The ‘Woman in Yellow’ who brought light to a darkened nation

President Cory Aquino became Time Magazine’s ‘Woman of the Year’ in the January 5, 1987 issue. Photo from www.coverbrowser.com It is always difficult to write about someone’s passing. One could only feel pain even while reminiscing fond memories of the person who died -- an unfathomable sense of bereavement and loss.

Corazon Cojuangco Aquino tried her best to lead a normal life, but as it turned out, she was meant for greater things. She became the first woman President of the Philippines, a role model for women and a staunch advocate of nationalism. To most Filipinos, she was, foremost, a mother figure and an icon of democracy that brought light and hope to a once oppressed nation. Many became witness to this historic transformation, a country once ruled by a tyrannical dictator became a nation for the people and by the people. The Marcoses fled and left the country in a state of shambles, yet the "simple housewife" took on the ropes of the presidency and gave every ounce of energy that she could muster to rebuild what was lost. The road to democracy was not easy during Cory Aquino’s reign. She was besieged with seven coup attempts, natural disasters, an energy crisis and a problematic agrarian reform among others. Her detractors think that Cory could’ve done more during her term. Expectations were high, the birth of a new democracy needed the careful parenting of an unfaltering leader. But in the words of the humble and pious widow of Ninoy Aquino, "God knows, we have made mistakes. I hope that history will judge me...favorably...because, as God is my witness, I honestly did the best I could." And with those words, Cory stepped down gracefully after her term and embraced the normalcy of being an ordinary citizen.

When she was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2008 and had to go through the rudiments of being a cancer patient, it was enough to bring an entire nation to its knees, united in prayer for her speedy recovery. Yet, throughout her ordeal, she never showed agony nor hopelessness. Her last days were spent with family, in the privacy of a hospital room, while the whole country was abuzz with prayers and well-wishes for the ailing leader. In the final hours of her life, she accepted her fate with grace and peacefully departed on the first Saturday of August, twenty days before the 26th anniversary of her husband’s heroic death.

As she is laid to rest, Filipinos, who love her dearly, pay their final respects by gathering in the streets, reliving and re-enacting every little detail of what was the glory of EDSA -- the glory of People Power.

Tita Cory would probably be smiling from heaven, holding Ninoy and Cardinal Sin’s hands and proudly flashing the Laban sign with them.

Farewell, beloved Tita Cory. Your legacy will forever remain in our hearts. Cory’s ‘Prayer for a Happy Death’
Almighty God, most merciful Father
You alone know the time
You alone know the hour
You alone know the moment
When I shall breathe my last.
So, remind me each day,
most loving Father
To be the best that I can be.
To be humble, to be kind,
To be patient, to be true.
To embrace what is good,
To reject what is evil,
To adore only You.
When the final moment does come
Let not my loved ones grieve for long.
Let them comfort each other
And let them know
how much happiness
They brought into my life.
Let them pray for me,
As I will continue to pray for them,
Hoping that they will always pray
for each other.
Let them know that they made possible
Whatever good I offered to our world.
And let them realize that our separation
Is just for a short while
As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.
Our Father in heaven,
You alone are my hope.
You alone are my salvation.
Thank you for your unconditional love, Amen.
(This prayer appeared on July 10, 2009 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.)

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published on August 5, 2009 in MDWK Magazine p. 2 )

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