Neighbors mourn 'Tita' Cory's death

MANILA, Philippines - She may be an icon of democracy to the rest of the world, but the late former president Corazon Aquino’s neighbors on Times street in Quezon City would always remember her as their “Tita Cory,” who would send them handwritten cards on birthdays and other special occasions.

As news of her death at 3 a.m. yesterday was aired over radio and television networks, droves of people passed by the one-story house on 25 Times street that Cory occupied since she left Malacañang.

Cory’s next-door neighbor, Juanita Sy, fondly recalls an incident a few years back when the former president knocked on her gate to ask if Joshua, her grandson by daughter Kris, “could come in and play and swim in our pool.”

Sy described Cory as a “very kindhearted and humble person” who went to her husband’s wake in 2002 and stood as principal sponsor in her daughter’s wedding.

“Every Christmas she would never fail to send me her handwritten cards. She also sent gifts like her paintings or those printed with her artworks. That’s something I would definitely miss this coming December,” she said.

Councilor Bernadette Herrera-Dy, whose family also lives on the same street, said Cory would send Christmas gifts ahead of other people.

“Her Christmas cards would always be signed with ‘Tita Cory’ or in my case ‘Ninang Cory.’ Because among us her neighbors, she never wanted to be called ‘former president’ but just ‘Tita Cory,’” she said.

Dy said Cory would personally thank neighbors who send her gifts. “Her favorite among our gifts (had been) the ensaymada we would send her,” she said.

Dy’s father, Jun, said that years ago, protesters positioned themselves in front of a big house near the Aquino residence.

“They thought the big house was the one where Tita Cory lived and after finding out that she was residing in that humble house nearby, they left,” he said.

The elder Dy said Cory’s house was “probably the most modest” on Times street, “and to think she was the reason why our area became so popular. When she started living here, the property price in this area jumped.”

The younger Dy said Aquino’s blessing was the one she sought before she ran for councilor in 2001.

“She endorsed me to Mayor (Feliciano) Belmonte (Jr.). And she went the extra mile when she agreed to have my photo taken with her for my campaign materials. That did it for me,” she said.

Dy said Aquino was so close to her neighbors she would regularly invite them to have breakfast or dinner at her house. “She attends all the church and fiesta activities and would personally attend the wake whenever a neighbor passed away,” she said.

Flowers left at Aquino house gates

People flocked to Times street yesterday to extend their condolences to Cory’s family. Many left bouquets with yellow and white ribbons, some lit candles at a small garden in front of the Aquino residence’s green gate.

One person left a pencil portrait of the former president.

A man left behind a note thanking Cory, who he said helped his mother when she was very sick. “We were not able to thank you personally but we will never forget the help you gave us,” he said.

Motorists, whose cars were adorned with yellow ribbons, blew their horns as they passed by the Aquino residence.

‘Holy death’

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said after more than a year of battling with colon cancer, Cory died a “holy death.”

“It was a holy death in the midst of physical pain and suffering. Death occurred at three o’clock the Hour of Divine Mercy. It was First Saturday, the day of our Blessed Mother. Tita Cory was holding the Fatima rosary, which Sr. Lucia gave her many years ago,” he said in a statement.

Lagdameo said even if she was unprepared as a politician, Cory accepted the challenge to serve as the country’s president and then not clinging on to power. “It was not she who pushed herself into the position, but it was the people who called upon her,” he said.

Lagdameo said succeeding leaders should continue what Cory started, “to dream again the dream of what is best for the country.”

Lagdameo is scheduled to celebrate Mass for Cory at 12 noon today at the La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City.

In a separate message, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales expressed his gratitude to Cory and her husband, the late former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., for dedicating their lives to the country.

Cory “completed” Ninoy’s “dream of saving, serving and sacrificing his life for the Filipino people. I cannot think of Cory, in her genuine simplicity and honesty, without remembering Ninoy Aquino and his passion to serve, to give and to love,” he said.

Rosales said Ninoy’s assassination on Aug. 21, 1983 paved the way for his widow to become president. Cory died 20 days short of her husband’s 26th death anniversary.

“She was not just the president who gave back to the Filipinos the freedom and democracy they had lost. She was both president and icon of what an authentic, truthful and honest leader was to a people whose long experience was to look for a guide who would lead them out of history’s cruel political disarray. Above all she was a simple and humble person and leader,” Rosales said.

Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas said in a text message to Cory’s children: “She must go in August, the month sanctified by your dad’s martyrdom. She must go on a First Saturday with our Lady’s sweet smile. She must leave early morning, never to see the sunset again. Blessed death for the woman who was our blessing.”

Villegas was once the spokesperson of former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin. Cory and Sin played pivotal roles in first and second “people power” revolts that ousted the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and former President Joseph Estrada, respectively.

The first Saturday of August is “dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,” according to Fr. Ariston Sison Jr. of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish Church in Cory’s neighborhood.

Sison said Cory’s fellow parishioners wished for her remains to “be brought home” to their parish church. He said they will mark Cory’s “place” in church and lay flowers at her “favorite spot.”

Parish secretary Dodo Asuncion said they would know when Cory attended Mass because she would donate a P500 bill to the collection. She noted the bill bear’s Ninoy’s face.

Fr. Anton Pascual, president of Radio Veritas, said they regard Cory as the country’s “Joan of Arc” and its “greatest president,” who was also a “champion of democracy” and “icon of good governance.”

Manila Cathedral to receive Cory’s remains

Manila Cathedral rector Monsignor Nestor Cerbo said they have begun preparations for the expected transfer of Cory’s coffin at around 2 p.m. tomorrow.

“There would be a public viewing once all the arrangements have been made. There would also be an 8 p.m. Mass,” he said.

Cerbo said the public viewing will be suspended from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday to allow them to clean up the church.

Masses will be offered at 12 noon and 8 p.m. daily, while necrological services may take place at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Cerbo said it is only right for part of Cory’s wake to be held at the cathedral. “This is where… Sin is buried. They were so close,” he said.

Jesus is Lord founder Eduardo Villanueva asked the public yesterday to tie ribbons at the door of every home, business establishment and place of worship to show Cory’s family “that we as a nation are paying our debt of gratitude to them for not withholding their sister, mother, grandmother from us.”

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered that all flags in the city’s schools and government offices be flown at half-mast.

“She stood against the might of… generals loyal to (Marcos). I admire her for her audacity in standing up and fighting during… martial law,” he said.

Lim added that during this time when “men quivered in fear, she as a woman did not show any sign of fear in facing the military.”

During Cory’s term as president, Lim was the chief of the Western Police District and helped fend off coup attempts in 1987 and 1989.

Lim said Cory later appointed him to head the National Bureau of Investigation and then convinced him to run for Manila mayor. – With Sandy Araneta