A Tribute to former President Corazon C. Aquino, Icon of Philippine Democracy
We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Her Excellency,
President Corazon C. Aquino for her passing and join the Filipino nation in mourning the loss of a
national heroine of democracy and a revered leader around the world.
Secondly, we would like to request everyone, who visited our website and read our tribute to the late
President to continue our prayers for the eternal repose of her soul.
Sixteen years have passed since the Hanns Seidel Foundation/Germany (HSF) began a long-standing
partnership with the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation, a non-government organization founded by
Mrs. Aquino, as we fondly called her, in honor of her martyred husband, Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.
(BSAF), and which she led as Chairperson. After Her Excellency’s presidency in 1992, Mrs. Aquino
expressed her desire to continue helping the people in her own little way as a private citizen. It was in
1993 that HSF and BSAF crossed paths that opened the door for both institutions in working together on
strategic development initiatives toward the goal of reducing poverty in the country.
In pursuit of this goal, BSAF formed the Institute for People Power and Development (IPPD) to
undertake programs and projects that will propagate the “spirit of people power as a strong positive
force for societal change and reform”. In cooperation with HSF, IPPD initiated, among other joint
undertakings, the project known as “Philippine Countryside Program” anchored on the development
and strengthening of cooperative enterprises to help them become viable agents of change towards a
better quality of life for its members and their families, and the local communities where they operate.
The other projects focus on “peace and human rights” which aims to advance the process of peace
building, democracy and human rights in the public safety sector, and “microfinance” through the
PinoyME Consortium, which was also convened by Mrs. Aquino, to help Microfinance Institutions
increase their reach and improve their impact on poverty reduction.
Through our work with BSAF-IPPD, we witnessed her devotion to her country and people – she went
out of her way to show her support to the different projects that both our institutions initiated; we were
awed by her sincerity, humility and simplicity in a professional and personal way; and we were inspired
by her excellent work ethic – she spoke from the heart, was gracious and valued other people’s time.
Over the years, we have admired and respected Mrs. Aquino, not only for being an exemplary leader of
the Philippines, but most of all for her personal convictions to democracy, freedom, justice, peace and
development. She is an inspiration to leaders and peoples globally.
On behalf of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, we would like to express our profused gratitude to you – our
beloved Mrs. Aquino – for giving us your trust and confidence, for the honor and privilege of working
with you, for sharing with us some of your precious time and wisdom, and for simply being a good
friend of the Foundation.
Maraming salamat at Paalam!
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