Citizen Cory

Aug. 1 is when we commemorate the death anniversary of President Corazon Aquino who died in 2009 at the age of 76.

Many of us like to remember her first day as Citizen Cory. A big relief for many of us that there should be some sense of normalcy – if at all possible – again. There was a small gathering of friends and followers who were eager to see her off on a new chapter of her life. Her house was newly renovated but she was amused that many people, her hairdresser included, have been feeling sorry that all Cory was returning to was this unpretentious-looking bungalow on Times Street. The simple façade remained, but a pleasant transformation had occurred in the interior to befit a former president and to remedy the leaking roof and rusty pipes.

According to close family friend and then Museo ng Malacañang Foundation head Reggie Coseteng, who oversaw the renovations guided only by the presidential specification of a clean, well-lighted look at the lowest cost possible (so typically Cory), the repairs began as early as January 1992. Coseteng was credited with having supervised the work every single day. Family-owned Mariwasa supplied the white living and dining room tiles and the kitchen tiles, manufactured using lahar.

The receiving area that served Ninoy and his endless stream of walk-in visitors well had acquired an air of stateliness. Flowers from many well-wishers brightened up the place even more with its all-white look and minimal orientalia accents. When Ballsy told her mother that there was now enough space for entertaining a hundred guests, Citizen Cory, certainly not yet missing the receptions she has had to host, hoped out loud that she would not have to play host as often.

But she was a gracious host that afternoon, her exuberance and sense of relief at having been unburdened so evident. She was eager to talk, bubbling over with details having little to do with affairs that she has time for again.

Was it a lonely ride home after the inaugural ceremony? What were her thoughts? Recapturing those moments made her temporarily pensive. But it was clear that she did not wish to indulge in any reminiscing. She had a feeling of liberation from endless criticism, was all Citizen Cory was willing to say, the only time a cloud crossed her face that afternoon.

She did say that she was momentarily fearful that as she waited to be picked up by the incoming President Ramos for the joint ride to Luneta, she had fears that her car might not follow, leaving her stranded at the inaugural site.

She was amused about President Ramos’ not quite stolen inaugural kiss because he had bade permission two weeks ago and the warm conversation she had with former vice president Doy Laurel at the grandstand, regarding each other’s plans. The quiet satisfaction, the peaceful transition was what she had always envisioned and it happened that day.

Besides, she related that in the car that had her, Kris and Col. Voltaire Gazmin, her attention was focused on Kris, who could not contain herself after her personal security bid her goodbye.

She had to comfort Kris, who had suddenly become sentimental. She herself was so touched at the final goodbye in a series of staggered farewells.

Second daughter Pinky teased that from the way Kris was weeping, you would think it was a take for one of her movies.

The afternoon was not meant for any sadness, only joy and anticipation at all that the future held in promise for Citizen Cory. The boxes of memorabilia had to be sorted out and arranged for public viewing.

But for now, she was allowed a break, so she could indulge in being a grandmother – her grandsons could not understand why she had so many boxes of memorabilia meant for Tarlac – and the simple joys of again being “anonymous,” if that was at all possible.

There were many other plans to look forward to, best of all the quiet satisfaction that the day’s peaceful transition happened at all.

For friends who have had to stay at arm’s length during the Malacañang years, it may have been initially awkward to relate to her now, for how did one interact with someone who was still your head of state an hour ago? But because Citizen Cory signaled both tone and mood, by being casual and breezy, it felt like postponed and disrupted relationships could resume once more. It was special to have witnessed this first day in a new chapter of Cory Aquino’s life.

The friends in attendance were given a collector’s item of a ballpen in blue, white and Cory yellow, compliments of Virgie Ramos of Gift Gate, especially produced to mark a new chapter in Citizen Cory’s life. It need not have carried the “Cory Aquino” inscription because one cannot use it without a yellow bud opening up to reveal a tiny, bespectacled and unmistakably Cory doll at the top. Purely coincidental that while the Cory rag doll was born as she began her political career, another doll variation should mark its end.

Yes, on that day, many other beginnings beckoned for Cory Aquino.