MANILA,  (Reuters) – Former Philippine President  Corazon Aquino, who is battling colon cancer, is badly ill in  hospital, a spokeswoman said yesterday.

Aquino, known as Cory to millions of Filipinos, was  admitted to the intensive care unit of a Manila hospital last  week.

Her spokeswoman Deedee Sytangco told reporters the  76-year-old “is very sick”.

Her son, Senator Benigno Aquino III, thanked friends and  supporters for holding a special mass for his mother.

“Senator Aquino sincerely thanks all those who continue to  pray for his mother’s healing,” he said in a statement.

Cory Aquino was president from 1986 to 1992. But she is  remembered, more than two decades after the fact, for leading  the “People Power” revolution that toppled dictator Ferdinand  Marcos.

She was diagnosed with colon cancer in March last year, and  underwent chemotherapy and then surgery.