OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT Corazon Aquino peacefully passed away early Saturday morning (3:18 am) at the Makati Medical Center. The family was around her praying the rosary when she breathed her last breath. Her nephew, Rapa Lopa, and I accompanied Senator Noynoy Aquino when he broke the sad news to the media.
Matagal na ring nakikipaglaban si Tita Cory sa kanyang karamdaman na colon cancer but when it finally happened, people were still shocked. Nagdadalamhati ang sambayanan sa pagpanaw ni Tita Cory na tinaguriang isang icon of democracy. Pinagbuklod niya ang mga Pilipino – mahirap man o mayaman – para sa isang minimithing pagbabago. World figure si Tita Cory at pinarangalan siyang Woman of the Year ng Time Magazine.
Para ring nakidalamhati ang kalangitan dahil sa malakas na buhos ng ulan. But it didn’t dampen the spirits of the people who went to pay their last respects to her. The outpouring of love was overwhelming. Some went to their residence at Times Street in Quezon City to light candles and to bring cards, flowers, a Hello Kitty stuffed toy and a portrait of Tita Cory. Ang iba naman ay matiyagang pumipila even if it only took them seconds to see and pray for her at La Salle Greenhills and at the Manila Cathedral. Some were People Power I veterans who fearlessly fought the soldiers with flowers and rosaries. Ang ibang tao naman ay hindi inabutan ang EDSA revolution but were charmed by Tita Cory’s virtues of faith, humility and courage. Sabi nga ni Kris, “I feel the love. I’m so appreciative of the love. I’m so happy na ang Mom ko ay itinuturing na nanay ninyo rin.”
Kris broke into tears on The Buzz while she recalled the last moments she had with her mom. July 20 nang siya ay magpaalam sa programa para makasama si Tita Cory sa ospital. The family went through stages of knowledge, hope, acceptance and letting go. Kris said that it was so hard to see your mother cry and you can’t do anything for her. One time Tita Cory was looking up at tinanong siya ni Kris kung tinatawag na siya ng daddy nila and she said yes. Kris told her mom that they were already willing to let her go to join their father.
Naihatid na sa kanyang huling hantungan si Tita Cory. Isang kaibigan ang nagtext sa akin. Sabi niya, “Tita Cory’s pain is over while ours begins.”
God bless us all!
Bravo, Tita Cory! Paalam at maraming salamat po!
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
