I Love the Philippines: Thank You, Cory Aquino

Cory Aquino, former president of our country, and widow of assassinated opposition leader Ninoy Aquino, passed away on August 1, 2009, after a long and heroic battle with colon cancer.

Her remains will be put to rest today, which has been declared a national holiday, in honor of this brave woman.

Our nation grieves her death. She has been said to be the only true queen this country ever had. She is a modern day symbol of our motherland.

In 1986, then president Ferdinand Marcos, who had declared martial law at the end of his second term in office (an act which then allowed him to continue to stay in power), surprised the nation by deciding to hold snap elections. Cory Aquino was requested by many sectors of Philippine society to run against Marcos in this elections.

"What do I know about being president?" Cory was reported as asking.

However, for the sake of our beloved nation, she agreed.

Ferdinand Marcos was declared the winner in this snap elections. The elections had obviously been rigged.

This was the last drop in the bucket, and Filipinos, known to be a peace loving and gentle people, would no longer take it. It led to the now famous EDSA bloodless revolution, when then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff Fidel Ramos, in protest of what they said were fraudulent election returns, decided to hold a mutiny inside Camp Crame, one of the twin military camps located on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (or EDSA), the main thoroughfare of MetroManila.

Within hours, thousands of civilians rushed to this part of EDSA to provide a human barricade to protect the mutineers from impending government attack. Hour by hour, the ranks of those joining the mutineers swelled.

Soldiers could not open fire on the civilians who stayed day and night on the EDSA highway in the middle of the two military headquarters.

Church leaders and followers of all denominations, Catholic, evangelicals, and others, held hands, prayed, knelt, cried, holding roses in their hands as a sign that they were coming in peace.

It was the very first bloodless revolution in the history of the world, and it toppled the 20 year rule of Marcos.

Cory Aquino was declared the next president, and she ruled for only one term of office, six years. She did not seek re-election after that. She said her job has been done, and it was to pave the way for the return of constitutional democracy to our nation.

The nation will always be grateful to her, for her selfless act, for her courage, her willingness to face up to the powerful Marcos regime.

I still remember the night the nation first heard the news of Marcos and his family fleeing the country. We as a nation were dazed. We did not know what to think, feel, or do.

In cities all throughout the nation that night, there was a spontaneous rejoicing. People took their pans and kettles out to the streets and banged on them. Yellow ribbons, the symbol that has come to be associated with Cory, were waved from rooftops. Cars filled with members of their households who left their dinner tables to celebrate with the entire Filipino nation, went to the main thoroughfares , rejoicing at our newly regained freedom, hearts strengthened anew with fresh hope for the future. Passengers of all kinds of vehicles waved anything yellow they could grab from their homes--blankets, clothes, pillow cases.

Ernie and I scooped up our three children from their beds, and after taking all the yellow towels I could find in our closets, we ran to our car. With our car horn blaring all the way, and waving the yellow towels outside the windows, we headed toward the Bacolod Plaza roundabout where already hundreds of other cars had gathered. In the parks people were jumping, dancing, hugging one another, although they hardly knew one another. My tears couldn't stop falling.

First Born who was almost six at that time, was asking, "What is happening, Mama, is it New Year?"

I said, "No, son, we are celebrating the death of a dictatorship, and welcoming the return of democracy. We are free!"

News items the following morning wrote of glowing reports of this spontaneous rejoicing that took place the evening before in all major cities and municipalities, even down to the remote villages of our nation.

This is the legacy of Cory Aquino to the Filipino people. She was loved and respected by all. And I, for one, will always be thankful to God for orchestrating the turn of historical events of our nation.

The Philippines has a prophetic destiny. Cory was one of the instruments that God used to let democratic freedom once again reign in our land. But the battle for righteousness is far from over. We need faithful intercessors and prayer warriors who will partner with us in lifting up our nation up to God.

But today, as Cory's remains are laid to rest, the country is once again reminded that this is a nation worth dying for. I AM PROUD TO BE A FILIPINO!


