Untold stories about Tita Cory

(First of two parts)

The past few days have been trying times not just for us but for the whole country which mourned the passing of the “Woman Who Changed Asia,” President Cory Aquino.

I have been so privileged to have been allowed to witness history unfold — so close I was in a daze most of the time. I have also been so honored to have been allowed to witness (and be part of) a family so dignified, so proper, so prayerful, so elegant in grief and in pain. And so grateful. “The last message mom had for us was ‘take care of one another,’” which according to Kris was not just meant for her family but for the whole nation.

The following are random notes and thoughts I will keep close to my heart for as long as I live.

It was Dr. Alex Ayco, the Aquinos’ family doctor who initiated writing the press statement immediately after Tita Cory peacefully passed away at 3:18 a.m., Aug. 1 at the Makati Medical Center. While Fr. Arevalo was officiating a Mass at Rm. 920, Dr. Alex, Rapa Lopa and I were at the other room groping for the right words. I eventually took over the writing. I consulted with Noy (Aquino) who made a few suggestions while Kris suggested that some lines be in Tagalog. I showed the final draft to Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, Noy and Kris. After getting their approval, Dr. Alex requested the hospital’s media officer to make copies of the statement.

It was crazy — even scary to face the media camped outside the Makati Medical Center. Noy, Rapa and I went down to the main lobby to issue the press statement. At lot of pushing, shoving and shouting happened. Cameras of all shapes swarmed around Noy who read the official statement the best and loudest he could. Then he politely excused himself as he had to join the family at Heritage Park. The media wouldn’t go. They needed more information, more details about Tita Cory’s demise. With friends Deo Endrinal and Biboy Arboleda, I walked to the hospital main door where the guards’ table was transformed into a podium Noy earlier used. The chief security of the hospital officiously told me, “They wouldn’t leave until you come out.”

And out I went. I repeated some of the points Noy delivered. I went into some specific details like Tita Cory passing away between the fourth and fifth mystery of the Sorrowful Mystery of the Holy Rosary being recited by the family. There were questions I could not answer like, “How did the family know that she had indeed died?” I was shocked. I stared at the girl who asked. What was that? How do you answer that question? “Was there an attempt to resuscitate the President?” “Didn’t you hear the statement of the Aquino family that she died peacefully in her sleep?” But all I could say was, it was a medical question, I couldn’t answer it. I was besieged with more questions — some I barely heard and understood until I felt a hand pulling me back. It was Biboy. What did I say? Did I make sense? I asked Deo and Biboy while we had retreated to a safe and quiet area of the hospital lobby. They assured me that I did and Biboy quipped, “Napapanuod tayo ng buong mundo.”

A friend just texted that “oily ang mga mukha natin.”

At Heritage Park morgue, Kris has been by her mother’s side since July 20. All throughout the procedure, Kris never left Tita Cory. Once in a while, family and relatives would join her inside the morgue.

I was told it was more “stately” if the lid of the coffin would be taken out. I negotiated with the amiable Heritage officers if this could be done. They did try their best they could but the coffin according to them was constructed in a way that the lid was permanently attached. There were no flowers at the Heritage where the immediate family and close relatives were to view President Cory’s remains, so the very efficient Ting of Heritage Park suggested that she could actually order flowers, an arrangement they could place on top of the coffin. I said yes and offered to pay for it. To which she said, “Hindi na po. Compliments na po yan ng Heritage.” When the flowers were brought, it was a stargazer arrangement, the flower Tessie Oreta brought to the hospital after she dreamed about Sen. Ninoy asking her to visit Tita Cory.

President Cory had no earrings — everyone looked at each other inside the morgue. There were about five ladies inside and all with pearl earrings. “That one is too big,” Kris told her Tita Tessie. The most appropriate size belonged to Auntie Passy Teopaco who gladly gave her pearls to her beloved sister. The rosary Tita Cory was holding was the one Fr. Sonny Ramirez gave Kris during her difficult pregnancy with Baby James.

(To be concluded)