Age:
High School, Post High School
Reading Level: 6.7
Part 1: A Marriage And A Dream
Chapter 1
Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco was born on January 25, 1933, in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Cory's father was a wealthy banker and landowner. Her family lived on a 15,000 acre sugar farm.
Cory was a small, quiet girl, but she was highly intelligent. She spent much of her time reading and studying. She did not have many friends.
In high school and college, Cory studied in New York City. After graduating from college, she returned to Manila. On October 11, 1954, Cory married Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino.
They were married. She became Cory Aquino.
She could not have known it at the time, but this marriage would end in a tragedy that changed the Philippines forever.
Chapter 2
Like Cory, Ninoy Aquino also came from a wealthy family. But that is where the similarities ended.
Cory was quiet and shy; Ninoy was talkative and energetic. Ninoy was known for his chubby face, his buzz cut, and his impressive work as a journalist.
Cory knew that, more than anything else, Ninoy wanted to become president.
In 1967, Ninoy Aquino became the youngest senator ever elected in the Philippines. He was only 34 years old. He was very popular.
Ninoy gave memorable speeches to congress and funny quotes to journalists. A Filipino magazine included him in its list of outstanding senators.
As a senator, Ninoy Aquino quickly became a national celebrity. Many political analysts believed Ninoy's dream of becoming the president would one day come true.
Part 2: Rivals
Chapter 3
Only one person stood in the way of Ninoy's presidential dreams. His name was Ferdinand Marcos.
Ferdinand Marcos was a genius that could remember the names and faces of everyone he met. He was charismatic, drawing people to him with his personality, and athletic. He was even married to a beauty queen named Imelda.
He was elected president of the Philippines in 1965. He was reelected in 1969.
However, bombings and protests began to spread across the country during Ferdinand Marcos's second term.