There are very many beautiful stories about Cory. I have posted some of these links below.

I have also posted a noteworthy editorial about Cory, written by Cito Beltran in one of our national dailies today.

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"Death Does Wonders to Our Soul"
by Cito Beltran
The Philippine Star, August 5, 2009

When was the last time somebody died and changed your life?

We rarely pay much attention to the impact of such traumatic events in our lives, but truth be told, one of our life changing moments comes from a death in the family, a friend, even from the death of such a person as President Cory Aquino.

The sudden void creates a vacuum that demands to be filled either with grief, remembrance or to be physically filled by someone left behind. Most people try to focus on the grief and the remembering, but try to steer clear of having to fill the void or take over the responsibility of being.

Today as we bury yet another Icon of our rich history, I ask myself, as we all should: what has Cory’s life and death done for me?

In the past few days I have made mental notes and observations of what has been said or recalled from the life of Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. It is interesting that when we look beyond the common and the standard compliments, we come upon things that we never saw before or paid very little significance to.

At the beginning of our national mourning, the sound bytes from Cory, were about the privilege of being a “Filipino”. In a decade of migration and OFWs, her words reminded us of a time when we were all proud to be a Filipino. It was a time when we amazed the world of our collective courage, faith and abiding sense of goodwill to all, a time when we taught the world about people power.

People Power however is of our glorious past, what then can I do to give life to the idea that I am privileged to be a Filipino? How can you put value to being “Filipino”? Cory’s life and death is but the seed that hits the ground and must now be planted and nurtured along with what she has left behind.

“Democracy” is too big and too vague. But if we pick and choose what is good about being Pinoy, what are the Filipino icons, we quickly realize that we can take ownership of almost everything from the Philippine flag to the Philippine monkey-eating eagle. Embrace the music that embodies and expresses what we hold dear. All this is uniquely for Filipinos.

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By the testimony of others, we realize and learn about true humility, which she exemplified, when she publicly expressed apology for the hurt she caused others. Unbelievable and as politically incorrect as it seemed, she said sorry to former President Joseph Estrada.

From a lifetime of sorrow and the wisdom that comes from it, Cory knew and made the distinction between politics and the soul. Cory understood the difference between correction and healing. In healing others, she too was healed.

This perhaps is what has made it easier for others to follow. Even those who have claimed to be her harshest critics and worst enemies now show their respect for someone who has earned it even unto death.

Twice when her allies and critics misunderstood the point and spoke against her actions, I defended Cory and in doing so I benefitted with another “Cory lesson”. On two occasions she texted me this message: “Thank you very much for your kind article today. GOD BLESS. Cory Aquino.”

Thank you is a rare commodity much sought after and even more needed in today’s markets. “Thank You” are two words that goes beyond appreciation, it is recognition, it is affirmation that what we have done matters and has effect in other people’s lives.

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Of all the things that Cory has personified for all Filipinos is the importance of having God over our public and private lives, the importance of prayer as a constant and active part of our day to day experience, and an uncompromising commitment and public accountability for our faith.

Cory spent as much time bowed in God’s presence, submitted to his will and surrendered to his ways. She has been a beacon that brought us together in open or silent prayers, yet always someone who gave glory to God and not herself.

Ultimately, her faith and abiding trust in God became the standard of accountability for herself as much as for others. It was the standard that led her to battle, to govern, to motivate, to express regret, even to criticize her own. And in her final moments she shared those standards to us that we may one day also live by them.

I hope that by God’s grace, I too will have the strength of character, the fervor for prayer, and the humility to stand with all of you and say it is truly a privilege to be a Filipino.

For now, I say: “MARAMING SALAMAT PO, PANGULONG CORY AQUINO.” (Thank you very much, President Cory Aquino.)

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Cory, The Only True Queen The Filipino People Had

In Memoriam: Citizen Cory, Reluctant President

RP Mourns for Democracy Icon Aquino

Essential Cory Aquino

To read more articles and news updates, please also visit the official Cory Aquino website.