Malacañang said Saturday it is open to any move honoring the late former President Corazon Aquino. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the move by public officials to consider naming an avenue after Mrs. Aquino is just appropriate.

“President Arroyo is open to all recognitions appropriate for the former president,” Remonde said.

Sen. Mar Roxas had earlier proposed the renaming of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to Cory Aquino Avenue. However, the idea was opposed by the De los Santos family, prompting Roxas to withdraw the motion and consider other options.

The name EDSA replaced Highway 54 in 1959 through Republic Act 2140.

Senator Roxas had also filed Joint Resolution No. 28 declaring Jan. 25, Aquino’s birthday, as Cory Aquino Day.

Remonde said aside from giving her last respects to the former president, President Arroyo has been leading daily masses and novenas for Mrs. Aquino.

“Having said that, as I said, she (President Arroyo) is open to all motions (in honor of Mrs. Aquino),” he said.

Mrs. Arroyo was in the United States for an official visit when Mrs. Aquino died last Aug. 1. She flew in to the country early Wednesday morning to visit the remains of the former president before the memorial services and interment.

Meanwhile, the principal author of a legislative measure proposing to declare the late Mrs. Aquino a hero earlier predicted that Malacañang would support his proposal.

Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza said congressional approval of House Joint Resolution No. 42 and its subsequent imprimatur by Mrs. Arroyo may pave the way for a reconciliation between the Aquino and the Arroyo families whose relationship was strained by politics.

Plaza, a senior member of the powerful Commission on Appointments, said he also expects bipartisan support to the measure he co-authored with Camarines Norte Rep. Liwayway Vinzon-Chato.

“In the hearts and minds of the Filipino people, President Cory is already their hero. But as representatives of the people, we want the world to know what she meant to all of us,” the administration solon said.

Earlier, Rep. Matias Defensor (Lakas-Kampi, QC) urged his Lower House colleagues to let history and Filipinos decide whether or not the late President Aquino should be counted among the country’s national heroes.

“I don’t think being a national hero needs the imprimatur of Congress,” Quezon City Matias Defensor Jr. told reporters in reaction to the impending adoption of House Joint Resolution No. 42.

On the other hand, Deputy Minority Leaders Roilo Golez and Satur Ocampo believe that the National Historical Institute is in a better position to conduct a study and make recommendations to proposals declaring the country’s democracy icon a national hero.

HJR 42 seeks to declare the late President a national hero in recognition of her contributions to the restoration of democracy in the country.

Stressing that he believes Mrs. Aquino ranks high among his personal national heroes, Defensor explained that Congress need not issue the declaration and instead leave such decisions to the “generations of Filipinos” to come.

“General Emilio Aguinaldo and (President Ramon Magsaysay) became heroes even without congressional imprimatur. You make a hero because the Filipino people in all generations will consider a hero a hero,” Defensor told reporters during the Usaping Balita News Forum at Serye Café in Quezon City.

The chairman of the House Committee on Justice noted that Jose Abad Santos was a hero “in the hearts and minds of people” because he was selfless in offering his life to the country cooperate with the enemy during the Japanese occupation.

“He chose to be beheaded. He saw the opportunity to offer his life to his country and he did just that,” said Defensor.

The administration congressman said he believes deserves to become among the most revered heroes of the country but subjecting such accolade to a congressional debate is not acceptable.

Ocampo did not make a commitment to support CJR 42, saying that he will likely study the measure closely.