Tingting Cojuangco

Margarita "Tingting" Manzano 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]

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Manzano, the birth surname or paternal family name is de los Reyes, and the marital name is Cojuangco.

The Honorable Margarita “Tingting” R. Cojuangco
28th Governor of Tarlac
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998
Preceded by	Mariano Ocampo III
Succeeded by	Jose V. Yap Sr.
Personal details
Born	Margarita Manzano de los Reyes (1944-04-29) April 29, 1944 (age 81) Quezon City, Republic of the Philippines
Political party	UNA (2012–present)
Other political affiliations	Lakas (2008–2012) KAMPI (1997–2008) PDP–Laban (1992–1997)
Spouse	Peping Cojuangco
Relations	Robert Jaworski Jr. (son-in-law)
Children	5, including Mikee
Residence	Makati
Profession	Public servant
Military service
Allegiance	Republic of the Philippines
Branch/service	Philippine Army
Years of service	1989 - Present
Rank	Colonel

Early life and education

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.

Career

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.

She is the president of the Philippine Public Safety College. She served as a presidential assistant to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001-2004); Undersecretary for Special Concerns of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (March 10 – September 24, 2004); and is a full colonel in the Reserve Forces of the Philippine Army (1989–present); and columnist of the Philippine Star (1999–present).

She participated in the peace talks with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

In 2013, she ran unsuccessfully for senate spot under the opposition group of then-Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Awards

• Part of the Philippine Tatler's Who's Who of the Philippines, 2009
• One of Harper's Bazaar's 100 Most Beautiful Women in the World, 1968