I never placed any importance to the color yellow until I came to know about Ninoy and Cory Aquino.
I was in Grade 1 when I learned how to sing Tie a Yellow Ribbon. It was my dad who taught me the song and back then, I never really understood its significance. Yellow became more popular when Ninoy’s shy widow, Cory, challenged the regime of Ferdinand Marcos. Yellow became Cory’s signature color. Anything yellow was associated to the “plain housewife” who challenged the Marcos dictatorship. The Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, or EDSA, was painted yellow from February 22 to 25 when thousands of Filipinos from all walks of life trooped to the streets in a peaceful demonstration calling for the ouster of Marcos. The peaceful revolution, popularly known as EDSA Revolution, is also sometimes referred to as the Yellow Revolution. Yellow is a color of simplicity, humility and peaceful struggle.
When the shy widow in yellow became the Philippines’ and Asia’s first woman president, yellow became all the more popular. President Cory made it a point to wear yellow as often as possible during official, and sometimes even personal, functions. She wore yellow when she took oath as president and when she spoke before the U.S. Congress. Yellow is a color of democracy and national pride.
Several coup attempts tried to bring down the Aquino administration. Many critics questioned her qualifications and called her incompetent. But the President in yellow was brave. Yellow is a color of bravery.
When the lady in yellow stepped down from the presidency, she did not stop from being a public figure, her opinion on national matters was continuously sought and respected. Daughter Kris’ showbiz life also put citizen Cory on the spotlight several times. Yellow is a color of motherly love, of wisdom, guidance and forgiveness.
Cancer of the colon slowly ate up the strength of the lady in yellow’s body. But cancer could not touch her spirit, nor did it lessen her love for the Filipino. She continued to fight for the Filipino despite her illness. The lady in yellow remained brave and continued to think and pray for the welfare of the Filipino ‘til the very end. Yellow is a color of strength in adversity.
Yellow now has so many meanings for me and for this country. Before Ninoy and Cory, yellow was just an ordinary color. Now yellow has become Cory, a shy, plain housewife who toppled a dictator with the help of the people and restored democracy in the Philippines, who showed the world that genuine love for country is the most important qualification to lead a nation.
Thank you Madame President for all the lessons you have taught the Filipino nation and the world. Thank you for the lessons that you taught us taught through the color yellow.