president with former senator Salvador Laurel as her Vice-President.
After the elections were held on February 7, 1986, the Batasang Pambansa proclaimed
Marcos and his running mate, Arturo Tolentino, as the winners amidst allegations of
electoral fraud, with Aquino calling for massive civil disobedience actions. Defections
from the Armed Forces and the support of the local Catholic hierarchy led to the People
Power Revolution that ousted Marcos and secured Aquino's accession on February 25,
1986.

CONDITION OF THE PHILIPPINES

Democracy was restored after the reign of Ferdinand Marcos and the declaration of the
Martial Law.

A series of natural disasters hit the country such as the 1990 earthquake, the eruption
of Mt. Pinatubo, and a series of Typhoons.

There have been many coup d’état attempts and uprisings.

Brownouts were very frequent and would last for about 12 hours.

PRIMARY PROBLEMS

Displeased citizens

Power Shortage/Rampant Brownouts

PROMISES DURING THE ELECTIONS AND INAUGURATION

a.) erosion of our sense of nation

b.) to create jobs and livelihood

c.) deliver social services

d.) bring about peace and order

e.) improve the lives of all our people

f.) mobilize the spirit of volunteerism - especially among the youth, by documenting
and publicizing examples of selfless service to country and people by groups and
individuals working in and with the grassroots.

Constitutional and political reforms

Immediately after assuming the presidency, President Aquino issued Proclamation № 3,

which established a revolutionary government. She abolished the 1973 Constitution that
was in force during Martial Law, and by decree issued the provisional 1986 Freedom
Constitution pending the ratification of a more formal, comprehensive charter. This
allowed her to exercise both executive and legislative powers until the ratification of the
1987 Constitution and the restoration of Congress in 1987.

Aquino promulgated two landmark legal codes, namely, the Family Code of 1987, which
reformed the civil law on family relations, and the Administrative Code of 1987, which
reorganized the structure of the executive branch of government. Another landmark law
that was enacted during her tenure was the 1991 Local Government Code, which
devolved national government powers to local government units (LGUs). The new Code
enhanced the power of LGUs to enact local taxation measures and assured them of a
share in the national revenue. Aquino closed down the Marcos-dominated Batasang
Pambansa to prevent the new Marcos loyalist opposition from undermining her
democratic reforms and reorganized the membership of the Supreme Court to restore
its independence.

In May 1986, the reorganized Supreme Court declared the Aquino government as "not
merely a de facto government but in fact and law a de jure government", whose
legitimacy had been affirmed by the community of nations. This Supreme Court decision
affirmed the status of Aquino as the rightful leader of the Philippines. To fast-track the
restoration of a full constitutional government and the writing of a new charter, she
appointed 48 members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission ("Con-Com"), led by
retired activist Supreme Court Associate Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma. The Con-Com
completed its final draft in October 1986. On February 2, 1987, the new Constitution of
the Philippines, which put strong emphasis on civil liberties, human rights and social
justice, was overwhelmingly approved by the Filipino people. The ratification of the new
Constitution was followed by the election of senators and congress that same year and
the holding of local elections in 1988.

LAWS AND PROGRAMS

a.) restoration of democracy

-abolished the legislature

-declared a revolutionary government

-wrote a new constitution (1987 Constitution)

b.) Land Reform

c.) Free secondary schooling

d.) Proclamation No.9

Cory issues Proclamation No. 9 which provides for the creation of a Constitutional
Commission (Concom) to draft a new charter “truly reflective of the ideals and
aspirations of the Filipino People,” on or before September 2 of the same year. She
appoints 48 men and women, led former justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma, to be members
of the Concom.

e.) Proclamation no. 1

Cory, in her inaugural address, issues her first edict: Proclamation No. 1 calling all
appointive public officials to submit their courtesy resignations. In her speech, she
proceeded to reorganize the government issuing Executive Order No. 1—appointing
Cabinet ministers and task forces to help her run the government.

g.) Proclamation no.3

One month after assuming the presidency, Cory issues Proclamation No. 3, proclaiming
her government a “revolutionary government.” With this, she suspends the 1973
Constitution installed during martial law and promulgates a provisional “Freedom
Constitution,” which vests legislative making powers on her, pending the enactment of
the new constitution.

h.) executive order no.88

Cory issues Executive Order 48: Creating an Ad Hoc Special Committee to supervise
the liquidation of the affairs of the Constitutional Commission of 1986, preservation of its
records, and to undertake its constitutional education campaign.

i.) United States trading in the First Philippine Fund Inc.

