(First published online on
September 9, 2009)
(Author's Note: this post was
made in accordance to the 40th death-day of the late President Cory Aquino who
greatly influenced the majority of the Filipino.)
August 4, 2009 - 9:14pm
People often know me as a man who values time more than anything. I believe
that the most essential part in a human life is thinking how to manage his own
time. I, for one, surely put my every schedule into notes so as I can properly
handle it. However, with a very hectic schedule, I still managed to join a very
momentous event not only to some but to the entire nation.
It was past 9pm when we arrived at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros. In front
of the Church and of Plaza Roma, face-to-face with a gigantic tarpaulin which
also serves as a freedom wall for Filipino's messages was the beginning of our
journey to pay respect for the late former President Maria Corazon 'Cory'
Cojuanco Aquino. It was not just a simple event for it was indeed part of the
country's colorful history.
It was the last night of the former president's wake when we decided to visit
and see her on her casket. At first, I hesitated but after a lot convincing, I
joined my block-mates. More on paying some respects, when I was merely waiting
for my turn to see her body, I busied myself in understanding and/or knowing
who the late president was based from the thousands of people who also fell in
line with us.
Step by step, I tried to unfold what was with President Cory that people were
moved or touched and fell in a very long line just to see her body for the last
time. As I started in front of Manila Cathedral, I thought, Cory was the most
prayerful leader the Philippines had. She was not a typical woman who would
only pray in times of trouble. With her, prayer was like the second thing to
breathing. In her almost every interview, she never forgot to mention the Lord.
For that, not just the political sphere but also the religious side mourned and
will continue mourning for this very great loss. Back then, during her time
when she was fighting for the Filipinos, along with her family was the Lord
whom she believed was her greatest adviser. The question that bothered me most
then was; can we still have someone who will lead us politically side by side
with religiosity without hiding his or her true identity, just like what
President Cory did? I know that politics must not be associated with the Church
however, if President Cory did it during her regime then why can't we do it? As
an additional information, President Cory Aquino was the first non-Catholic
Bishop who was laid in the Manila Cathedral.
As we continued falling in line, people in front of us seemed to be too happy,
telling stories of their own lives without any connection to the late President.
They were laughing too hard and at first, I got pissed off. But later that
time, I realized that they were somehow similar to the President. From almost
every interview and speeches that the President had, never did the people see
her not smiling. She had a very great sense of humor and recorded that during
her regime, only once did she get really angry. However, years passed, when she
recalled the incident, she was just smiling on it. She exemplified that
Filipinos are truly a nation of smiling baboon, just joking, hehehe. She
symbolized all the Filipinos' attitude that life is worth smiling. In every
event, wearing of a smile can make things better. With a smile, you can change
things for the better, just like what President Cory did. A great sense of
humor will help you succeed.
That historical event also became a good bonding time for families who shared
the same goal in viewing and paying respect for the late leader. It was raining
hard and we needed to battle with mud and rocky road but the families who
battled with us stayed united and intact to achieve their common goal. It then
occurred to me that they were also like the President that during her hardest moments,
never did her family got divided specially on the decision-making process. Blessed
with four kids who grew with her and stayed with her up to the last minute of
her life, they still managed to be closed with each other thus giving life to
the traditional characteristic of a Filipino family, the closed-ties which differentiate
us from the other nations.
Since it was the last night of the wake, people from various walks of life visited the Cathedral. We could see the poorest of the poorest and even the glamorous celebrities and politicians present in the burial. This showed the symbol of the President in the society that even the socially-disadvantaged could truly feel the great loss of our nation. She, being in the cover of the worldly-known Time Magazine, also belongs to elite class however she did not excuse herself from relating to people of various classes.
We almost roamed the entire walled-city just to see the body of President Cory.
It was indeed a hard time but we never hesitated because falling in line seemed
to be just having fun. We got wet from the heavy downpour of the rain but when
we reached the side of the church, volunteers happily welcomed us by giving
drinks that quenched our thirst. The volunteers worked hard as well as to
satisfy the people's needs. They also did it as a way of giving gratitude to
the people who stayed with the President until her death. It was a way similar
to what the President did during her time. She served the country not that she
truly wanted it but she just wanted to volunteer in changing the government.
After her term, she voluntarily assigned people to guard the process of
election and she also voluntarily moved out of the Palace. She exemplified a
leader who voluntarily worked hard without expecting anything in return.
Through this, she was truly admired.
At last, after almost five hours of complete standing, walking and getting wet,
five minutes after two in the morning, we finally saw the lady we admired. She
was very gorgeous that I never imagined seeing her like that. She was skinny
but her dress elegantly illuminates her body. She was guarded by two soldiers,
and flowers surrounded her beautiful coffin. A five-hour of wait was equal to a
five-second glance but it was all worth it. We felt contented and we understand
that being part of the nation's colorful history, we really had to wait for so
long. Outside the church, we were faced with a beautiful challenge that this
country still has a hope and as part of the youth, what can we do to achieve
it? I, for one, will use my writing and intellectual skills to make this
country a better place.
I got home past 3am of August 5, and since I no longer felt asleep, I just
opened the television and watched the live video coverage done in honor of the
late President.
Her body and/or presence might be gone but her memories and the things that she
did for all of us will always be remembered. Thanks, President Cory.
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