It was like 1983 or 1986 again

I’m referring to the funeral procession of President Cory Aquino Wednesday afternoon. Like in 1983, during the funeral procession of Ninoy Aquino, millions of Filipinos lined the streets of Manila to say goodbye to the woman who brought down the dictator!

This time though, I could only watch the historic event, as it unfolds, on TV. In 1983, I was there, through hell or high water. Nevertheless, I could identify with millions who bid goodbye to the late President Aquino.

This time the people are free to do what they want to do unlike in 1983 when Ninoy’s cortege was not allowed to pass through Makati. The city was then the venue of many a rally against the dictator.

The song “Bayan Ko” brought back memories when Lea Salonga sang it at Manila Cathedral during the requiem for Cory. It was like 1986 again!

As someone who has been to almost all opposition rallies in Makati or elsewhere from 1983 to 1986, I remember singing the song with fervor while flaunting the Laban sign. And I still could sing it by heart!

During the 1985 snap elections, I manage to hang a yellow ribbon on the window of the house I was staying in Guadalupe, Makati. I’m proud to say that it was the only yellow ribbon hanging along Dapitan Street.

When the 1986 revolt at EDSA was unfolding, my friends and I were some of the first to go to Camp Crame. We would walk back to our house in Guadalupe only to take a bath or munch something then go back again.

I was there as events unfolded, from day one to the time the dictator finally fled Malacañang!

When Cory took her oath as president of the Philippines, I cheered like crazy, as I know others did! When Cory addressed the US Congress in 1986, I listened intently and applauded as those American lawmakers did. That was my president I proudly said!

I may not like what President Aquino did during her term and then in the latter years of her life but I sustained her as my president.

Tuesday afternoon, I bid goodbye to my president.

I have to say goodbye to the RP Basketball Team as well. As I write this piece, they will play Sri Lanka to start its quest to qualify for the World Championship in Turkey next year.

Sri Lanka is a cricket-playing country and light years behind the Philippines when it comes to basketball so it will be walk in the park. The team may even beat Japan or even Korea but that’s it.

If the team reaches the quarters, they will be no match to Lebanon, Jordan, Iran and China; thus won’t make it to Turkey.

When Noli Eala was in Cebu last week, Caecent texted me and asked what I would like to ask Eala during the press conference at Yayoy’s Grill. I said you ask him why we are sending a team that couldn’t win.

After a few hours, Caecent was back in the office, and she said she didn’t ask Eala anything because the latter was obviously avoiding questions about the RP team.

If you don’t care about the RP Team playing in China, you have lots of company.

BELATED birthday greetings to our sports editor Manny Villaruel, who on August 4, became a year wiser and a few pounds heavier. Another belated greetings, this time to our managing editor Nimrod Quiñones. He and his wife Evelyn celebrated their anniversary August 5 and spent it “watching the funeral of our beloved president.”

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