The rise to the presidency of the Philippines by Corazon Aquino, a ``happy housewife'' who in 1983 was still living in exile with her family, is exhaustively recounted though with considerable repetition by political journalist Crisostomo (Heart of the Revolution, etc.). Since Cory Aquino's accession resulted from the wave of protest and four day revolution that swept Marcos from power following the murder of her husband Benigno (Ninoy) and the rigged 1986 elections, the author properly devotes much of the book to the character and voluntary martyrdom of the brilliant young senator and journalist who, allegedly, felt himself predestined to become president. A fast learner, educated in a political family and by her husband, his widow is striving with unexpected strength and astuteness to carry out his ideals of grass-roots power and democratic moderation despite desperate economic conditions and political threats both from communists and Marcos's partisans. The author, while sympathetic to Cory Aquino's many problems, chides her for allegedly excluding from her top councils representatives of the masses. Photos. (June 22)
