“THANK YOU, THANK YOU, LORD!
In pain and sorrow
   I have never been alone
  Many thanks, dear Lord!
A heart full of love
In times of deep affliction
This I pray for, Lord.
In much hurt and pain
   Yet my heart is not bleeding Lord
    Thank you, thank you Lord!”
By Corazon C. Aquino

"He who fears the Lord will have a happy end even on the day of his death He will be blessed.”  Sirach  1 :11 , lifted from the Handwritten Notes by Cory Aquino.

When the heart is full, it becomes difficult to say the things you want to say about someone you love, respect, and admire as a boss and a true and sincere friend.

What more can I add to the outpouring of love and praises in tribute to the Icon of Freedom and Democracy, former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. I can only stress that she has been given the supreme accolade of a grateful nation by having a true “People’s Funeral.”

How do you even begin to say what you cherish most in your heart about my 20 years with her? Ever since her death, wake, and funeral, I tried to serve her faithfully, taking on responsibilities in the media committee as was given to me. It helped being so busy and shepherding media, escorting VIPs, taking care of food and the tiny room for the family at the cathedral. My eyes have been dry but my heart full.

My readers have known her through this column as PCCA,” (Private Citizen Cory Aquino), and everyone’s  “Tita Cory.” To my children: sons Junie David and Cora, she is also their “Tita Cory and mommy’s “boss,” to my two grandchildren, Amanda Julia, and Monchu, she was simply “Lola Cory.” To Sandee and Andrew, she was “Ninang Cory.” To my “kasambahay”and my driver, she was Ma’am Cory. All, she showered with kindness and attention.    

But, with me and my late Beloved Hubby, her most ardent fan and supporter (whom she in turn called, “The Saint” much to his delight)  she never ceased to be  “Mrs. President,” or Ma’am.”

* * *

Just about everyone has shared their accolades and memories about her. Just let me disabuse your minds now, of a fiction that continues to be nurtured in some people’s minds- that she had agreed to be a “ceremonial president” resurrected by former assemblyman  Homobono Adaza, in a recently-launched book.

Now, I respect the man who fought the dictatorship and escaped the country from Mindanao dressed in a nun’s habit but it is NOT TRUE Cory Aquino ever agreed to be a ceremonial President! We had discussed this in several of our reminiscences after her term and I recall she stressed this also in interviews I did when I was still a reporter covering Malacanang.

“Not true,” she said.

She took her mandate to lead as President very seriously because not only did she want to return the nation to complete democracy through a new constitution and strengthen its institutions—the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches—she wanted, at the end of her term, to have free elections for a peaceful transition of power. In the process, she worked to heal wounds between the military and the civilian sectors.

In a lengthy interview I did with her for our magazine, Panorama, I asked her how she wanted to end her term. Her terse and firm answer was “As President!” I knew she meant to be in control as Chief Executive but she was also already counting the days until her term ended. And no term extension, she told advisers who thought she could since she was not elected under the new constitution. Those who dared pursue the subject further got the cold presidential shoulder. 

“The Filipinos have trusted me with the highest office, I have done what I promised to do and I shall leave at the end of my term. You and I, “she added, “will go out of Malacanang with our heads held high!”
 
* * *
       
So, when she handed over a free and fully-restored member of the international community of nations to her elected successor, Fidel V. Ramos, I thought she never looked as radiantly happy in a cream piña Filipiniana gown by Auggie Cordero. She had done what she set out to do, and now it was time to leave the affairs of the state to the next president.

Of course we never did let her go completely into private life. She had many more battles to fight for us, leaving her sometimes bruised as she was abandoned by those who urged her to leave them in a few causes. We wanted to fight on against graft, corruption, moves to change the constitution, etc. with the last ounce of HER blood!

Did that unfaithfulness to commitment of some of her friends deter her at all? It hurt, yes, but deter her? Not on your life! When she believed in a cause, no one could stop her!

When she committed herself to a cause, she stuck it through thick or thin, good times and hard times. This was the same commitment she gave to her friendships with people who were devoted to her in and out of office. When her friends experienced difficult trials in their lives, she came to pray with them, led them the rosary Sister Lucia of Fatima had made for her, or simply lent her quiet, consoling presence.

This was what Gina de Venecia, wife of ex-speaker Joe shared in her eulogy at the necrological service at the Manila Cathedral.  When their daughter KC died in a tragic fire and when friends abandoned them when Joe lost the speakership, she came to console Gina.

That “Tita Cory” had such a great capacity to emphatize with those who were undergoing trials is already legendary. She also lived a lifestyle and exhibited a leadership (before, during and after her presidency) that was so simple, transparent and sincere that she was loved and claimed by the public as their “own.”

The hundreds of thousands who lined the route to Manila Memorial crossed generations, political and religious beliefs and social classes. They came, waited patiently under the sunshine and rains (NCR crime rate was zero that day) because they wanted to show they loved their “Tita Cory” and were grateful for everything she had lived for. It was really awesome to feel the love of the masses for her all throughout the scheduled route. 

* **

Some 50,000 others (with thousands more outside the gates) were allowed in the memorial park for a candelit solemn burial. In attendance were dignitaries led by East Timor president and Nobel Laureate Jose Ramos Horta and his delegation including Gen. Matan Roak, US Senator Stephen Solarz, former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estada, and hundreds of seminarians, nuns, and close friends.      

Horta waited for almost four hours, enduring the pain he still suffers from the last assassination attempt back in East Timor. In a statement he said he came from far away to pay tribute to a “dear” friend who embodied all that “is good and true.” He knew both Ninoy and Cory, he added, so his loss was a personal one.

“She was a lady of genuine faith, a gift to the Filipino people and the people of Asia.”       

“Amen” to that.

And as Louie Cruz texted when it poured the first day of the wake at La Salle in Greenhills, “It’s not raining. The saints and the angels are crying!”

Sweet heavenly dreams, Tita Cory. I believe flocks of angels have already brought you to your eternal rest!