Philippines' Aquino suffering from colon cancer

MANILA (Reuters) - Corazon Aquino of the Philippines, whoseconquest of one of the 20th century's most corrupt dictatorsmade her an icon of democracy across the world, is sufferingfrom colon cancer, her family said on Monday.

The 75-year-old was diagnosed with the disease just twoweeks ago, her daughter Kris said in an emotional address onnational television. She will start chemotherapy on Tuesday.

Aquino, known as Cory to millions of Filipinos, waspresident from 1986 to 1992. But she is remembered, more thantwo decades after the fact, as the slim woman in yellow who ledthe "People Power" revolution that toppled dictator FerdinandMarcos.

The tumultuous events of those weeks in 1986, whichculminated when up to 1 million people waving rosaries andflowers stopped tanks advancing towards Aquino-backed armyrebels, became a fairy-tale revolution that gripped the world.

When a bewildered Marcos and his wife Imelda fled thenation, it set a stirring precedent for dissidents everywhere,from South Africa to South America to Pakistan. Aquino washailed as a modern-day Joan of Arc.

But she was a reluctant leader at the start, shedding thehousewife's apron only after her husband Benigno wasassassinated at Manila's international airport on his returnfrom exile in the United States.

Inevitably, her presidency was less successful than therevolution, with a series of coup attempts by the militarykeeping the administration hamstrung. Aquino was much laudedfor her courage, but rarely seemed to be able to get on top ofruling the country.

"I have not always won but ... I never shirked a fight,"she said in 1992 before handing power over to her successor,Fidel Ramos.

But she did oversee the writing of a new constitution,which among other things limited a president's time in officeto one six-year term.

DEVOUT CATHOLIC

Born on January 25, 1933 into one of the country's richestfamilies, the Cojuangcos, Aquino grew up in a world of wealthand politics, being the daughter of a three-time congressman.

She married one of the country's most promising politiciansand they had four daughters and a son before he was thrown intoprison by Marcos. He was released into exile in the UnitedStates in 1980 but was murdered on his return three yearslater.

Accusing Marcos of ordering the murder, Aquino led protestmarches, but was hesitant when snap elections were called in1986.

"What on earth do I know about being president?" she saidbefore taking up the challenge to run against Marcos.

The spectre of army intervention haunted her entire rule.Natural disasters, including Mount Pinatubo's huge volcaniceruption in 1991, severely battered the economy.

A devout Catholic, she often turned to her faith to steerher through difficult times.

"There was never any moment that I doubted God would help... If it was time to die, so be it," she said when rebelmortars pounded the presidential palace in 1987.

Aquino seems frail now, but is still game for a fight whenshe thinks it necessary. She brought half a million people ontothe street in the 1990s when her successor Ramos flirted withthe idea of trying to extend his term in office.

She was involved in the protests that brought an end to thepresidency of Joseph Estrada in 2001, and has supported thecampaign to remove current President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The presidential palace said it was saddened by the news ofAquino's illness.

"I'm sure that the President will be one with us in prayingfor her speedy recovery," Arroyo's spokesman said.

(Reporting by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Bill Tarrant)