Major events in the life of new Philippine President Benigno Aquino III

Major events in new Philippine president’s life

A look at major events in the life of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who took his oath Wednesday as the 15th Philippine president.

— Feb. 8, 1960: Born as the only son and third of five children of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino, who will later be hailed as democracy icons for their opposition to dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

— Aug. 21, 1983: Father is assassinated upon return from U.S. exile to unite the political opposition against Marcos, triggering massive protests.

— Feb. 25, 1986: Mother Corazon “Cory” Aquino takes oath as president at the end of the four-day “people power” revolt that ousted Marcos, who flees with his family to Hawaii. Marcos dies in Honolulu three years later.

— Aug. 28, 1987: Wounded and left for dead in an ambush by rebel troops during a coup attempt, one of seven by right-wing military officers that clobbered his mother’s rule.

— May 1998: Elected to his first three-year term as congressman representing his northern home district of Tarlac province. Re-elected to two more terms in the House of Representatives before winning a Senate seat.

— June 2005: Joins the opposition seeking the impeachment of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, his former economics professor, over allegations she rigged the 2004 elections and corruption.

— Aug. 1, 2009: Mother Corazon “Cory” Aquino dies of colon cancer. Massive outpouring of emotion for the Philippines’ democracy icon generates groundswell of support for Aquino’s presidential candidacy.

— May 10, 2010: Elected president by a landslide on strong anti-corruption platform, promising to investigate alleged wrongdoing of outgoing President Arroyo.