Erap offers Mass for Cory; yellow ribbons reach Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada offered yesterday a Mass for former President Corazon Aquino, who is stricken with cancer at the Makati Medical Center.

Accompanied by former senator Luisa Ejercito, and former ambassador Ernesto Maceda, Estrada attended the Mass at the Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish Church in Manila.

Estrada said he offered the Mass for Aquino to show the people that the poor and the rich are one in praying for her immediate recovery.

Fr. Eric Santos, who celebrated the Mass, prayed for a miracle for Aquino’s immediate recovery.

Yellow ribbons adorned the area around the Makati Medical Center, as well as the streets of Makati and Manila City.

People who attended the Mass in Tondo wore yellow armbands.

In Makati, the city government will hold a nine-day novena for Aquino at the City Hall Quadrangle starting at 7:45 a.m. today.

A Mass will be celebrated inside City Hall beginning at noon tomorrow.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay has inviteed Makati residents and general public to attend the Masses.

“President Cory and her family need our prayers,” he said. 

“This is the opportunity for us to implore God’s divine intervention and to be inspired by the former president’s selfless dedication to God, to our nation and people and to family.”

The city government has festooned the major streets of Makati with yellow ribbons to show its support for Aquino.

In Tarlac City, yellow ribbons adorn the road leading to Hacienda Luisita in San Miguel, Tarlac.

Yellow ribbons could be seen hanging at the Luisita Park and around Aquino Center, a mini-convention hall adjacent to the Aquino museum, as well as along the road at every electric post and trees up to the gate of Luisita.

However, no yellow ribbon adorns Hacienda Luisita de Azucarera, with only the big signboard is colored yellow.

At the Aquino Museum, personnel were allegedly selling yellow ribbons and a replica of a wrist band used during the 1986 EDSA revolution for P25 each.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III reportedly asked Tarlac residents to adorn their houses, offices and cars with yellow ribbons, according to a resident who asked not to be named.

Last year, the management of Hacienda Luisita de Azucarera de Tarlac had instructed workers to wear yellow shirts, according to one worker, Frederick Abierto.

In an interview, Fr. Kennedy Feliciano, parish priest of Lourdes Parish Church in Hacienda Luisita, said he and the residents of 10 barangays are continuously praying for the recovery of Aquino.

“To show their sympathy and concerned to former President Aquino, most of the residents Barangays Central, Balete, Homesite, Texas, Mapalacsiao, Sta. Catalina, Asturias, Parang Buenavista and Capehan, were wearing wrist band,” he said.

Meanwhile, local government officials in Tarlac province offered Mass yesterday at the San Sebastian Cathedral for the swift recovery of Aquino.

The Mass was celebrated by Matatalaib Parish Priest Msgr. Francisco Tanedo.

It was organized by the League of Municipalities-Tarlac Chapter headed by its president Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan.

The Mass was attended by local government officials, including Gov. Victor Yap and Rep. Jose Yap.

In a statement, Gov. Yap said that the former President is the epitome of hope and moral courage.

“Tita Cory epitomized hope, selflessness and moral courage,” he said.

“We shall be forever indebted to her for rallying the nation behind the campaign to topple dictatorial rule and restore democracy, unmindful of the risks and personal sacrifices that she faced during those turbulent days.”

On the other hand, Representative Yap said Mrs. Aquino, who is her kumadre, will continue to be an inspiration for the Filipino people.

“She will live on forever as an inspiration not only to Tarlaqueños but to all Filipinos as well,” he said.

“She was very instrumental in restoring our democracy.”

The Mass was also attended by businessmen, civic and religious groups and members of academe. – With Ric Sapnu