Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuango Aquino, generally known as Cory Aquino, was born January 25, 1933, in Manila into one of the most influential families in the Philippines. She grew up in privileged circumstances and went overseas to attend Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Notre Dame Convent School, and Mount St. Vincent College in New York state.
When she completed her studies in the United States, Aquino returned to the Philippines to study law at Far Eastern University, and married Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1955. Benigno had recently become a senator when he was arrested under the Ferdinand Marcos regime and sentenced to death. She followed him into exile and following his assassination, decided to enter politics as head of the Laban Coalition.
In 1986, a sudden call for a presidential election by Ferdinand Marcos pitted Aquino and Marcos in the running. She was officially reported to have lost the election, but it was clear that some of the voting was fraudulent. After Marcos fled the country because of popular demonstrations against him, Aquino took the responsibility of restoring the country and served as its president from 1986 to 1992. She established the democratically-drafted Freedom Constitution; it was re-drafted in 1986 and ratified in 1987. A government based on popular and democratic mandates was then put into place.
Aquino faced repeated military coup attempts and communist insurrection during her presidency. During the 1992 elections, Aquino faced Fidel V. Ramos, Marcos' army chief-of-staff. Ramos won by 23.5 percent and became president on June 30, 1992. Following her term, Aquino retired to private life. She has since directed numerous projects that further democracy in Asia.