Margarita "Tingting" de los Reyes Cojuangco (born Margarita Manzano de los Reyes on April 29, 1944) is a Filipina politician, philanthropist and socialite. She was the former Chairman of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party and a member of the Council of Philippine Affairs (COPA). She was a candidate for a seat in the Senate in the 2013 Philippine Senate Election. Cojuangco lost in the election. She is the aunt of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.[1]
Cojuangco was born on April 29, 1944, to Geronimo delos Reyes and Lita Manzano. In 1962, she married José Cojuangco, Jr. She is the mother of one of the prominent equestriennes of the country, Mikaela "Mikee" Cojuangco (who is married to Robert Jaworski Jr.). Her other children are Dr. Luisita "Liaa" Bautista (married to Emmanuel Bautista), Josephine "Pin" Guingona (married to Francisco Javier Guingona), Margarita Demetria "Maimai" Zini (married to Andrea Zini), and Regina Patricia Jose "China" Gonzalez (married to Gino Gonzalez).
Cojuangco studied at the University of Santo Tomas, finished her master's degree in National Security Administration (MNSA) at the National Defense College, and holds doctorate degrees in Criminology and Philippine History.
She served as Tarlac Provincial Governor for two terms in 1992 until 1998. In 1998, she ran for re-election for a third and final term but lost. She tried to reclaim her old post in 2001 but lost again.
One of Harper's Bazaar's 100 Most Beautiful Women in the World, 1968
References
^Saturnino M. Borras Pro-Poor Land Reform: A Critique - 2007 Page 166 "The landholding in this case involves a landlord who has special ties with the national ruling elites: Geronimo de los Reyes is the father of Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, who is the wife of Jose “Peping""
Republic of the Philippines
Colonel