AS we remember the 10th death anniversary of President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino, the 11th president of the Philippines and the first female president of the country, it is perhaps timely to think about the role of women leaders in politics. President Cory Aquino was considered as a political outsider, which means that she did not have adequate political experience but was able to rise to power due to the political change that the Filipino people so yearned for at that time. She was placed in position in lieu of her late husband Ninoy and as replacement for former President Marcos whom the people ousted via the historic People Power Revolution on Edsa.
A “plain housewife,” President Cory was able to restore democracy to a country that for decades longed for it, and led a powerful revolution that toppled a government that was in power for many years. This is her undying legacy not just for the Filipino people but also for our women, especially those who are struggling with leadership roles—whether in politics, business or any other circle. Women have so much to learn from Tita Cory.
She led as a woman, which means that she was firm yet quiet in her own way. One would remember the gentleness with which she spoke and her demeanor, which was authoritative yet warm and motherly. Women make good leaders because they are,
generally, good listeners, are empathetic, and are nurturing. In any arena, these female attributes go well with leadership roles.
Tita Cory’s spirituality took center stage during her regime. She was not ashamed to announce her faith and dependence on God’s mercy and blessings. It is any leader’s prerogative to declare or not his or her religious beliefs or inclinations, but President Cory chose to lead by faith and was very vocal about it. This helped her win the hearts of many, especially because the Philippines is a country of many Catholics.
According to research, there are far fewer women leaders
because females generally are less confident about entering politics, and among
those who do, there are still fewer who are elected into power. Politics is
still a man’s world, even at this time when gender
equality and women empowerment are terms that we hear almost
every day. Add to these challenges the fact that women candidates don’t have
access to as much funding as their male counterparts. Finally, they are also
hindered by their domestic
responsibilities as women, mothers, daughters, sisters, etc.
To help counter these aforementioned challenges to getting more female representation in politics, it is important to realize that we must invest in our women. They need to get access to training and mentoring programs and other opportunities that can prepare them for top positions in government. In other countries, there is such a thing as a quota system to ensure gender-balanced lists during elections. Aside from this, access to funding must be opened for women candidates, as well as opportunities (i.e., revising political culture) for them to obtain more time for their careers andfamily.
As the first female president of the Philippines, President Cory Aquino helped pave the way for women to gain entry into the world of politics. She presented a new and stronger image of the Filipina not only to her fellowmen but also to the whole world. We remember these valuable gifts today as we look back on her life and her legacies. And we thank her from the bottom of our heart.