There were a dozen speakers sharing their moments with former President Corazon Aquino. The “Tita Cory Vigil,” was a show aired by ABS-CBN from the Dolphy Theater on the first night of the wake. But Cecile Guidote-Alvarez shared a bond with her none of them did, they both battled cancer, both of their husbands were arrested during martial law. “I was so depressed when I first gave birth. Then she came in like a breath of fresh air, smiling with Ballsy. She had all these fruits and asked ‘What else do you need Cecile? Pano yan si Ninoy at si Sonny wala but are you OK?’ She’s a calming presence, like a teacher. She taught me. Here I am going to complain when she has gone through so much more. She was my daughter’s ninang (Godmother) because Ninoy was originally the ninong. She was the eternal substitute. She was there with a presence.”

Both couples were also exiled to the US. Heherson Alvarez and Cecile spent a total of 13 years in exile. Her husband Heherson Alvarez was then a congressman. He later became a senator and is now a presidential adviser on Climate Change. The friendship was something Cecile relied on especially when she was diagnosed with cancer earlier than Cory. “Her prayers and devotion to Mama Mary gave me a strong inspiration to live. She visited me when I first battled my disease five years ago.”

The date of the former president’s passing has its own meaning for her. “God has His own way. It’s already a miracle na nagtugma-tugma (it all came together). They’re joined together on August, it’s very auspicious. And you know how devoted she is to Mama Mary. She has the Our Lady of Fatima rosary from Sta. Lucia. August is also the month of the Assumption. Somehow its liberation from pain, she’s no longer in agony.”

August 21st is also the death anniversary of the national hero and her husband Ninoy Aquino.

Recently, some artists and critics have unfairly lashed out against Alvarez questioning her conferment as National Artist for Theater. It was seen as a political favor from President Arroyo. She was also accused of using her position as Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to gain the award. Not a lot of people are aware that Alvarez started out as a performing “artist.” She started out as an actress at the age of 15. She then became the founder of PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) an organization that sought to bring the theater to the masses. She was the producer and creator of “Balintataw” a long-running drama series that was first aired on radio. It was so successful that it was also produced on TV. The show has discovered writers and directors some of which have become National Artists themselves. These are Lino Brocka and Mario J. Delos Reyes.

Perhaps just like her mentor President Aquino, Alvarez responded by asking her critics to join her in her mission. “Politics divides, we hope that it’s art that can cement and unite our people. We’re hoping to heal these divisions. If our artists will join together and forge the social conscience of our people and provide the panorama of concerns, we can be united. I believe that this is my latest contribution especially as we call for moral reform. The only peaceful way for change is the creative revolution. Create a change of mind and heart through the arts.”

Apart from the National Artist status, Alvarez may have already earned every possible award on culture and the arts the country has to offer. She was a “Balagtas” Awardee for the significant contribution of PETA in promoting the national language and the cultural heritage, Citizen's Awardee for her outstanding leadership in the presentation of socially relevant plays, “Ramon Magsaysay Public Service Awardee for the Arts” in 1972, “Patnubay ng Kalinangan” Awardee, UN Human Rights Day Awardee from the Fund for Free Expression, “Bantayog Awardee-Hall of Fame” in 1997, “Ninoy Aquino” Awardee for nationalism, “Carlos P. Romulo” Awardee for international understanding, “CCP Gawad Sining” Awardee for Culture, and “The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Services Award” for her numerous contributions in promoting Philippine art and culture.

The best example of her vision of how theater and art positively transform society is her Earth Saver’s movement. With the organization she was able to help teach differently abled, indigenous and street kids how to perform. They have recently been tapped by UNESCO as the first artists for peace. “For the first time Filipino children who are differently abled are recognized in a global stage. You show the capacity of the Filipino that is unique and our cultural caregiving in line with President Arroyo’s poverty alleviation. This is now a global model of reaching out to the most vulnerable groups whether they are in prison, centers for abused women or children, whether they are rural or urban poor communities. We have to reach out to those communities that would be deprived and not have that meaningful experience.”