Among great women leaders of the world and past presidents of the Philippines, history will always be kinder to former president Corazon “Cory “Aquino.
She will always be remembered as the plain housewife reluctantly pushed into the political limelight, inspired millions, restored democracy in her beloved Philippines and most of all influenced the downfall of autocrats, dictators and evil government systems in many parts of the world.
The fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of West and East Germany;
Romania, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Tien An Mien Square. were all the aftermaths of the Cory-led 1986 People’s Power revolution.
Her spiritual adviser, Fr.Catalino Arevalo who spoke at the requiem mass at the Manila cathedral, said “These last few days, every gifted writer in the press and other media has written on her person and political history, analyzed almost every side of her life and achievement as our own Icon of Democracy . More powerfully even, images of her and of EDSA 1 have filled hour and hour of TV time. Really, what else is left to say ?”
But Arevalo, who recalled the former president specifically asked him to deliver the homily in the event of her death, instead said in place of the many orations accorded to her, he will echo the things many people said during the wakes .
“let me instead try to say some things the people who persevered for hours on end in the lines at Ortigas (La Salle University) or here in Intramuros. This is a lowly tribute at one with the old sneakers and clothes made tighter by age, soaked by water and much worse for wear of the men, women and children who braved the rain and the sun because they wanted to tell you, even for a brief and hurried moment, how much they love you. You truly, now belong among the IMMORTALS “.
Former senator and Cory spokesman Rene Saguisag also said the late president “has attained immortality through her legacy. In some ways, she has not died. She and her husband are immortal forever in the memory of Filipinos and even in the admirers outside of the country “
******
IN DEATH, A UNIFYING FORCE: Emil Guillermo, a Filipino-American journalist said Cory’s death “may actually make her an even more powerful force in such a devoutly Catholic country. Death solidifies Aquino’s role as the spirit of a democratic ideal for the Philippines “.
Astonishingly true, during the wake and funeral mass for Mrs. Aquino, some “unthinkable “ occurred. On the eve of her burial, Ferdinand “Bongbong “ Marcos, her sister Imee and wife Lisa Araneta appeared at the Manila cathedral’s wake to pay their respects to Cory.
Mrs. Aquino’s eldest daughter, Maria Elena “Ballsy” Cruz who incidentally was a batch mate of Imee Marcos in school, met them.
This led to speculations that a reconciliation between the Aquinos and the Marcos’s, bitter political enemies is forthcoming.
At the funeral mass, also at the Manila cathedral, former presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph “Erap “ Estrada sat besides each other, separated only by senator Jinggoy Estrada. Surprisingly, the two shook hands, ending years of animosity between the two former presidents since its widely believed that Ramos was one of the principal figures responsible for the ouster of
Estrada.
Weeks earlier, former first Lady Imelda Marcos asked her birthday guests to pray for Mrs. Aquino who was then fighting for her life. Kris Aquino , reacting to this gesture, said she appreciated Mrs. Marcos’ prayers.
Indeed , the “ Cory Magic “ continues to cast its spell .