Prayer power for Cory reaches peak

MANILA, Philippines - A priest who celebrated a healing Mass for former President Corazon Aquino at the Manila City Hall said yesterday “no one in this country has ever been prayed for to live long than ‘Tita Cory.’”

“No one has been prayed over for quite a long time as much as former President Cory Aquino,” said Fr. Jerry Orbos, the celebrant at yesterday’s healing Mass for the former leader at the Manila City Hall.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has ordered continuing healing Masses for Mrs. Aquino.

“This is a lesson for all of us from Tita Cory. Trust in God no matter what happens. And hopefully, you will live long and people want you to live long, so that you could still continue to work for people in Jesus’ name,” Orbos also said.

He also talked about the importance of belief in God, miracles and prayer. “Prayer is also very powerful,” he stressed.

Orbos reminded people that life is short and urged them to fulfill their mission in life in God’s name.

At the sermon, Orbos cracked jokes as a means for healing and said Mrs. Aquino exemplifies the spirit of joy and trust in God in the most trying times of her life.

“A lot of people worry so much, But Cory is saying ‘thy will be done, God,’” Orbos said.

Mrs. Aquino was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer last year.

She has been confined at the Makati Medical Center for more than a month now.

Aquino’s family said that the condition of the former leader has deteriorated because of fluctuating blood pressure. Her cancer has reportedly spread from the colon to her liver and other internal organs, which has been causing her pain.

CBCP thanks Mrs. Aquino

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday expressed gratitude to Mrs. Aquino for her valuable contribution in restoring democracy to the country.

CBCP president Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo also assured Mrs. Aquino that during these difficult times, they have not abandoned her and continue to pray for her.

“We join the Filipino people in thanking her (Mrs. Aquino) for the freedom and democracy that she helped bring back to the country in 1986. The country would forever be grateful for the sacrifices she and her husband, Ninoy, have offered in response to the dream and challenge that our country is worth dying for,” said Lagdameo in a one-page letter.

The missive, dated July 30, was sent to her son Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Even now that she is confined to her bed because of her ailment, the former leader “finds another opportunity to pray and sacrifice for the country she unselfishly and sincerely loves.”

In return, the CBCP president informed the former leader and her family that she is included in their prayers. “Together we pray with her, God’s will be done.”

Meanwhile, Mrs. Aquino’s supporters held a 40-hour prayer vigil at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City last night.

The prayer offering was done before the Blessed Sacrament “Quarant’ore for Cory Aquino” at the Perpetual Adoration.

A holy Mass for the ex-president would end on Aug. 1 around 12:15 p.m. It will be followed by a rosary procession.

Catholic schools offer prayers

MANILA, Philippines - Meanwhile, the organization of Catholic schools issued a prayer for Cory to overcome her illness, asked the estimated 1,000 members (Catholic colleges and universities) to pray for her and tie yellow ribbons, wear yellow bands and shirts to show support for the ailing former leader.

The 1,194 Catholic colleges and universities in the country were asked to remind their students on the historical value and pivotal role played by former President Aquino in the 1986 EDSA revolution.

In the two-page statement “Prayer for Perseverance for President Cory and Country” issued by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) last Tuesday, it said that the importance of Mrs. Aquino in the country’s history should not be forgotten even if the country is preoccupied with the upcoming national elections.

“The true meaning of EDSA should not be lost on all of us as we prepare for a crucial transition in the life of our country – the elections in May 2010,” CEAP said.

They also requested all their member schools to tie yellow ribbons, wear yellow bands and shirts and hang streamers expressing their unequivocal support for former President Aquino and her family.

CEAP said its 1,194 members – including 30 universities, 101 graduate schools, 240 colleges, 1,070 high schools, 592 elementary and 596 pre-elementary schools – should show solidarity and support for the former leader.

The Catholic educators have been offering prayers for Mrs. Aquino, but “our work is not yet done,” the organization said. They should also include the country in its prayers.

“We find our light in the legacy of President Cory and her unparalleled moral ascendancy. As President Cory offers to share in the sufferings of Jesus Christ for the world, so too will we offer our sufferings for our aspirations for genuine democracy.”

In Dagupan City, mass communications students of the Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) joined other students in praying for Mrs. Aquino.

Kristopher Pariño, president of the LNU’s Mass Comm Society, said his fellow students have been distributing yellow ribbons to other students, asking them to pray for Mrs. Aquino.

He also said that they are planning to have a walk for Cory.

Pariño said this is to show their fellow youths that they are uniting for the healing of Mrs. Aquino. – With Evelyn Macairan, Cesar Ramirez