In scenes reminiscent of the massive mourning for her murdered husband, thousands of people Sunday came to grieve for Cory Aquino. Some came on foot, others in diplomatic cars. Some were from the affluent class, but many were poor. Most quietly filed past her flag-draped coffin, others openly wept.
As they came for Cory 23 years ago to answer the call for people power against a dictator, so they came again Sunday to be by her side. But this time, they came to bid her farewell.
One of the mourners, Baby Dantes, 59, who described herself as a small businesswoman from Quezon City, burst into hysterics.
“Why did it have to be Cory?” she shouted, weeping. “There are so many other presidents who are liars and thieves, but why did it have to be you?”
The scene occurred at the La Salle Green Hills gymnasium where the woman who led the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that restored democracy in the Philippines lay in state, looking serene in a glittering yellow dress, a purple rosary with hints of gold entwined around her hands.
Many in the long line of mourners that stretched all the way to EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) braved heat and intermittent rain and queued for hours—some as early as 5 a.m.—just to have a few seconds’ glimpse of the woman they simply call “Cory” before her funeral on Wednesday.
Most of the mourners wore yellow, while others came in black.
One man in crutches did not mind struggling up the ascending pathway leading up to the gym, and huffed with every step.
Another mourner, a woman, said she was willing to wait until she got her turn to see Aquino—despite her shaking with high fever.
The mourners came from all walks of life—politicians, foreign diplomats, housewives with children in tow, soldiers, fathers and sons, teachers, government employees, students in school uniform, teenagers in groups and celebrities.
Reflecting the prayerful life of the dead woman, voices of mourners in the gym droned on as they continuously prayed the rosary and recited a prayer for intercession for Aquino’s soul to rest in peace. The prayers were laced with religious songs.
Filipino is worth living for
Dantes, the woman who broke into hysterics, was accompanied by her 11-year-old grandson who, by a stroke of irony, bore the surname “Marcos,” although the family had no relation to the late dictator.
“If I could only erase that horrible surname, I would. We will apply to have his surname changed,” Dantes said.
At a noon Mass, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said Aquino had “lived the meaning of ‘the Filipino is worth dying for,’” a statement made famous by her martyred husband, the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
Lagdameo said Cory Aquino accomplished this when she “responded to the call to lead her people as president for six years.”
“She said the Filipino is worth living for,” the archbishop said to applause.
Mama Mary’s way
In his homily, Fr. Teofilo Rustia, a chaplain of the Presidential Security Group during Aquino’s term, recalled seeing a strange woman place a veil on Aquino’s head in the middle of a Mass.
Rustia said it was eerie because Aquino was under heavy guard yet no one among the presidential guards had noticed the woman at all. He said he thought it was just his imagination, until choir members told him they saw the woman, too.
The priest said: “This was during the time when there were coups. Could it be that it was Mama Mary’s way to tell her that she will protect her?”
Although the Aquino family has shunned a state funeral offered by Malacañang, no less than acting Executive Secretary Gabriel Claudio was at the wake on Saturday night.
Others who came that night included former President Fidel Ramos and Vice President Noli de Castro.
On Sunday, the visitors included former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Pampanga Gov. Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio and Sen. Rodolfo Biazon. There were also foreign visitors, like Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, wife of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and Ambassador Alistair Macdonald, head of the European Commission delegation to the Philippines,
Panlilio said he shared Aquino’s view that the country needed healing and an honest, incorruptible leader.
Malaysian friend
Wearing a yellow veil and pin with Aquino’s image, Wan Azizah said she had always felt an affinity to Aquino, with whom she shared the experience of being the wife of a persecuted leader.
She read to reporters a statement written by Anwar in which he said: “Oppressed masses in Asia, nay the world, touched their forelocks in gratitude to her (Aquino) for the inspiring example of her courage in the face of adversity.”
Former Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman and former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles were on hand to help usher the guests into the gymnasium.
NBN-ZTE whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada distributed bright yellow ribbons to the media and mourners for them to pin on their shirts.
Family spirits lifted
Earlier, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Roberto Rosales warned those planning to attend the wake to be prepared for long lines and traffic jams. He advised them to exercise patience and vigilance in the queue.
He also urged the public not to bring children to the wake. Moreover, those with cars should think twice about using their vehicles, Rosales said.
The sheer number of people who turned up at the wake has lifted the spirits of the Aquino family, despite their grief.
“The family is very, very happy,” Aquino spokesperson Deedee Siytangco said at a media briefing.
Aquino’s remains are to be transferred on Monday to the Manila Cathedral for the continuation of the wake. At the cathedral, it would almost be impossible to accommodate the thousands who would want to pay their last respects to her, organizers said.
Since the cathedral is a much smaller place than the La Salle Green Hills gym, Siytangco said one “welcome” alternative was for people to line up the streets and wait for the funeral cortege to pass.
“People who may not be able to go to the Cathedral can line the streets, wear yellow and throw yellow flowers and confetti to her as she passes by,” she said.
“That’s welcome because I know that the three-day viewing is very short for many people who have turned out from all over the country … As you can see the lines are so long here and they brought their families here just to take a glimpse of her,” she added.
Siytangco said that the wake and the funeral would go on even if it rained.
Next-generation activist
Laborer Jose Olazo, 53, brought his year-old grandson to the wake with a yellow band tied around the child’s head. Olazo, an activist, cried at Aquino’s casket.
“He’s the next-generation protester,” he said, pointing to his grandson James.
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