Supporters flock to Cory's tomb

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque is again open to the public, a day after the remains of former President Corazon Aquino were interred next to her husband, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., at the family mausoleum.

Lamberto Peña, park manager, said the public was not allowed to enter the cemetery during Aquino’s burial for fear of a stampede.

“Of course, priority is the family members, relatives and those who played a role in the interment rites,” he said.

“Since it was the interment of President Aquino Wednesday, we deemed it proper to make an announcement to the public to avoid scheduled visits to the tomb of their loved ones or make inquiries about burial arrangements that day.”

Peña said Manila Memorial Park security personnel coordinated with the police in implementing crowd control measures.

Due to such measures inside the cemetery, the number of people who flocked to Aquino’s interment was less compared to that of Ninoy in 1983, he added.

Peña said some 150,000 people were able to get inside the cemetery when Ninoy’s remains were interred 26 years ago.

“We, however, did not implement strict crowd control then,” he said.

“Initially, Ninoy was buried in an open space, temporarily above ground, in a lawn area to accommodate as many people as possible, and later transferred to the family’s estate where now stands Ninoy and Cory’s mausoleum.”

The Aquino family requested that the number of people entering the cemetery be controlled to maintain the solemnity of the occasion, he added.

Peña said supporters continue to flock and pay respects at Aquino’s tomb.

“There are still those who offered flowers and prayers,” he said.

“Some of those who came to visit Tita Cory came from faraway provinces and were there early morning.”

Peña said they continue to monitor Aquino’s burial place.

In the coming weeks or months, they anticipate more people to visit Aquino’s tomb, he added.

Based on the estimates of the Manila Memorial Park, some 50,000 people were able to enter the cemetery and watch Aquino’s burial ceremonies.

The 100-hectare cemetery can reportedly accommodate as many as 250,000 people at a time.

Solarz attends Aquino funeral

Former US lawmaker Stephen Solarz who urged the Reagan administration to distance itself from the Marcos administration after Ninoy’s assassination, attended Mrs. Aquino’s funeral on Wednesday.

Shortly after Marcos was ousted in a bloodless revolution in 1986 and left for exile in Hawaii, Solarz publicized former First Lady Imelda Marcos’ massive shoe collection.

Speaking over ANC television, Solarz said the significance of Aquino and the 1986 people power revolution has extended beyond Philippine shores.

People power became the template of similar efforts to restore democracy in Pakistan, Paraguay, and Poland, he added. — With Pia Lee-Brago