In death as in life, former President Corazon Aquino will be remembered as a simple woman unaffected by the trappings of power.
The former democracy icon and the country's first woman President will be laid to rest beside her husband, former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., in a simple white tomb with the inscription "Corazon C. Aquino 'Cory', Jan. 25,1933-Aug. 1, 2009."
Six yellow ribbons were tied around two pillars of the Aquino mausoleum, while yellow flowers were placed on top of Mrs. Aquino's tomb early this morning.
Inside the cemetery, yellow ribbons were tied to trees and posts leading to the mausoleum. Loyal supporters of the former President, mostly women, were already seated near the mausoleum as of this posting, where photographers and mediamen await the funeral cortege from the Manila Cathedral.
The Aquino family has opted to have a private funeral for Mrs. Aquino instead of the state honors usually accorded to former presidents.
Full military honors will however be accorded the former chief executive as she is laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park, including a 21-gun salute – one salvo fired every minute for a 21-minute period – once the casket leaves the cathedral.
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Former President Corazon Aquino will be remembered as a simple woman
Thousands gather at Manila Cathedral for Requiem Mass for Cory
Thousands of supporters, politicians and celebrities have gathered around the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila for the requiem Mass for former President Corazon Aquino this morning.
The Mass is set to start at 9 a.m.
At the nearby Anda Circle, members of the Ateneo community have likewise gathered to pay homage to the well-loved President, who toppled the dictatorship and suceeded the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in February1986.
Police estimated the crowd at more than 10,000.
After the Mass, the former chief executive will be taken to her final resting place at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City, where her husband, the late Sen. Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino, was laid to rest after he was assassinated in August 1983.
The Aquino family has opted to have a private funeral for Mrs. Aquino instead of the state honors usually accorded to former presidents. The Palace said earlier it will respect the decision of the family.
Full military honors will however be accorded to Mrs. Aquino as she is laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park, including a 21-gun salute – one salvo fired every minute for a 21-minute period – once the casket leaves the cathedral. There will also be a 21-gun salute at Rizal Park, Camp Aguinaldo, Fort Bonifacio, Villamor Air Base and Fort San Antonio Abad on Roxas Blvd.
Another round of 21-gun salutes will follow one hour after the burial in major military commands, including the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, the Northern Luzon Command in Tarlac City, the Southern Luzon Command in Lucena City, the Western Command in Puerto Princesa City, the Central Command in Cebu City, the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City and Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City.
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Pres. Arroyo visited the wake of former Pres. Aquino
President Gloria Arroyo, who arrived from her U.S. trip this morning (Aug 5) went straight from the airport to Manila Cathedral in Intramuros to pay last respect to former President Cory Aquino.
Wearing a white blazer suit President Arroyo went straight to view the coffin of former President Aquino and offered a short prayer before joining Senator Noynoy Aquino, who received the president in behalf of the Aquino family.
"Masaya ako dahil natupad na rin ang pangarap ng aking mga magulang na maipakita sa ating bayan na wala kaming tinatanim na galit kanino man," shared Sen. Aquino.
After having a brief conversation with Sen. Aquino, Mrs. Arroyo went back again to view the remains of Cory then exited at the left side of the back entrance of the cathedral, where she also entered. Mrs. Arroyo stayed more or less than 10 minutes.
Joining Mrs. Arroyo were Film Director and sister-in-law of former Pres. Aquino Lupita Kashiwara, Camarines Sur 1st District Dato Arroyo, Executive Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Department of Transportation and Communications Leandoro Mendoza, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando.
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Marcos kids visit Cory at Manila Cathedral
Death has a way of softening old hurt and lingering pain.
The Aquinos and the Marcoses—at least the children---appeared to have finally have buried the political hatchet following the visit of Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his wife Liza, and Imee Marcos at the wake of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday.
“We went there to express our sympathies,” Imee told abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak. “We have no official statement.”
The Marcos siblings were welcomed by Cory’s eldest daughter, Maria Elena “Balsy” Aquino-Cruz. The Marcoses stayed for around 15 minutes.
The Aquino family had earlier said the Marcoses are welcome to attend the wake, but should not expect an instant reconciliation. Cory’s youngest daughter, Kris Bernadette, had thanked Mrs. Marcos and her family for praying for her mother. Aquino died Saturday, losing her battle against colon cancer.
Asked if the Marcoses and the Aquinos have kissed and made up, Imee replied: “We are already together in the opposition.”
Imee said they sought the help of Bongbong’s wife, Louise Cacho Araneta-Marcos, who is related to the wife of Cory’s brother, Pedro Cojuangco. Mr. Cojuangco is married to a Cacho. From this channel, they “secured” the “clearance” to attend the wake.
Imee said not many people know that she and Balsy were childhood friends. She recalled that she would go to the Aquinos' home in Times Street in Quezon City and spend some time there.
“Mrs. Aquino would cook for us,” Imee said. “We were all children of LP (Liberal Party) leaders,” she added, explaining how she and Balsy became friends.
The late President Marcos was an LP member, but bolted to join the Nacionalista Party as its standard bearer in the 1965 presidential elections. Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr. was then a rising stalwart of the party.
For decades, the Aquinos and the Marcoses were bitter political families, highlighted by the murder of Ninoy Aquino, following his return to the Philippines in 1983 after years of exile.
The Aquino family believes President Marcos masterminded the killing. While in power, President Aquino had rejected the Marcos family’s request for the dictator’s body to be brought back to the country. His remains were allowed to be brought back in 1993 by then President Fidel Ramos.
The Marcoses fled to Hawaii following the EDSA 1 people power revolution that installed Mrs. Aquino to the presidency.
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Corazon Aquino’s Casket mirror of simplicity
Her family could have chosen one that’s more lavish and fit for a revered former head of state, but the casket in which Corazon Aquino’s remains are laid reflects her life of simplicity.
Made of hard imported Oakwood, Mrs. Aquino’s coffin, according to Heritage Park vice president for sales and marketing Raquel Mendoza, mirrors her simplicity and elegance.
She said the Aquino family has opted for a simple casket of lighter gold color called “Dignity” to reflect the late president’s aversion to extravagance.
“The color immediately reminds the family of Cory,” she told The STAR in an interview noting that light gold is the closest to golden yellow and that the rounded corners of the casket are considered lucky by the Chinese. Aquino, who belonged to the Cojuangco clan, was part Chinese.
Mendoza said it was the first time the Dignity casket was used for a prominent personality.
The late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, she said, was laid in a “La Pieta” casket and it was a “Winfield” cherry wood for Fernando Poe Jr.
She said the term “hardwood” refers to a casket design that requires no nail to build.
Mendoza said Mrs. Aquino’s Dignity casket is expected to last for 20 to 25 considering that the late president will be buried in a tomb above ground.
“When the family approached me and Heritage Park, we were quite honored to serve her,” she said as she recalled how she herself took part in the EDSA People Power 1.
She said she is proud of being a graduate of St. Scholastica’s College like Mrs. Aquino.
“It was like walking back to memory lane,” Mendoza said.
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