Yet Another Perspective on Cory

So much has been written about the late former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino (b. 1933), who died on Saturday and was buried today, that it's hard to add anything original. But to foreigners who may not be that familiar with this remarkable woman, I will just say the following.

Her well known display of of honesty and humility was not a show. Cory was one of the relatively few leaders in the Philippines who did not abuse her power or use her office to enrich herself. I'm familiar with the neighborhood where she lived after retiring from office. And while it's pleasant enough, it's not where you would expect a former president and descendant from a wealthy family to spend her final years.

Cory was loved by the people during and after her term (1986—1992)as President. Ironically, it may have been a particular weakness in her style of administration that bonded her to the populace: her reliance on prayer instead of objectivity and firmness in making policy decisions. Such dependency on supernatural direction is major part of the Philippine national character. Yet how much more effective a president Cory would have been if she had relied on the same grit that saw her through the years when her husband, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, was imprisoned under martial law and then assassinated.

Importantly, Cory will achieve immortality in the best sense of the word: By being well-remembered by those she left behind. Not just the Philippines, but the entire world is a better place for her legacy that grew from the "people power" movement and for her example of overcoming the difficult odds against making the transformation from housewife to President—during extremely trying times for the Philippines at that. It will likely be a long time before this country sees another leader of such combined inner strength and moral calibre.