Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino passed away on August 1, 2009 at the age of 76. Aquino was born in 1933 in Manila to a politically influential family. She became a leading figure in Philippine democracy and was nicknamed the "Mother of Philippine Democracy". She became a widow in 1983 when her husband, Benigno Aquino, Jr., was assassinated. In 1986, her electoral success in overturning Ferdinand Marcos’ authoritarian rule and restoring participatory democracy to the Philippines earned her international accolades. As president between 1986 and 1992, she oversaw the end of Marcos’ rule, the promulgation of a new Constitution, and the reestablishment of the Philippine Senate. During her presidency, she worked diligently to restore political stability to the Philippines, attracting international substantial foreign investment. Her term in office was noted for its focus on the peaceful resolution of armed conflicts and on providing basic socio-economic assistance to the people of the Philippines. Following her term in office, Aquino retired to private life. However, she remained a powerful symbol of democracy and the courage and strength of Filipino people. Her legacy lives on, not only in her family—her five children, .32 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren—but in the reforms that she fought to implement, shaping the modern Philippines.