Erap visits Cory at MMC

By RIZAL S. OBANIL, ANNA LIZA T. VILLAS
July 29, 2009, 7:19pm

Former President Joseph Estrada visited the Makati Medical Center (MMC) on Tuesday night to check on former President Corazon C. Aquino's condition.

Estrada arrived at the Makati Med at around 8 pm, wearing a yellow short sleeved polo and entered through the hospital's basement.

Estrada however was not able to meet face to face with Mrs. Aquino and merely had a glimpse of the latter, as he was entertained by Senator Nonoy Aquino III and Kris Aquino.

The former President said that if he was given the chance to talk to her (Cory), he would have told the former leader how well-loved she is.

"Ako'y nalungkot...kahit papaano'y she's well loved by the people..hindi lang loved kung di well-trusted. Ang taas ng trust rating among all the presidents," Estrada said.

At around 10 pm Mrs. Aquino's sons-in-law James Yap and Eldon Cruz, also arrived at the hospital.

In an earlier interview in the Senate, Senator Aquino said that his mother's condition turned from stable to "guarded" the other day because of her fluctuating blood pressure.

Meanwhile, pointing at the direction of Makati Medical Center, a priest led Makati city hall employees and residents in praying that all anxieties that cancer-stricken Mrs. Corazon Aquino is facing be taken away from her, during the third of nine healing Masses celebrated at the Makati city hall grounds.

Rev. Father Joey Sepe, officiating minister, led a large crowd of individuals composed of at least 300 city hall employees and residents in praying for the People Power icon, with their hands raised high and pointing to the direction of the MMC where Aquino remains confined.

In his homily, he prayed that peace be granted to Aquino amidst the trying times that she is now facing.

“We do not know what God’s will is for her but let us pray that all useless anxieties and burdens of Aquino be taken from her. May God grant her peace,” said Sepe.

During the mass, a photo of former President Aquino clad in a yellow dress and in deep prayer was shown on the screen.

Meanwhile, Aquino’s website reveals that individuals from all over the world are praying for the People Power icon, with more than 1,820 prayers and messages of hope and recovery posted by her supporters.

Expressing their love and concern for the ailing former president, thousands of supporters in and out of the country posted their messages of love, concern, get-well letters and prayers for the former president.

Since Mrs. Aquino was diagnosed of colon cancer, the website was flooded with messages in forms of poems, letters, songs, that have reached 1,820 and still counting.

Apart from and prayers from the public for her recovery from colon cancer, the website also features biography, works, and advocacies of the former president.

The schedule for masses for Mrs. Aquino is also in the site.