(10 of 10)
Aquino had the good fortune to lead a truly democratic rebellion, something quite different from the upheaval that ousted the Shah of Iran in 1979 and then degenerated into a regime of religious zealots. "This is not a revolt of the extremes," says Salvador Lopez, a former Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations. "This is a revolution of the center." For the moment, Filipinos, profoundly desirous of change, seem content simply to celebrate their emancipation. Says Lopez: "The people are happy that Marcos is gone, and that is the main thing." The challenge for the new President is to harness that spirit--and with dispatch--so that she can begin to tackle the array of problems confronting her. Says one of her supporters: "If Cory continues to be mesmerized by the euphoria of so-called people power and ignores the practical realities of politics, she will stumble sooner than expected." She clearly does not intend to fall into that trap.
CHART: TEXT NOT AVAILABLE.