Which woman, leader of the Phillipines, was called Time Magazine's Woman of the Year in 1986?

In 1986, a self-proclaimed housewife became the central figure of a stunning, nonviolent uprising that captivated the world. Following the 1983 assassination of her husband, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., she emerged as a unifying leader against the two-decade authoritarian regime of Ferdinand Marcos. After a fraud-marred snap election where Marcos declared himself the winner, millions of Filipinos took to the streets in the People Power Revolution, peacefully demanding he step down. This remarkable transition to democracy led Time magazine to name her its Woman of the Year, recognizing her as an "abiding symbol of the power of the people."

Sworn into office in February 1986, she became the first female president of the Philippines and of any Asian nation. Her presidency was focused on dismantling the structures of the dictatorship, reestablishing democratic institutions, and overseeing the drafting of a new constitution. Despite facing immense challenges, including numerous coup attempts and a struggling economy, her legacy is defined by her pivotal role in restoring freedom to her nation. She remains a global icon of peaceful resistance and the restoration of democracy.