Former Presidents Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Fidel V. Ramos led the political leaders and foreign diplomats who attended Wednesday’s funeral Mass for Mrs. Aquino, which was concelebrated by 17 bishops and more than a hundred priests at the Manila Cathedral.

Both seated at the left front pew opposite to that of the Aquino Family, Estrada and Ramos also shared the pew with Vice President Noli de Casto, Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former Senator Luisa “Loi” Ejercito.

East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta sat in the same pew but left even before the Mass started at about 9 a.m. His vacated seat was occupied by Mrs. Aquino’s only son, Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino.

Noynoy’s sisters, Kris Aquino-Yap and Veil Aquino-Dee, with their husbands and children occupied the right front pew while Balsy Aquino-Cruz’s family occupied the second and Pinky Aquino-Abellada’s filled the third.

The Aquino siblings wore plain black ensembles, apparently to dramatize their grief, but the government figures and some 60 dignitaries present at the funeral Mass were clad in yellow, white and black wardrobes.

But what is common in the varied attires of the prominent personalities and common people who graced the Mass is the yellow ribbon that is either pinned in their chest or tied in their arms, to show their sympathy to the Aquino Family for the recent demise of the former President.

Among those seen at the Mass were Senators Nene Pimentel, Manny Villar, Mar Roxas, Loren Legarda Eduardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Rodolfo Biazon, Francis Pangilinan, Jamby Madrigal, and Bong Revilla.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was also spotted at the Cathedral with members of the diplomatic corps, led by United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney.

Also in attendance were Mrs. Aquino’s former Cabinet officials, led by her former Executive Secretary, former Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada, together with nuns from the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), likewise graced the Mass like former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Makati Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin, and Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, among others.

While police generals escorted Mrs. Aquino’s casket along the center aisle to exit the Cathedral, Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez sang “The Prayer.”