 | | ICON
OF DEMOCRACY. Pres. Corazon "Cory" Aquino when "People Power"
declared her as President of the republic after a bloodless revolution that ousted
the dictatorial Marcos regime. The succeeding photos show a "sorrowful Cory"
in deep meditation and prayer as she knows it is inevitable to leave the nation
she loves, the nation her husband, Senator Ninoy died for. |
About
1.1 million Boholanos mourn the death of former Pres. Corazon "Cory"
C. Aquino, the 11th President of the republic who finally bade goodbye to a country
who loved her as an "icon of democracy" at 3:18 yesterday dawn at the
Makati Medical Center - after a 16-months bout with colon cancer. She was 76.
The
end came rather quietly with all the five Aquino siblings: Ballsy, Viel, Noynoy
and Kris at her death bed after a private Holy Mass. They were on the fifth mystery
of the Sorrowful Mystery of the Holy Rosary, when Cory breathed her last.
"The
Woman in Yellow" who led the ouster of one of the 20th century's most corrupt
dictators is renowned world-wide for "People Power", a franchise copied
by other nations to topple dictatorships and tyrants after 1986.
Meanwhile,
Pres. Gloria Arroyo who is still in the United States declared a 10-day nationwide
mourning upon learning of Aquino's demise.
Gov.
Erico Aumentado in an unusual early morning radio interview over dyRD's "Patrol
Balita" yesterday paid glowing tribute to the lady President who "instituted
democracy in this nation after her charisma and sincerity ended a dictatorial
regime." He said Boholanos will forever remember Pres. Cory as a "legacy
of freedom."
Through
the airlanes, he announced that all tri-color be flown at half-mast to pay respect
to the late President.
| | | Bishop
Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, when interviewed few hours after
Aquino's demise, called on the faithful to thank the Almighty for letting the
Filipinos share with the life and legacy of truth and justice of Mrs. Aquino.
The church leader through dyRD appealed "for prayers that the late President
be blessed with eternal happiness."
Former
OIC Gov. Victor de la Serna who was a known critic of the dictatorial regime of
Pres. Marcos was appointed as OIC governor of the province when Aquino assumed
the presidency. He was the live wire of the "Justice for Aquino, Justice
for All" (JAJA Movement) in the province until his appointment as OIC governor. |
De la Serna,
in a separate interview yesterday said "Aquino will forever be remembered
for liberating the nation from the bondage of the 20-year dictatorial regime of
Mr. Marcos."
For
his part, former Gov. Constancio "Nonoy" Torralba who is now based in
the United States, told the Chronicle in a phone interview last night that Bohol
has "lots of memories for the late President."
He
mentioned the establishment of the call stations in every town through a Canadian
grant. Because of his position as assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation
and Communication (DOTC), Bohol was the first province picked as beneficiary of
the telecommunication project. He also recalled that it was Pres. Aquino who declared
Panglao as a Tourism Estate Zone which later on signaled the identity of Panglao
as a tourist destination.
The
other projects during the term of Pres. Aquino was the reactivation of the irrigation
dam in Pilar town and the detailed engineering study of the Bohol Circumferential
Road Project, the former governor said.
A
grateful nation will bury "Tita Cory" - a phrase of endearment of Filipinos
for her - this Wednesday where at least more than a million people are expected
to lay her mortal remains to rest beside the love of her life - a murdered hero
- the former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino at the Manila Meorial Park
in Paranaque.
The
remains of the 76-year-old lady president which lie in state at La Salle Greenhills
was open for public viewing since yesterday afternoon until tomorrow morning.
She will be transferred to the Manila Cathedral for necrological services and
prayer vigil.
The
family opted for a "private funeral" instead of a state funeral as offered
by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who is still in the United States.
Perhaps
one of the country's most loved persons in history, Cory Aquino, is a modern-day
heroine of which fairy tales are made of. A lowly housewife, she bucked the odds,
fought a dictator in a snap election in 1986 - dubious results of which led millions
to revolt in a highway called EDSA and ousted a tyrant without a single bloodshed.
When
news of her death spread, the nation wept - and wept some more, that there won't
be another quite like a Cory Aquino to mother this nation for a long, long time.
There
will be no "state funeral" for it is not the state that will bury Aquino
but a "people's funeral", reserved only for those who have won the people's
undying trust and filial devotion.
When
the tolling of the bells fade and the last shot fired into the air on Wednesday,
the Philippines shall have seen the end of an era. Cory's era of honesty, humility,
sincerity and spiritual leadership shall have come to an end.
But
surely, the ethical behavior of Cory Aquino as a president, will be the standard
by which all Philippine presidents will be measured by. Such is her ultimate honor.
"Goodbye,
Tita Cory. And Thank You," the nation will chorus on Wednesday.
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