Tarlac churches praying for Cory

MANILA, Philippines - Tarlac churches continue to pray for the recovery of former President Corazon Aquino who has been confined in a hospital since last week due to colon cancer.

Tarlac Bishop Florentino Cinense said prayers for Mrs. Aquino were made in Masses held in 45 parishes, nine religious convents, Catholic colleges and a college seminary in her home province.

He said the entire diocese of Tarlac is praying for her.

“We have also called on our contemplative sisters and the various religious communities to continuously pray for Mrs. Aquino,” Cinense said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.

Mrs. Aquino, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2008, has been at the Makati Medical Center since Tuesday last week due to loss of appetite.

Recently, she refused further chemotherapy and other medical procedures. But her health condition improved over the weekend.

Mrs. Aquino’s spokeswoman Deedee Siytangco said the healing novena at the Greenbelt Chapel in Makati City would continue until Thursday.

Siytangco said the former president’s stay in the hospital is “indefinite.”

For her part, former social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman asked the Filipino people to join the Aquino family in praying for Mrs. Aquino’s immediate recovery.

Soliman is one of those attending a novena for the former leader’s recovery.

Others who attended the fifth day of healing Mass for Mrs. Aquino at the Greenbelt Makati Chapel were Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin, Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay, Rodolfo Lozada Jr., Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, and former Senate president Franklin Drilon.

Mrs. Aquino blamed the Marcos government for the assassination of her husband, opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino on his return to the Philippines from US exile in 1983.

The killing sparked a wave of protests that led to a “people power” revolt in 1986, ending former President Ferdinand Marcos’ 20-year reign.

Mrs. Aquino then became the Philippines’ and Asia’s first female president. — With Jose Rodel Clapano