World Notes THE PHILIPPINES

President Corazon Aquino had grown accustomed to winning big at the polls. In last week's provincial and local elections, however, she had to settle for something less than a sweep. The governing coalition confidently predicted that 70% of its candidates would be elected; though the official count was not completed, Aquino's forces clearly fell short of that goal. Among those defeated were two of the President's relatives. "This is a rejection of the concept of political dynasty but not of Cory," said Senate President Jovito Salonga, an Aquino ally.

Afterward Defense Secretary Rafael Ileto quit, complaining of insufficient support for his efforts to strengthen the armed forces in the face of a Communist insurgency and a dissident movement within the military, and Aquino was forced to carry out a Cabinet shuffle. Ileto's successor: Armed Forces Chief of Staff Fidel Ramos, 59, one of the heroes of the 1986 military revolt that deposed former Dictator Ferdinand Marcos.