Manila, Aug 1 (DPA) Philippine democracy icon and former president Corazon Aquino died Saturday after battling colon cancer for more than one year, her family said. She was 76.

Cory, as the people fondly called her, had been hospitalized in the Makati Medical Centre in Manila since late June after her health deteriorated and the cancer spread to other parts of her body.

'Our mother peacefully passed away at 3.18 a.m. Aug 1, 2009 of cardio-respiratory arrest,' Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III said.

'She would have wanted us to thank each and everyone of you for all the prayers and your continued love and support,' he added. 'It was her wish for all of us to pray for one another and for our country.'

The entire nation has been offering prayer vigils for Aquino, who led a four-day bloodless people power revolution in 1986 that toppled the dictatorship of the late Ferdinand Marcos.

Yellow ribbons have been tied on street lamps, trees, fences and buildings throughout the Philippines to honour the late president. Yellow was Aquino's symbol in her fight against Marcos.