Sa totoo lang, hindi ko talaga kilala si Tita Cory hanggang sa marinig ko ang mga speech na ginawa ng mga tao at nabasa ko ang mga articles tungkol sa kanya. Saka ko nalang na-realize na isang malaking kawalan si Tita Cory, hindi lang as an icon of democracy but also as a mother. Anyway, here's a copy of the essay I made for Tita Cory, may she rest in peace with Ninoy.
More than a Political Icon
I woke up on a cold and rainy Saturday morning; I thought it was just a couple of minutes past five, and the dawn is still breaking. While the obscurity was still lording over this part of the Earth outside my window, the monitor gleam like the sun the moment I turned the computer on, hurting my still dreamy eyes— and hurting it more when I learned about a bad news, which is sadly forethought save for a miracle. Still unknown to most as they were still snug in their blankets, I figured that while it was the first day in the month of August, it was the last in the life of a person venerated by many Filipinos.
The whole nation mourns for the loss of Corazon Aquino, a strong woman who succumbed to a relentless disease which also plagued her mother. After more than a year of battle with the vile colon cancer, she now rests in peace, and hopefully is somewhere out there with Ninoy who I am sure she missed so much.
Cory Aquino was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize but lost to Elie Wiesel, a Romanian Holocaust survivor; nevertheless, she was hailed “Woman of the Year” by Time Magazine in 1986 when she, admittedly a non-political person, led the Filipino nation to a bloodless revolution and overthrew the autocratic Marcos regime.
To me, with all honesty, Cory was just another figure in my history book. I blame that to the fact that I was still being conceived when she showcased her diplomatic feat. As I was taught on how marvelous the deeds of this wonder woman were, I eventually learned that she is the icon of Philippine democracy. Unfortunately, it stopped there. I felt no emotional attachment to a hero I grew up with. I am saddened, yes; but I was not grieving.
Then there came the time I realized that Cory is more than a political icon.
I’ve had the chance to watch her requiem mass on TV, where her remains laid inside the Manila Cathedral. To be laid inside this majestic shrine of our culture and religion is especially reserved to the deceased archbishops. The fact that such a privilege was given to a lay woman like Cory shows how amazingly loved this woman is. I learned how devout to the Almighty she was. When I heard the eulogies declared for her, I realized that as a counsel, she was prudent; and as a leader, she was meek. I was moved on how her children, her friends and relatives lament over her loss as they hardly stop crying. What made her a treasure to me is not only because she became a tool to reshape the country’s fate, but also because she was a great mother to her children, and an epitome of kindness among the people.
She was more than just another President in the pages of our history book. She was more than just another political figure. To many, if not most of us, she was a trusted friend, a reliable ally, a beloved leader, and a caring mother, not just to his children, but to the rest of the Filipino people as well. The yellow ribbons scattered all around the Metro is a manifestation of how lucky we were to have her even for just a while, and that the Philippines will never have another Tita Cory.
To Tita Cory, who is watching us from up above, I’ll raise my Laban sign up in the air, and say “Ipagpapatuloy ko.” And we, the youth of the nation, will continue to fight and defend the democracy you have bestowed upon the Filipino people.
requiescat in pace,
Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino
(January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009)
"I blame that to the fact that I was still being conceived when she showcased her diplomatic feat."
ReplyDelete-hehe, ako rin yta , wla pang muwang that time, sayang noh.. ;(