Thousands of people from all walks of life braved the rains to line up along the route taken by the funeral convoy of the President Corazon Aquino.

Even before the final requiem mass celebrated by Balanga Archbishop Socrates Villegas concluded at the Manila Cathedral, the Anda Circle in Intramuros was partially flooded but it didn't stop the people from staying under the rain to catch a glimpse of the casket bearing the former president on the ten-wheeler decked with yellow flowers.

Multitudes of people from all walks of life Wednesday flooded outside Manila Cathedral in Intramuros despite a sudden, heavy downpour.

Rain failed to dampen the spirits of thousands of Filipinos who, after the public viewing at the remains of Aquino was closed, decided to stay and lined up outside the Cathedral, wishing that they can see the beloved president of the Philippines.

The funeral convoy started to move out at around 11:26 a.m. By then people, most of them wearing yellow shirts or ribbons, or holding yellow balloons lined three deep on Roxas Boulevard.

Adelaida Campo, 46, who went to the Manila Cathedral together with her daughter Nikka, left their home at San Mateo, Rizal as early as 3:20 a.m., hoping that they could get a chance to have final glimpse of the former president for the very last time.

Campo, however, said that they failed to make it to the final cut-off of the public viewing of Aquino's
remains.

"Eto nag-titiyaga sa ulan para kahit yung karo ni Cory makita man lang lang namin. Syempre pinagdasal namin siya na sana maging maayos man siya kung nasaan man siya," she said.

Campo was among the estimated 50,000 people waiting for the funeral procession of Aquino outside the Cathedral as early as 5 am, according to initial reports reaching Manila Police District headquarters at UN Avenue, Manila.

Meanwhile, Fillipinos, who braved the unpredictable rainshowers, donned every thing yellow -- from their t-shirts with the printed face of the former president to yellow ribbons and bandanas tied on their heads.

Tarpaulins of different sizes likewise being waved by Aquino's supporters including the one which says "If Ninoy fell in love with her three times, that same lady loved the people three times."

Red, white and yellow rose petals were likewise dropped from overhead from helicopters which were circling above the Manila Cathedral as the casket of Corazon Aquino is being carried outside of the cathedral to the flatbed truck, which is decked with colorful flowers past 11 a.m.

As the hearse of Aquino passed by the people, the crowd cheered "Cory! Cory!" while making an "L" hand sign, which stands for Laban.

Canons were fired by members of the Philippine Army when the convoy reached in front of the Manila Hotel while the Philippine Coast Guard vessels on sounded their horns.

Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III stopped to deliver a brief message near his father’s statue on Padre Burgos Avenue.

During the funeral procession, the vehicle carrying Senator Aquino and his siblings had to stop at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Padre Burgos Avenue to return the gesture and love of the Filipinos to the one of the icons of the Philippine democracy.

Noynoy, together with Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, alighted from the vehicle carrying Aquino family, and climbed to a parked truck to face the crowd at 12 noon.

“Salamat sa inyong lahat. Marami ang nagtatanong kung ituloy natin ang laban. Tapusin natin ang naiwan na trabaho sa tulong niyo magagawa natin iyon. Alam ko pinanunuod tayo nga ang aking tatay at nanay. Nariyan ang mga kapatid ko. Sa panahon tayo ng kalungkutan at dalamhati pero sa susunod na araw itutuloy natin ang laban,” he said.

The senator’s message was interrupted several times with applauds and shouts of “Cory, Cory, Cory.”

There were a lot of yellow balloons in the sky and two choppers showered yellow confetti as the truck carrying the casket of ex-president Aquino passed by.

A festive mood swept the stretch of Roxas Boulevard from Anda Circle to Kalaw Street than all the way to President Quirino Avenue.

Students, employees, professionals and even members of various organizations clad in yellow clothes, yellow rain clothes and yellow hats and caps crammed the boulevard waving yellow flags, streamers and banners with words showing love and gratitude to the late president as early before dawn Wednesday.

Many vehicles from Malate area attempted to join convoy and traffic became worse. (With Jeamma Sabate)

Burial postponed to make way for Cory’s

The interment of icon of democracy Corazon “Cory” Aquino’s at Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City for the postponement of another burial.

This was revealed Wednesday by Southern Police District (SPD) Director Jaime Calungsod as he laid out the security details for the former president’s final journey from the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros to the memorial park.

“There was supposed to be another burial at Manila Memorial but it has been postponed,” Calungsod said.

He said a dozen vehicles making up the official convoy of Aquino’s funeral procession, headed out of the Cathedral past 11 a.m. Wednesday as live-performed signature songs from the EDSA I era like “Magkaisa” and “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” filled the air.

The 12 vehicles included those carrying family members and the president’s former cabinet members.

Calungsod said additional police officers were deployed along the convoy’s route, especially along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

Manila Memorial Park is where Aquino’s spouse, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, was laid to rest some 26 years ago. Once there, Cory’s casket would be placed in the tomb on the right of the senator’s.

The Aquino couple’s strikingly plain, 30-meter mausoleum had been cleaned and repainted earlier this week to prepare for Cory’s arrival.