Tita Cory with Fatima & MM Soriano. Notice the glowing light above them. This photo was taken by Fely Soriano with an iPhone... no flash, and there was no light fixture above them.

“Worthy is he who remembers to thank the Lord for all his blessings,but admirable is he who still thanks Godin spite of his pain.” – Chito Bertol  (Manila Seedling Bank)

We are all still hurting over the loss of our “Tita Cory”. But thankfully, she left us a legacy of love—for God, country and each other—that can ease our pain. Hopefully too, the lessons her life and love for the nation she and Ninoy so fiercely and faithfully served, will stay and be taken as a “ call to arms” by us ordinary Pinoys.

Watch a special one-hour documentary tonight on Channel 2.

“Ninoy’s Last Journey”, directed by June Reyes from tapes, speeches, and interviews of Ninoy and Cory. It is a touching docu produced by Unitel and the Benigno S. Aquino Foundation with Rapa Lopa, executive director, Ninoy’s nephew/TV host Bam Aquino who stars as Ninoy.

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We need to be little heroes in our own ways, as Cory often reminded us. Help empower others. Stop thinking of yourself only! Speak up and look for clean, honest, sincere leaders who can inspire.

I continue to get touching testimonies on how happy people were able to sacrifice for Tita Cory—in return for what she gave them. It gives me goose pimples when I hear how people from all walks of like waited in line for hours, braving rains, flood, heat and other discomforts to pay their last respects to her. But more awesome was how they befriended others in the queues, helped one another, shared whatever food or water they had, stood patiently, and did not try to jump the line—in the spirit of EDSA 1, and “in the name of Tita Cory.”

Abroad, the Filipino communities had masses for her, and many sent their sharings and pictures. Thank you all.

Let me share a picture taken by Fely Soriano last year, of Tita Cory and her daughters Fatima and MM. Fatima is the courageous and happy, blind girl who has had a kidney transplant and is sought after for her inspirational prayers and healing touch.

Tita Cory was fond of Fatima who brought her loving messages from Mama Mary. Fatima prayed over her at the clinic as a lady doctor who was their mutual friend. Not to worry, Fatima assures those who loved Tita Cory, that she is in the loving arms of Jesus and Mary now. ( Fatima can be heard on DZMM radio with Fr. Jerry Orbos on Saturday evenings.)

I am also sharing a poem sent in by my insurance “angel” Will Villanueva of Manulife on Tita Cory. He is an EDSA 1 veteran who stood in line for several hours in Intramuros and also during the funeral to pay his last respects to his Icon. He argues, why not St. Cory? Why not indeed, although she would have been the first to cringe at this tribute!

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“ When I saw you there
I did not see a dead person.
I saw love.
I saw beauty.
I saw faith.
You are an orchid
That blooms in a hundred years,
So rare you have to be encased in glass.
I didn’t see cancer.
I didn’t see pain.
Didn’t see suffering.
Only the glory of God.
If I could only kiss you,
To thank you,
To shed a tear, one last time,
Then I’m done.
Good to go.
Bring it on.
Enemies of the state,
Yellow fever is here to stay.”

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While August will henceforth be associated with Ninoy and Cory Aquino, it is also National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

Mother’s milk provides everything that a baby needs since it is “nature’s perfect nourishment”.  But more than just what babies suckle, it is  the bonding between mother and child that develops the child.

The nurturing cannot just be limited to providing proper nourishment.  Other factors in looking after a child include fun and fundamental interaction in order to support proper brain development. Even just by playing peek-a-boo, putting various shapes into the correct slot, or taking up a musical instrument can potentially maximize a child’s IQ.

Another important factor is making sure that the child is raised in a warm and loving environment. 

Getting them into team sports like soccer and basketball or complementary athletic endeavors can bring about other benefits. The energy expended engaging in these organized competitions can boost growth hormones in the brain which leads to better brain cells.

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Happily, there is Eye Q Academy, a project of Abbott Nutrition, which actively promotes this aspect of child development.  At designated venues, nutritionists and child experts are available to address the concerns of parents with regards to their child’s over-all physical, mental, and psychological formation. Fully acknowledging that “breast milk is best for babies”, the unique “Triple-A” Advantage found in Abbott’s pre-school milk has been formulated to be the ideal nutritional supplement after the breastfeeding period.  Triple-A stands for “Activators” to support vision and brain development, “Accelerators” to stimulate growth, and “Advancers” to help support advanced learning.

Various experts have discovered that breastfed children who continue towards an Eye Q Nutrition System have been found to gain more in two visual acuity tests and seven cognitive performance tests namely: the Stanford Binet IQ, Peabody Picture Vocabulary, Temperament, Information Processing, Early Vocabulary Development, Bayley Scales Mental Development.  All of these are available for mothers to peruse.

As a popular song goes, it is the future where all our children will live. Once we address the nutritional and emotional needs of the young, they can properly absorb the ideals and values we wish to impart to them.  It is easy to keep in mind what it means to be a child.  By relishing those past joys of innocence and laughter, we can continue to hope for a bright future for the generations to come.