TARLAC CITY - Saddened by the death of former President Corazon Aquino, Mayor Genaro “Aro” Mendoza officially announced that the whole month of August will be a month of mourning for Tarlaqueños in this city.

Executive Order 016, declaring the month of August as a month of mourning in the 76 villages here, expresses the deep sorrow of the Tarlaqueños due to the passing away of Mrs. Aquino, the country’s first female president and wife of this Tarlac’s favorite son, Ninoy Aquino.

Mendoza also ordered the city hall’s department heads to submit their various activities in line with the commemoration of Mrs. Aquino’s death.

In Malolos City, Bulacan, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) Bulacan Chapter has passed a resolution honoring Mrs. Aquino for her contribution to press freedom and her dedication to Philippine democracy.

NUJP recognized Mrs. Aquino’s contribution because “her courage and determination in fighting the suppression brought about by the Marcos regime led the way to the revival of democracy in the country.”

“Hindi matatawaran ang kontribusyon ni dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino sa malayang pamamahayag sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagbabalik ng demokrasya na nagbigay katapusan sa Batas Militar na sa loob ng mahigit isang dekada ay sumupil sa malayang pamamahayag sa bansa,” the resolution stated.

NUJP said press freedom is an important element of a democratic state and government which was given protection by the 1987 Constitution.

Meanwhile, the whole province of Pampanga joined the nation in celebrating the life of Mrs. Aquino and in mourning the loss of a great leader.

Mrs. Aquino’s portrait has been displayed at the lobby of the provincial capitol in San Fernando City while the flag is placed at half mast.

Yellow ribbons around the capitol premises have been placed as early as a week ago before the former president passed away. They are displayed prominently at the Benigno Aquino, Jr. Memorial Hall which was named after her late husband, the national hero and martyr Ninoy.

As this developed, the monument of Ninoy in front of the capitol has been rehabilitated and transferred to the front of the Benigno Aquino Hall named in his memory.

In this city, yellow ribbons adorn the façade and concrete fence around the Metropolitan Cathedral and the City Hall Buildings.

“Cory Aquino gave her all for the Filipino nation and so we should celebrate her life as we mourn her passing away,” declared by Pampanga Governor Eddie T. Panlilio in Monday’s flag ceremony.

In Baguio City, as Mrs. Aquino was laid to rest Wednesday, various sectors in the Cordillera committed to pursue the long overdue struggle for regional autonomy to fulfill the dream of the Icon of Philippine democracy to establish an autonomous region in the Cordillera.

In a press statement, the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC), which is composed of local officials, government line agencies, non-government groups and multi-sectoral representatives, celebrate and recognize the life, passion and courage of the First Woman president who was able to restore democracy to the country through the bloodless people Power Revolution.

The RDC-CAR pointed out Cordillerans will always look up to Cory Aquino as the mother of the Administrative Region since the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region was a product of a people struggle, starting from the love of the people of independence, which is an illustration of participatory democracy and attachment to the Cordillerans ancestral land.

“We shall always remember that it was her presidency that gave national credence to the struggle of the Cordillera people for self-determination and self-rule.” the RDC-CAR statement stressed. (with reports by Mark Anthony Manuel and Dexter See)