The death of former Philippine president Corazon Cojuangco Aquino — or “Tita Cory” to most of the 92 million people of the Philippines — left behind a precious inheritance: a legacy of freedom that the Philippines came to share with oppressed peoples around the world.
For her revolution was the first of the wave of “velvet revolutions” that liberated countless millions from Manila to Seoul to Johannesburg to Prague, Warsaw and Moscow. President Aquino’s “People Power” revolution, indeed, is among the proudest moments in my country’s history, and the distinctive contribution of our people to the saga of mankind’s long struggle for freedom and dignity.
Cory Aquino motivated ordinary Filipinos to peaks of daring and selflessness at a time when their spirit had almost been broken by a 14-year dictatorship. While her husband Senator Ninoy Aquino lived, she — as the unassuming but caring housewife — was the stabilizing influence that tempered his dynamic personality. But after his assassination in August 1983, she stepped resolutely into his role as political leader of my country’s democratic opposition to an entrenched despotic regime.
Devoid of histrionics, without pretension — “simply by telling people what the dictator has done to this country” — she touched the hearts of freedom-loving Filipinos everywhere, the pain of the traumatic murder by the regime of her husband evoking in them memories of their own suffering and thwarted hopes.
It was in her name that concerned Filipinos mobilized families and neighbors to confront the tanks, guns and barbed wire of the dictator’s cohorts. And, in God’s infinite wisdom, the militancy of common people burst forth in the non-violent revolution that overthrew Ferdinand Marcos.
We, the soldiers and policemen who backed her, were reinforced by Cory’s steel core of values and principles. In crisis after crisis during her presidency, she exemplified unwavering firmness in the democratic exercise of power as a servant-leader. Cory provided policy guidance as commander-in-chief, but trusted the Defense Department and Armed Forces to carry out their missions in the face of nine coup attempts — all of which were frustrated. These mutinies were all death-dealing situations that threatened national stability, yet she never flinched.
Prayer and spiritual devotion were important components of Cory’s daily endeavors — and a major influence in her decision-making and personal relations. Her inner reserves of faith, indeed, kept her going through every hardship. Her spiritual strength arose out of her deep and abiding reliance on the grace and boundless mercy of the God she believed in.
In the tumult of the post-revolutionary period, she presided with surprising even-handedness over the unavoidable rivalries among different sides of the political spectrum.
More importantly, Cory sparked the momentum for the Philippines to regain a position of respect, dignity and even admiration in the community of nations.
So her has, in many ways, orphaned the Filipino nation. We who are left behind owe her the duty of safeguarding her legacy of freedom — and of enriching it with social justice and unity in nation-building. For until the very end of her battle with cancer, she continued to speak out for individual transformation and, on the part of those elected to lead us, for their selfless stewardship.
The finest tribute Filipinos and other freedom-loving peoples can offer to Cory’s memory is for responsible citizens to work toward the vision of an empowered, bountiful future for which she and Ninoy aspired. Irrevocably, their names will forever be intimately intertwined with the peaceful revolution of 1986 that restored our liberty and democracy.
But the liberation she brought to us was just one battle in the generational struggle that the people of the Philippines must wage to secure their liberation from poverty, inequity and injustice. Success in that war is not pre-ordained, but can only be won through willing sacrifice, faithfulness to duty and concerted action for our people’s well-being.
These are the internal wars every nation and society, no matter how big or small, must win. Cory Aquino’s lifetime of service and sacrifice provided the tools and a model for how to win that seemingly eternal struggle. To sustain such a treasured legacy and defend democracy wherever it is threatened is our collective responsibility.
Fidel Ramos succeeded Corazon Aquino as president of the Philippines in 1992.
COPYRIGHT: PROJECT SYNDICATE
Why is Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) not a “happy camper” these days regarding Taiwan? Taiwanese have not become more “CCP friendly” in response to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) use of spies and graft by the United Front Work Department, intimidation conducted by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Armed Police/Coast Guard, and endless subversive political warfare measures, including cyber-attacks, economic coercion, and diplomatic isolation. The percentage of Taiwanese that prefer the status quo or prefer moving towards independence continues to rise — 76 percent as of December last year. According to National Chengchi University (NCCU) polling, the Taiwanese
It would be absurd to claim to see a silver lining behind every US President Donald Trump cloud. Those clouds are too many, too dark and too dangerous. All the same, viewed from a domestic political perspective, there is a clear emerging UK upside to Trump’s efforts at crashing the post-Cold War order. It might even get a boost from Thursday’s Washington visit by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In July last year, when Starmer became prime minister, the Labour Party was rigidly on the defensive about Europe. Brexit was seen as an electorally unstable issue for a party whose priority
US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has brought renewed scrutiny to the Taiwan-US semiconductor relationship with his claim that Taiwan “stole” the US chip business and threats of 100 percent tariffs on foreign-made processors. For Taiwanese and industry leaders, understanding those developments in their full context is crucial while maintaining a clear vision of Taiwan’s role in the global technology ecosystem. The assertion that Taiwan “stole” the US’ semiconductor industry fundamentally misunderstands the evolution of global technology manufacturing. Over the past four decades, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), has grown through legitimate means
Today is Feb. 28, a day that Taiwan associates with two tragic historical memories. The 228 Incident, which started on Feb. 28, 1947, began from protests sparked by a cigarette seizure that took place the day before in front of the Tianma Tea House in Taipei’s Datong District (大同). It turned into a mass movement that spread across Taiwan. Local gentry asked then-governor general Chen Yi (陳儀) to intervene, but he received contradictory orders. In early March, after Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) dispatched troops to Keelung, a nationwide massacre took place and lasted until May 16, during which many important intellectuals
RSS