On November 9, she opens United States trading in the First Philippine Fund Inc. She
later spoke at a meeting of the United States Chamber of Commerce and the United
States-Philippine Business Committee, where she urged American business to increase
its investment in the Philippines.

i.) ratification of a 1991 treaty

A president must also learn how to bow to the inevitable, as Cory had to do with the
negotiations on the renewal of the US lease on its military bases in the Philippines. After
keeping her options open, she signaled her support for the ratification of a 1991 treaty
allowing the Americans continued access to the installation for ten years, with the option
to renew for another ten. The Senate voted 12-11 against the agreement and the
Americans were out of the country by 1992.

e.) Administrative Code of 1987

establishes the various Cabinet departments and offices falling within the executive
branch of government, and under the direct control and supervision of the President.
The Code also prescribes the administrative procedure undertaken in proceedings
before the offices under the executive department.

• Executive Order No. 228, July 16, 1987 – Declared full ownership to qualified
farmer-beneficiaries covered by PD 27. It also determined the value remaining unvalued
rice and corn lands subject of PD 27 and provided for the manner of payment by the
FBs and mode of compensation to landowners.

• Executive Order No. 229, July 22, 1987 – Provided mechanism for the
implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

• Proclamation No. 131, July 22, 1987 – Instituted the CARP as a major program
of the government. It provided for a special fund known as the Agrarian Reform Fund
(ARF), with an initial amount of Php50 billion to cover the estimated cost of the program
from 1987-1992.

• Executive Order No. 129-A, July 26, 1987 – streamlined and expanded the
power and operations of the DAR.

• Republic Act No. 6657, June 10, 1988 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law) –
An act which became effective June 15, 1988 and instituted a comprehensive agrarian
reform program to promote social justice and industrialization providing the mechanism
for its implementation and for other purposes. This law is still the one being
implemented at present.

• Executive Order No. 405, June 14, 1990 – Vested in the Land Bank of the
Philippines the responsibility to determine land valuation and compensation for all lands
covered by CARP.

• Executive Order No. 407, June 14, 1990 – Accelerated the acquisition and
distribution of agricultural lands, pasture lands, fishponds, agro-forestry lands and other
lands of the public domain suitable for agriculture.

Awards and achievements

 1986 Time Woman of the Year

 1986 Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award
 1986 United Nations Silver Medal
 1986 Canadian International Prize for Freedom
 1986 International Democracy Award from the International Association of
Political Consultants
 1987 Prize For Freedom Award from Liberal International
 1993 Special Peace Award from the Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Awards
Foundation and Concerned Women of the Philippines
 1995 Path to Peace Award
 1996 J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding from the U.S.
Department of State
 1998 Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding
 1998 Pearl S. Buck Award
 1999 One of Time Magazine's 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century
 2001 World Citizenship Award
 2005 David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Awards
 2005 One of the World's Elite Women Who Make a Difference by the
International Women's Forum Hall of Fame
 2006 One of Time Magazine's 65 Asian Heroes
 2008 One of A Different View's 15 Champions of World Democracy
 EWC Asia Pacific Community Building Award
 Women's International Center International Leadership Living Legacy Award
 Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize
 United Nations Development Fund for Women Noel Foundation Life Award
BENEFICIARIES OF THE LAWS AND PROGRAMS

The Common People – Because they were just coming out of the Marcos Regime. They
were looking for democracy and freedom.

Corporate Owners of the Lands (Agrarian Reform) – There were holes in the law which
made it possible for the companies to distribute stocks instead of land ownership to the
farmers.

HOLES AND SHORTCOMINGS OF THE LAWS

She wasn’t really able to solve the country’s problems by implementing all that she
promised because she was constantly distracted by coups that threatened the country
and her administration. She focused a lot on disaster management but it was necessary
for her to keep the peace.

ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

Aquino was not spared from the controversies that eventually centered on Hacienda
Luisita, a 6,453-hectare estate located in the Province of Tarlac, which she inherited
from her family. She was scored for allowing Hacienda Luisita, which was now owned
by the Tarlac Development Corporation, to opt for stock distribution, instead of land
redistribution. She also has an issue concerning the farmers of Mendiola being
massacred.

SUMMARY OF GOVERNANCE

Corazon Aquino became the president of the country because the people believed she
was the positive change they needed especially since her husband, Ninoy, who was
supposed to be the change for the country, passed away in a gunshot. During her
administration, Cory was plagued by coup d’etats by various groups that foreign
investors started to pull their investments from the country. That’s why a lot of her
efforts were pointed towards disaster management from the various groups and
sometimes, her motherly methods such as giving cake worked. She was also linked to
controversies such as massacring farmers in Mendiola and holding the land she
inherited rather than having it distributed. Despite these problems, The economy still
had a positive growth during her term with an average of 3.8% by the end of it. Cory,
although wasn’t the best qualified president, still did a pretty good job. Compared to
Marcos or Ramos though, it still fell short of what truly makes a spectacular leader
which is why she’s rated as average.