Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino arrived at the Coral Ballroom at the Hilton Hawaiian Village last night flanked by U.S. Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo and Gov. Linda Lingle.
Aquino encourages
‘people power’The iconic former Philippine
president says the movement
can benefit her nation
Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino says the same "people power" that got her elected nearly two decades ago can strengthen her nation's democracy in the wake of a recent "confusing and divisive" presidential election.
Speaking to more than 900 attendees of a function in her honor last night, Aquino alluded to the controversial vote count last month that secured Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo another six years in office.
"From where you stand, the Philippines must look like a failing democracy," she said. "I can you assure that it is not. The Philippines is, in effect, still a fledgling democracy. But we are getting there, with the grass-roots approach of civil society in empowering our people from the bottom up."
The East-West Center Foundation brought Aquino to Honolulu earlier this week, her third visit to the islands. At last night's dinner in the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom, Aquino accepted the foundation's Asia Pacific Community Building Award for restoring democracy and bringing about social reform in her country.
Running in her assassinated husband's stead and with no political experience, Aquino succeeded late Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. She served until 1992.
Aquino was the first female president of the Philippines and the only woman to be included in Time magazine's 1999 list of "20 Most Influential Asians of the Century."
"She is a real, live icon," said Amy Agbayani, president of the Filipino Community Center and head of the University of Hawaii's office on diversity. "People like Cory Aquino ... because she symbolizes the high hopes and the aspirations that we (Filipinos) have never reached. Any visit by someone like Cory Aquino gives us a connection to the homeland."
Charles Morrison, president of the East-West Center, said Aquino is an "example of courage."
"When there are no democratic alternatives, 'people power' is very important," he said. "I think people here see ... a very inspiring Asia-Pacific leader."
In her speech last night, Aquino said that while planning the 20th commemoration of her late husband Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino's assassination, she realized that "politics, as practiced at home, is one of the major causes of our national ills."
"Never has the need for popular involvement in the national life been so critical as it is now, when resources are few," she said. "It is the 'people power' people who quietly, willingly and without fanfare are providing constant, dependable, nonpartisan service to the community."
Among those who attended last night's dinner were Gov. Linda Lingle and former Gov. Ben Cayetano. Individual seats sold for $150, while tables for 10 went for as high as $10,000.
Aquino is the third recipient of the community building award. Previous awardees were Dr. Genshitsu Sen, the former grand master of the Urasenke Tea Tradition, and Ratan Tata, chairman of the lead holding company of India's largest industrial conglomerate.
