Angel Thoughts

It was a poignant gathering of the family, friends, admirers and co-workers of the “Icon of Democracy,” Former President Corazon C. Aquino last Aug. 1 at her shared gravesite with her husband Ninoy and son Noynoy.

Officiating at the mass was her old friend Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ. He was her confessor and spiritual mentor. Fr. Catalino Arevalo S.J who used to say the masses is now in his heavenly home, but Ft. Manoling filled in for him excellently.

The Aquino sisters, Ballsy Cruz and Viel Dee, were there minus Kris who is still abroad for her medical treatments, and Pinky Abellada was also reportedly home resting. Husband Manolo and son Miguel with wife Steph were there though.

Ballsy and Eldon’s boys, Jonty, with wife Sassa and Jiggy were there, as was their cousin Francis “Kiko” Dee who is now the director of the Ninoy and Cory Foundation. Kiko gave a short talk in behalf of the family, “Today, I’d like to honor Lola Cory, not just as the icon of democracy that she was but as the person I got to know growing up—a loving lola, yes, but also a leader, which she never stopped being after that happy day of June 30, 1992.”

As a lola, she was kind with only three red lines for her apos—no lying, no grades in the ‘70s or lower, and no fighting among family. Strangely, I think she was the same with her successors. Whether or not she had supported them before the election, she supported them as presidents until they crossed her red lines—no lying, no stealing, and no self-perpetuation. And even then, she never stopped praying for us, though in the case of her successors, she may have just prayed a little more loudly.

Hers was an odd post-presidency by both national and international standards, but in fairness to her, I don’t think it was former presidents that she was trying to set an example for. Thanks to Tita Margie Juico, I was able to get a hold of some of her speeches from the last few years before she was diagnosed with her sickness. 

Here’s a quote from a speech she gave at the Church of the Gesu on September 13, 2005, “I am PCCA, Private Citizen Cory Aquino, Filipino. I do not claim to represent anyone’s views other than my own. When I take to the streets to express my opinion, I do so with no vain expectations that others will follow my lead… Whether in the company of ten or ten thousand, I will be there if I believe I should let my stand be heard. Those who march beside, behind, or in front of me on the streets may hold views and convictions quite different from mine. I have no control over that. Such is the nature of democracy. After over a decade of dictatorship, Lola worked for six years to restore our democratic institutions, and after peacefully transferring the stewardship of those institutions to her successor on June 30, 1992, she spent the rest of her life teaching us how to be citizens. Her lessons remain relevant today. Democracy and citizenship are about respecting the will of the people, yes, but they also mean contributing to the development of that will by making our voices heard whether in support of the majority or in opposition to it. And as the will of the people ebbs and flows, democracy and citizenship are about finding our own ways to make our fellow Filipinos’ lives better while standing firm in the hope that we are a people that will always be worth living for, fighting for, and dying for.”

Cory’s prayer for a happy death

Almighty God, most merciful Father

You alone know the time

You alone know the hour

You alone know the moment

When I shall breathe my last.

So, remind me each day, most loving Father

To be the best that I can be.

To be humble, to be kind,

To be patient, to be true,

To embrace what is good,

To reject what is evil,

To adore only you.

When that final moment does come

Let not my loved ones grieve for long.

Let them comfort each other

And let them know how much happiness

They brought into my life.

Let them pray for me,

As I will continue to pray for them,

Hoping that they will always pray for each other.

Let them know that they made possible

Whatever good I offered to our world.

And let them realize that our separation

Is just for a short while

As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.

Our Father in heaven,

You alone are my hope,

You alone are my salvation.

Thank you for your unconditional love. Amen.