Time Magazine lists Cory as one of most powerful women in the last century

By MARK JOSEPH UBALDE

FORMER President Corazon Aquino has been named by Time magazine as one of the “25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century,” joining the ranks of civil rights activist Rosa Parks, Nobel laureate Mother Theresa, and even music icon Madonna.

Aquino is one of only four former heads of state chosen by the magazine as among the influential figures in the world.

Time also named former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the late Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the elite list.

Time noted Aquino’s significant role in bringing democracy back in the Philippines after the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos ruled the country for two decades.

Aquino became the first female Philippine president after a popular revolt that ousted Marcos in 1986. She was the wife of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. who was assassinated in 1983, purportedly under orders from Marcos.

“Her sudden ascension as the first female President of the Philippines was the battered islands’ first step toward democracy,” said the magazine article. “Weathering both coup attempts and corruption charges, Aquino was unable to push through much of the social reform that her supporters had hoped for.”

After finishing her term in 1992, Aquino remained an important voice in Philippine politics. She succumbed to colon cancer in August 2009.

This is not the first time Aquino has been featured by the magazine. In 1986, she was Time magazine’s cover and was named Woman of the Year—the first female leader to receive such distinction after Queen Elizabeth in 1952. Twenty years later, Time again put Aquino on the cover in its tribute to 60 Asian heroes.

“The only weapon (Mrs. Aquino) possessed was moral courage. But with it she discovered a groundbreaking truth: that a populace holding nothing more than candles and rosary beads could face a cavalcade of tanks, topple a dictator, and most improbable of all, usher in democracy,” wrote Time in its 2009 tribute, where Aquino again was the cover.

Time magazine’s complete list:

· Jane Addams (1860-1935)

· Corazon Aquino (1933-2009)

· Rachel Carson (1907-1964)

· Coco Chanel (1883-1971)

· Julia Child (1912-2004)

· Hillary Clinton (1947-Present)

· Marie Curie (1867-1934)

· Aretha Franklin (1942-Present)

· Indira Gandhi (1917-1984)

· Estée Lauder (1908-2004)

· Madonna (1958-Present)