Remembering Cory

Former President Cory Aquino’s death on Aug. 1 last year brought into focus what our country yearned for: moral leadership, clean government. The righteous path. Those (maybe even Cory herself in heaven) who thought her legacy of clean and honest government was unappreciated were pleasantly shocked by the outpouring of grief on her death. It was a message that said: We want Cory’s brand of leadership back.

That is why we now have her only son Noynoy, who inherited his mother’s integrity and simplicity, as President, with a unprecedented trust rating of 85 percent on his first month in office — never before recorded for any individual since Pulse Asia came out with trust ratings in 1999.

To those closest to her, Cory’s death was more than just the loss of a leader and a guiding light. It was the loss of a nurturer, a source of comfort and strength.

“I still miss her very much, especially at night,” says her eldest daughter Ballsy Cruz. “I miss our kuwentuhan. But I continue to talk to her and thank her almost every day.”

Cory spent the last year and a half of her life (not counting her two months in the hospital) in Ballsy and Eldon Cruz’s house. Pinky Abellada (who shares a backyard with Ballsy) and her husband Manolo and their kids would have dinner every night at Ballsy’s house. It would be potluck and the two sisters would try and encourage their mom to join them at the dinner table every night.

Pinky, for her part, has been reliving poignant memories of her mother these past few weeks. “The day I said goodbye, the last time she tried to communicate…”

“Such contrasting experiences: the day of the Inauguration (June 30) was the day we moved her out of the ICU because not much could be done to her anymore so a regular room would give her more comfort. During P-Noy’s first SONA, what a proud moment, (but) thoughts of July 26 a year earlier brought back memories of Mom’s last days and her struggles with every breath…”

“Mom is never far from our minds,” she says.

Viel Dee, the fourth child and the third daughter, just visited Japan and while there, seeing her mom’s favorite Japanese peach made her miss her mom even more. She told herself, “It would have been nice to bring home some for her.”

During her presidency and just before Viel got married, Cory and Viel shared a room at the Arlegui Guest house. When Cory moved to Ballsy’s house after she was diagnosed with cancer, the three sisters would take turns sleeping with Cory. “I constantly pray that she and Dad will guide P-Noy and us his siblings to do the best we can for our country,” says Viel.

To carry on their mother’s legacy in their own way, the Aquino sisters have taken on some of her civic duties.

“It is quite intimidating when we are asked to take on her former tasks like sitting in the board of the Aquino Foundation or other NGOs or even giving the keynote address in a forum where she should have been the guest of honor,” admits Viel.

But for love of Mom and country, the Aquino siblings have gone out of their comfort zones to do as she would have done.

And in the case of her only son Noynoy, it meant taking on the torch of leadership from her hands.

As Noynoy once told this writer, his mother had said that if none of their five children went into public service, “Then Ninoy and I must have done something wrong.”

* * *

I personally mark the first death anniversary of President Cory with sadness at her loss, but gratitude that she did not die in vain. That she did not live in vain. And that those who live by their principles will never think anymore that the good they do will be “buried with their bones.”

The life and death of Cory Aquino showed that good is never wasted, and like the proverbial mustard seed, it will take root and bear fruit amidst the weeds of evil. Those who are discouraged as they tread the righteous path, and are tempted to cross over to more rewarding but crooked path, will always be guided by the signpost left by Cory Aquino.

Cory Aquino’s death paved the way for the resurrection of clean government.

* * *

To honor her legacy, there will be a 10 a.m. memorial Mass on Aug. 1 at the St. Benilde Gymnasium, La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) in Mandaluyong City, the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF, formerly the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation) announced yesterday.

The concelebrated Mass, with Bishop Soc Villegas as main celebrant, will be preceded by a short program, entitled “Her Legacy, Our Promise,” starting at 9:30 a.m. This “people’s tribute” will feature the relaunch of President Cory’s “People Power People,” a program designed to recognize — and mobilize support for — individuals and groups which have been empowering marginalized and disadvantaged Filipinos.

“We want the commemoration of President Cory’s first death anniversary to go beyond the tradition of babang luksa and the celebration of her life as our unique icon of democracy and integrity in governance,” explained Rafael Lopa, NCAF executive director. “Now that the spirit of volunteerism is very much alive, we’d like to harness our people’s talents and energy to make a difference among needy sectors of our society.”

To start the ball rolling, NCAF has convened a small group of “seed” organizations which will pledge their commitments on August 1.

Before the formal commemorative ceremonies at LSGH, a horde of cyclists is expected to take part in “Ride for Cory” in honor of the late President. They will ride around the Ortigas-Boni Serrano-EDSA-Connecticut loop from 6:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. for the benefit of cancer-stricken Filipinos and their loved ones. The event is being spearheaded by the Cory for Carewell Cyclists, a partnership among NCAF’s iamninoy-iamcory Movement, the Cancer Resource and Wellness Community (Carewell) and Rudy Project Philippines.

* * *

The Yellow Ribbon Movement (YRM, founded by now PCSO chairman Margie Juico) for its part, will spearhead the Kasama Ako Sa Pagbabago campaign from tomorrow to Aug. 1, 2010 in commemoration of the first death anniversary of Mrs. Aquino.

The campaign will be launched by the YRM at the vicinity of Quezon Avenue-Times Street-West 4th Street, Quezon City starting with a tree-planting activity, in cooperation with MMDA, at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Volunteers from the YRM and all others who will join in the ceremonies aim to turn the area and its surroundings into a garden of yellow flowers.

Seedlings and plants will be available for sale and participants are encouraged to bring their own garden tools. “Pagbabago” stickers will also be available.

The Yellow Ribbon Movement (YRM) is an advocacy group supporting President Noynoy Aquino in restoring the pride and dignity of the Filipino.

(For more information, kindly contact Raquel Garcia at 0917-3226262 or Marimil Villareal at 0917-8411841.)

(You may e-mail me at [email protected])