Close to 500 people from all walks of life braved traffic and strong rains to join the Aquino and Cojuangco families in a healing mass for the cancer-stricken former president Cory Aquino at the Gesu chapel of the Ateneo de Manila University in Loyola Heights, Quezon City last Friday night.

Meanwhile, another healing mass sponsored by the Rivers of Living Water Community will be celebrated by Fr. Mario Sobrejunite at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City at 9a.m. Sunday.

The mass will also be televised over Channel 17 and Studio 23. Starting Monday and until Friday, novena masses will also be held at the Rockwell Chapel in Makati City beginning at 5:30 p.m.

At the Ateneo mass, Jesuit priests cited the contributions and continued
sacrifices of the former president to promote democracy and the fight against corruption.

The Jesuit priests and the Ateneo community prayed for her quick recovery through the power of faith in God.

The Aquino family said they were moved by the overwhelming sympathy and outpouring of support for Mrs. Aquino whose condition has improved as she started drinking fluids and eating solid food.

At the conclusion of the healing mass, participants lit candles and sang inspirational songs for the ailing former president.

Among those at healing mass were professional basketball players and Ateneo graduates Wesley Gonzales, Enrico Villanueva, Paolo Bugia and Magnum Membrere and movie star and model Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.

In a related development, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) joined the nation in praying for the speedy recovery of former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino as it remembered Aquino’s contribution to the country’s diplomatic community.

“With her deep faith and inner strength, and the outpouring of prayers and good wishes from everyone, we pray that President Aquino will be able to regain good health soonest,” DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo said following a mass at the DFA auditorium late Friday afternoon concelebrated by Monsignor Rufino Siscon and Father Mario Cueto.

The mass was attended by DFA officers and staff, including members of the Diplomatic Corps.

It was under Aquino’s term when the Foreign Service Act of 1991 (Republic Act or R. A. 7157) was enacted.

The passage of the RA 7157 enabled the country to pursue an independent foreign policy, including the upgrading of qualifications and strengthening of capabilities of Career Foreign Service Corps. The law also upholds that the promotion of Career Foreign Service personnel shall be based upon merit.

Romulo served as an original member of the Aquino Cabinet as Department of Budget and Management (DBM) secretary, chairman of the Development Budget Coordinating Committee, and member of the Monetary Board.