At the busy Davao airport, all eyes were glued to the six monitors at Gate 7 as the funeral procession inched its way to Manila Memorial Park.  Clearly, former President Cory Aquino was on our lips, on our minds, in our hearts. We had just finished meeting with  Mindanao’s business and development community and we were on our way back to Manila. The heavens were weeping and like most Filipinos, we were listless.

It is incredible how just about everybody has his or her own Cory story to tell. It does not matter if one did not know or has not met her. Her magic was that she was ours — in life and in death.

At 7 p.m. or thereabouts, we were in Manila.

I was met at the airport by a grandchild who was not yet born during President Aquino’s term. But he sensed my mood and instead of the Michael Jackson songs that he discovered as a result of the singer’s recent death, he put on some quiet music. One song caught my attention and I reproduce it here because it sums up my feelings for the wonderful human being that Corazon C. Aquino is. It is a love song, but then, isn’t that what we feel for her?

It says:

I get along without you very well

Of course I do

Except when soft rains fall

And drip from leaves

Then I recall

The thrill of being sheltered

In your arms

Of course I do

But I get along without you very well

I’ve forgotten you just like I should

Of course I have

Except to hear your name

Or someone’s laugh

That is the same

But I’ve forgotten you just like I should

What a guy

What a fool am I

To think my breaking heart could keep the moon

What’s in store

Should I fall once more

No, its best that I stick to my tune

I get along without you very well

Of course I do

Except perhaps in spring

But I should never think of spring

For that will surely break my heart in two

We miss you, Madam President!