Corazon Aquino, known to most Filipinos as “Cory”, the unassuming widow whose “people power” revolution toppled the Marcos dictatorship, a known crusader for democracy, died Saturday morning after battling colon cancer for sometime. Cory was 76.

She was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer last year and confined to a Manila hospital for more than a month. Her son said the cancer had spread to other organs and she was too weak to continue chemotherapy.

I would always recall Cory as the smiling, bespectacled woman wearing yellow dresses. She may have faced a lot of coups, challenges and criticisms during and after her term as president, but it remains that she is so much a part of Philippine history, of Filipino culture and pride. The Philippine’s first lady president. That in itself, inspires people, women in particular.

May she rest in peace and condolonces to the Aquino family and the rest of the Filipinos. And here’s to hoping that democracy which Cory has helped fight for would remain.