Between sobs, the youngest child of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, television host and movie actress Kris Aquino-Yap, thanked the Filipino nation for consistently praying with their family from the time their mother was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2008 until she died and was laid to rest Wednesday.

After the 9 a.m. funeral mass for Mrs. Aquino at the Manila Cathedral, Kris delivered a message of gratitude to the Filipinos for joining them in mourning the death of their mother.

“You have given our family honor beyond anything we have ever hoped to receive no matter how great the sacrifices of our parents. I can honestly say that for my family, the Filipino nation is worthy dying for,” Kris said, quoting the phrase her father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. first popularized.

Kris said their family appreciates the effort of people who braved the distance and weather and patiently wait in line to pay their last respects to the former President.

Echoing Mrs. Aquino’s last instructions, Kris urged the public to unite and pray together, not only for the sick and the poor but also for the social illnesses of the country.

Kris recounted the last days she spent with her mother at the Makati Medical Center where the siblings took turns in attending to Mrs. Aquino.

“I’m sorry Mom. I lied to you when I told you that we would be okay. I did this because we wanted you to be free from pain. But Mom, it will take a lifetime for us to be okay because we will forever miss you,” Kris said, failing to contain her grief.

She also aired a message to her late father, Ninoy, which drew some people at the Cathedral to shed tears like her.

“Dad, please take care of mom. It is your turn now. No matter how painful it is for us to let her go, we are comforted knowing that mom is happy to be reunited with you,” she said.