Farewell Tita Cory

an statement of thanks, statement of love

braving the long queue, for the love of Tita Cory

yellow flag in front of the Manila Cathedral

headline news

last Saturday, i woke up to the sad news that the nation's "icon of democracy" has passed away on the first day of August. i joined the nation in mourning for her passage on earth by watching the television specials about her. my own grandmother died of complications arising from her colon cancer many years back so i am aware how painful this disease could be. it is remarkable that despite the pain that her illness has brought Cory, she according to her children, did not complain.

what struck me among many comments about Cory and Ninoy's death was- both has united the nation. according to a former cabinet member Vicente Paterno in one of the news accounts, although it was hatred of a conjugal dictatorship that drove the Filipinos together, many years later it was because of love for the former president Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, fondly called Tita Cory.

some friends went in the early morning of Sunday(2 AM) at the La Salle Greenhills gym so they are no longer keen in accompaying me today. this morning, i braved the long queue to have a last glimpse of Tita Cory at the Manila Cathedral. although i have followed most of the live coverages since Saturday, nothing compares to the experience of going to do my share of thanking Cory for what she has done for the country. it took me a couple of hours and a half of travel time to the cathedral, an hour of lining up for public viewing and few seconds to be inside the cathedral to catch a glimpse of Tita Cory before noon, but i will cherish this experience forever.

there are a lot of things i admire about Tita Cory, but foremost is her unwavering faith in God even in times of persecution, sufferings, illness and pain. in sickness she has united the Filipino people in prayer.in death she united her countrymen like how her husband Ninoy did 26 years ago. political and social differences were set aside as thousands or perhaps millions converged to pay their last respects to her and express condolences to her surviving family and children.

ss a wife and mother, becoming a president of the country and back to becoming a private citizen, her deep faith was clearly manifested at all times. prayer has always been her source of strength, courage and determination in trying to probably live her life to the fullest, despite the seemingly insurmountable odds in her lifetime. her life showed that money and power is not enough to have a meaningful life but having a God and recognizing His Supreme power above all.

outpouring of much love for her was expressed by braving the heat of the sun and even the heavy rains to queue for a number of hours to be able to have a few seconds glimpse, say thanks or say a prayer to a former president lovingly called 'Tita Cory".

i join the blogging community in expressing my admiration for her quiet grace and the courage to face death. but it did not stop there.

wearing a yellow ribbon i went to Manila Cathedral as my own expression of love- for love of Cory, for democracy that she has restored and for love of this country.

farewell Tita Cory. thank you for the inspiration that you have given the entire country and probably the world, and to me.