Philippine President Corazon Aquino dead

Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, whose "People Power" movement pushed out longtime strongman Ferdinand Marcos less than three years after her husband's assassination, has died at age 76, her family announced Saturday.

President Corazon Aquino

Aquino, the first woman to lead the Philippines, had been battling colon cancer since March 2008 and died of cardio-respiratory arrest at 3:18 a.m. Saturday), a spokeswoman for her son, Philippine Sen. Benigno Aquino III.

Corazon Aquino smile photo

Funeral arrangements were being set up, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has also announced a 10-day mourning period for the former president, the country's consul-general in Atlanta.

Corazon Aquino

She was the agent of change in Philippine democracy, and almost all the Filipinos I know revered her during her presidence.

Corazon Aquino smile

Aquino had been born into a wealthy family and was educated in the United States. She had not been involved in politics before her husband, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was gunned down at Manila's airport in August 1983 as he returned from exile.

Corazon Aquino wallpaper

The political novice took over the leadership of her husband's movement after his death and challenged Marcos in a 1986 election, making a yellow dress her trademark and bolstered by the support of the country's Roman Catholic churches