The Dos & Don’ts of Cory Aquino
Former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, the country’s first woman president, Time magazine’s “Woman of the Year” in 1986, and one of its “25 most powerful women of the past century,” passed away on Aug. 1, 2009 after an 18-month battle with colon cancer. She was 76.
I had the privilege of being part of her press office at Malacañang for almost seven years, and later, when I joined the Philippine STAR in 1992 after resigning from Malacañang (I wasn’t co-terminus), I think (I hope) I became one of the journalists she trusted.
My husband Ed suggested I ask those closest to the late democracy icon her dos and don’ts — after all, she did come a long way and had much to teach students of politics as well as pupils of life.
But as her daughter Viel Dee says, the housewife who led the restoration of democracy in the Philippines and fought seven coup attempts against her government, led by example.
“Mom didn’t have explicit dos and dont’s,” says Viel. “It was more like lead by example and also ‘makuha sa tingin’ type of discipline.”
For instance, “Going to Sunday Mass and praying the rosary were not imposed but willingly followed,” Viel adds. Cory once told me the rosary was her favorite form of prayer.
Viel’s Ate Ballsy Cruz agrees, “Mom wasn’t one with rules for us…She wasn’t what you’d call a strict mom.”
But! “Correct grammar and pronunciation were important with her.”
Viel says her mother “was never extravagant with clothes, jewelry, cars or having a fancy house. But when it came to celebrating with food, she would always make sure there was extra rather than risk having a stockout.”
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Franklin Drilon, Cory’s Executive Secretary, who would later be elected to the Senate presidency, recalls that Mrs. Aquino was very particular about this “Do.”
“Do be truthful. Once she called a certain Cabinet secretary to a meeting with me and Joey Cuisia at Malacañang. She asked her daughter Ballsy to call him. In a few minutes, Ballsy returns and says this Cabinet secretary could not make it because he was in a meeting with Joey Cuisia, who, unbeknownst to him — was in the same room with Cory and me!”
Was the Cabinet secretary relieved of his post?
“The incident contributed to President Aquino’s loss of confidence in the Cabinet secretary,” is all Drilon would say.
“So do not violate that trust, or else you suffer the consequences,” says Drilon.
“Do not betray her trust or else silent treatment ka na forever,” says Cory’s nephew Rapa Lopa of the Ninoy and Cory Foundation.
“She also was very particular about loyalty to one’s spouse and if word reached her that any of her trusted men was going astray, she would ask the PSG to investigate!” adds Drilon, who also was once Justice secretary.
Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna, who was also once Cory’s Executive Secretary and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, says Cory’s dos and don’ts that he remembers most were: “Button your coat when you stand and unbutton it when you sit.
“If you don’t know how to pronounce tête-à-tête, please don’t say it.
“Don’t be afraid of small mistakes but watch out against a big mistake.
“Always keep a copy of the Constitution within reach.”
Cory’s Appointments Secretary and lifelong friend Margie Juico remembers: “When Popoy (her husband Philip Ella Juico) was DAR Secretary and was going through a tough time being pilloried by media about an ‘overpriced’ property in Garchitorena, Albay, she told me, ‘Ours is to look good in the eyes of God, not men.’ The property was later sold for a price higher than the contentious amount.”
Margie always remembers this “Do” from Cory: “I work with all my might, I pray with all my heart, the rest I leave to God.”
“And lastly, ‘Doing the right thing matters more than doing things right’.”
“We miss her as much as the values she taught especially during these decency-challenged days!” sighs Margie.
Retired Police Inspector Melchor Mamaril was Cory’s close-in security from 1986 to the day she died.
“Ang ayaw ni Ma’am Cory ay ang mga taong sinungaling at mambobola, at lalo na yung mga double blade at mga corrupt. Ayaw rin ni Ma’am yung mga taong pala utos at laging late.”
As Mel was fiercely loyal to Cory, she was also loyal to him.
“One time nga noong panahon ni President Fidel Ramos at si Gen. Renato de Villa ang Defense secretary, nag-offer ng junior officer si SND (De Villa) na kapalit nina (senior officers) Sir Bodet Honrado at Sir Raul Petrasanta pero inayawan na niya sabi niya kay Secretary de Villa, ‘Tama na si Mel, Rene’.”
“Kaya sinabihan ako ni Secretary de Villa noon na pagbutihin ko at huwag sirain ang pagtitiwala ni Ma’am sa akin.”
Mel was one of the few people the Aquino children chose to deliver a eulogy for their mother Cory during her funeral Mass at the Manila Cathedral.
You may e-mail me at [email protected]. Follow me on Instagram @joanneraeramirez.
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