'Mom must be so happy in heaven...'

After days of a torrential downpour, the rains called a ceasefire yesterday morning and yellow bloomed in all its glory — from the radiant sun to the hundred yellow-clad people led by President Noynoy Aquino — around the chrysanthemum-bedecked tombs of Sen. Ninoy Aquino and former President Cory Aquino at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque.

“It feels good to be wearing yellow again,” someone smiled as she looked at the sea of yellow around her.

The legendary “Cory weather” reigned as a Mass was celebrated to mark the third death anniversary of Mrs. Aquino, who passed away after an 18-month battle with colon cancer.

After the Mass, Cory’s youngest daughter Kris quipped that times have really changed since her mother’s death — as for the first time, it was she, not her only brother, who was asked to deliver the response on behalf of the Aquino family.

“Mom would be happy (that) Kris is now the quiet one, and times have really changed and the outspoken one now is PNoy!” she said, drawing laughter from the small group that attended the Mass, which included her sisters Ballsy Cruz and Viel Dee (Pinky Abellada is abroad.), her nephew Miguel Abellada, her sons Joshua and Bimby.

Kris was referring to her brother’s recent outspokenness in reaction to what he believed was the unfair treatment of him by certain media personalities.

“The past three years seem like yesterday,” she said as she thanked those who came to celebrate her mother’s memory. “We miss our mom so much. But Mom must be so happy in heaven now seeing kung gaano kagaling na presidente ang kaisa-isa niyang anak na lalaki!

She added that her mom, who doted especially on her grandson Joshua, would also be very pleased that Joshua has lost 50 pounds.

“And sobrang happy ang Mom that now I am now a good girl,” she beamed.

The President remained standing in the sidelines during the entire 40-minute Mass, even if he arrived 15 minutes early, preferring to let the women have the limited seats under the canopied area where the Mass was held. US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas, Energy Secretary Rene Almendras, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma, Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chairman Margie Juico, NAIA General Manager Gen. Jose Angel Honrado and PCSO General Manager Joy Rojas, whose family decorates the Aquino mausoleum on Aug. 1 and 21 every year, were also at the Mass.

The male Cabinet secretaries and Ambassador Thomas opted not to take their seats and stood behind the President instead.

The Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Catalino Arevalo S.J., Fr. Manny Domingo, Fr. Manoling Francisco S.J., Fr. Joy Tajonera and Fr. Arnold Abelardo, with sisters from the Daughters of Charity as part of the choir.

* * *

In his homily, Cory Aquino’s spiritual adviser Fr. Catalino Arevalo S.J. said there was an enduring love story between the Aquino couple and the Filipino people.

“They gave their lives for the country. Ninoy gave it literally at the tarmac and that gift of life enabled a whole nation to come together and give life to the country. There is a difference between giving of life and just words spoken,” Arevalo pointed out.

He said that Cory, for her part, offered her pain as a prayer for her country in her final days.

“During Cory’s last days she was offering her sickness and suffering for country. She was giving her life to her country. It was deliberately given as a gift; I could remember her saying that she was giving her life for country, and that gift continues to give life to the people. The heritage has been passed on to her son.”

Arevalo recounted that in conversation with the eldest Aquino sibling Ballsy Cruz, the latter told her, “My brother is willing to give his life for his country.”

* * *

I asked the President, who was clad in a yellow Collezione T-shirt with black collar, which lessons from his mom guide him most today as he navigates the sometimes bumpy road that is the presidency.

“Many lessons, but most especially, the dimension of faith,” he said after some thought. “I wouldn’t call myself as very spiritual person, but I work so that at the end of the day, I can face myself in the mirror…”

* * *

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