MANILA, Philippines - One of the 25 most powerful women of the past century, according to Time magazine, is a Filipino – the late President Corazon Aquino.
In its “2010 Time 100 Special Issue” released last month, Time hailed Aquino, along with the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, the late Mother Teresa and media personality Oprah Winfrey as among the 25 women who most influenced the world in the past century.
Only two Asians were on the shortlist – Aquino and Jiang Qing or “Madame Mao,” wife of Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong.
The magazine listed the names alphabetically, and also included Nobel Prize winner scientist Marie Curie, fashion icon Coco Chanel, Madonna, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Mrs. Aquino, who died last year of colon cancer, and whose only son Benigno III is now President of the Philippines, was cited for her role in the restoration of democracy in the Philippines through peaceful means.
“Her sudden ascension as the first female President of the Philippines was the battered islands’ first step toward democracy,” wrote Rachelle Dragani in the tribute to Mrs. Aquino dated Nov. 18.
“Weathering both coup attempts and corruption charges, Aquino was unable to push through much of the social reform that her supporters had hoped for. But when she stepped down in 1992, she still stood tall as the people’s choice,” the article stressed.
Mrs. Aquino, ironically, never sought political power in her life and was content to be a supportive wife to her husband, former mayor and governor and then senator, Benigno Aquino Jr. His assassination in 1983 led her to take up his crusade, saying, “I would never be able to forgive myself if I knew I could have done something for my country and didn’t.”
Of her style as President, she told a joint session of the US Congress in 1986: “As I came to power peacefully, so shall I keep it. That is my contract with my people and my commitment to God. He had willed that the blood drawn with a lash shall not in my country be paid by blood drawn by the sword but by the tearful joy of reconciliation. We have swept away absolute power by a limited revolution that respected the life and freedom of every Filipino.”
The Full List of Time’s 25 Most Powerful Women of the Century.
LEADING LADIES
Hillary Clinton (1947-Present)
Aretha Franklin (1942-Present)
Sandra Day O’Connor (1930-Present)
Margaret Thatcher (1925-Present)