The Dos & Don'ts of Cory Aquino

Former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, the country's first woman president, Time magazine's "Woman of the Year" in 1986, and one of its "25 most powerful women of the past century," passed away on Aug. 1, 2009 after an 18-month battle with colon cancer. She was 76.

- JOANNE RAE M. RAMIREZ

I had the privilege of being part of her press office at Malacañang for almost seven years, and later, when I joined the Philippine STAR in 1992 after resigning from Malacañang (I wasn't co-terminus), I think (I hope) I became one of the journalists she trusted.

My husband Ed suggested I ask those closest to the late democracy icon her dos and don'ts — after all, she did come a long way and had much to teach students of politics as well as pupils of life.

But as her daughter Viel Dee says, the housewife who led the restoration of democracy in the Philippines and fought seven coup attempts against her government, led by example.

"Mom didn't have explicit dos and don'ts," says Viel. "It was more like lead by example and also 'makuha sa tingin' type of discipline."

For instance, "Going to Sunday Mass and praying the rosary were not imposed but willingly followed," Viel adds. Cory once told me the rosary was her favorite form of prayer.

Viel's Ate Ballsy Cruz agrees, "Mom wasn't one with rules for us... She wasn't what you'd call a strict mom."

But! "Correct grammar and pronunciation were important with her."

Viel says her mother "was never extravagant with clothes, jewelry, cars or having a fancy house. But when it came to celebrating with food, she would always make sure there was extra rather than risk having a stockout."