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Page added on August 13, 2009

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Cory Aquino gets wish to be laid to rest beside Ninoy

FAREWELL, ‘TITA CORY.’ The country bids goodbye to the nation’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, on Wednesday.
After an almost eight-hour procession through rainy streets and grateful throngs, former President Corazon Aquino was laid to rest beside her husband’s grave – just as she wished – at the Manila Memorial Park Wednesday evening.

The funeral procession mirrored the historic funeral of opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in 1983 that sparked popular protests, eventually catapulting Mrs. Aquino to the presidency.

Her remains were laid to rest at 8:20 p.m. as the crowd cheered and shouted: “Cory! Cory! Cory!”

Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado handed over the Philippine flag that was used to cover Mrs. Aquino’s casket to her only son, Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Mrs. Aquino’s children – Noynoy, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abellada, Viel Aquino-Dee and Kris Aquino-Yap – bade goodbye to their mother as her coffin was slowly pushed into the tomb by uniformed servicemen.

Full military honors were accorded to Mrs. Aquino when the presidential cortege arrived at the Manila Memorial Park at around 7:20 p.m.

Earlier, a helicopter hovered above the cortege continuously as the funeral procession crawled from the Manila Cathedral towards the memorial park. Mrs. Aquino’s cortege left the cathedral at 11:45 a.m.

Hundreds of thousands lined the streets to watch the Cory cortege, but this time the mood was celebratory, unlike Ninoy’s funeral that turned into a protest march against strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

“Salamat Cory” was the repeated message on banners, posters, and T-shirts displayed in the streets of the capital.
More than a hundred buses and cars joined the slow-moving convoy on Cory’s farewell journey across Manila. The multitudes wielded cameras and phones beneath their umbrellas to record the historic event for posterity.

Some groups used the occasion to denounce the Arroyo administration. A banner of militant organization Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and Sanlakas read: “Paalam Cory. Tuloy ang laban para sa demokrasya ng bayan. Patalsikin si Gloria!”

(Goodbye Cory. Continue the fight for the country’s democracy. Oust Gloria!)

Among the prominent officials who attended the burial was East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta who waited for hours for the cortege to arrive. Several government officials and former Cabinet members of Mrs. Aquino were also in attendance.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Mrs. Aquino’s successor and staunch supporter, skipped the burial rites citing ‘old age’ as the reason.

“At age 81, no need to go to the station terminal because you’re here in the departure area,” Ramos jokingly told reporters when asked if he will proceed to the Manila Memorial Park.
‘Filipinos are worth it’

Kris Aquino, the youngest child of Cory, received thunderous applause at the Manila Cathedral when she said that her family’s sacrifices were all worth it.

“No matter how great the sacrifices of my parents, I can honestly say to all of you that for my family, the Filipinos are worth it,” she said in her 17-minute speech.

Cory Aquino gets wish to be laid to rest beside Ninoy

pinoytimes.ca © 2009