Femme Power

Posts Tagged ‘Cory Aquino’

…But this time, there was no protest. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos trooped to the streets yesterday despite the heavy rain and sudden changes of weather conditions to pay their last respects for the late former President Corazon Aquino. People from all walks of life chanted her name, flashed the L (laban) sign, wore yellow, and threw yellow confetti and flowers as Cory’s funeral convoy passed by from the Manila Cathedral to the Manila Memorial Park.

No further words are needed to describe the strong emotions that moved the throngs of people during the funeral procession.

These pictures that I got from GMA TV’s live stream could tell how much the Filipinos love the late President Cory, our national icon and mother of democracy.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The Philippines is on a 10-day mourning period.  Our well-loved former President Corazon Aquino (otherwise known as Cory or Tita Cory) peacefully passed away yesterday after more than a year of battling colon cancer.  She succumbed to cardio-respiratory arrest at 3:18 am. She was 76.

Yes, we just lost a national icon of democracy, a true leader instead of a politician, a woman of unquestionable character.  Not only did she help lead the country topple the Marcos dictatorship in 1986 but she also restored and upheld this country’s democracy despite the seven coup attempts that battled her administration.   Even after her term, she continued to serve the country as an ordinary citizen by actively participating in non-governmental organizations and rallying against unjust government practices.

She retained her popularity with us Filipinos until her final days.  She had once united us to fight the shackles of Martial Law and even in her last days, she united the nation once again.  People of different religions, ages, professions, social classes, political views and affiliations from all over the archipelago tied yellow ribbons wherever visible as a show of their support and love for Mrs. Aquino.  Even the Marcoses, whose family she ousted from Malacanang, prayed for her.

Tita Cory may have passed away but her legacy will be remembered forever.

Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino.  The plain housewife of the late Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. who was catapulted into Presidency in 1986 due to People Power Revolution. The 11th Philippine President.  Asia’s first female President.  A highly spiritual woman.  Well-loved by many around the globe.  These are but few of the many descriptions about Cory, a woman I so admire.

When she lost the 1986 Snap Presidential Elections against Marcos, the Filipino people cried electoral fraud and marched to the streets.  She was instrumental to the end of the Marcos Dictatorship and Martial Law.   She restored this country’s democracy.

It was during her term that the 1987 Constitution was approved in a national plebiscite.  It was also during her term when the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law was enacted, among others.  However, her presidency was beset by several coup attempts mostly instigated by RAM (Reform the Armed Forces Movement), a group of middle-ranking military officers.  Still, she upheld democracy and didn’t go the Marcos way.

Twenty-three years after her first year in office as the country’s first woman President, Cory is now suffering from colon cancer and is clinging on to dear life.   Her cancer was on stage 4 when it was diagnosed, according to reports.   Healing Masses have been offered for her recovery by her friends, family, and supporters.  Even Pope Benedict XVI sent Cory a letter when The Pope heard about her condition.

Her youngest daughter and popular actress Kris Aquino said in reports that their mother is in pain.   Just a few minutes ago, I read an online article that says Cory called her family to her bedside in Makati Medical Center and that the former President was relaying messages to them through Kris.  Her message: Take care of each other.

No doubt, she’s a selfless and loving mom  - to her family and her countrymen.   Now in her toughest battle, she got the nation to kneel in prayers without her asking for it.  It’s because praying is one moral example that she has set all these years.  May we not only pray for Mrs. Aquino but for what she has helped us restore and protect - our own country’s democracy.