Farewell to a President

Most Filipinos woke up today to the sad news of the passing of former Philippine President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. She died at 3:18 this morning at the age of 76. We have seen her death coming since she was diagnosed with colon cancer last year, but the news still came as a shock to most people.


I was a young 5th grader in far away Mindanao when the EDSA Revolution happened in 1986. My innocent mind could not understand everything that was going on in the country. I only remember putting Cory stickers on my shirt, handing out Cory/Doy flyers, and performing dance numbers on the local stage during Tita Cory's presidential campaign. Before that, I recall repeatedly watching footages of Ninoy Aquino's assasination on Betamax in 1983 and throwing yellow confetti at the rallyists when I spent summer of 1984 in Manila. All of these events led to the bloodless revolution for which Tita Cory will be most remembered.

The Filipino nation also witnessed how Tita Cory was as a mother when she lovingly embraced her daughter, Kris, after her scandalous breakup with former Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez. I remember being moved to tears when Tita Cory hugged Kris and simply said, "Welcome home."

Throughout her life, she was truly a shining example of courage, humility, integrity, simplicity, love, and faith. For this and more, thank you so much, President Cory. Paalam...