With his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, as his role model, President Aquino Sunday vowed to strive hard to leave a legacy of a corrupt-free government before he ends his term and retires in 2016.

The President, however, asked the people to contribute in the campaign against corruption through simple deeds, saying “none of us can afford to be bystanders.”

“The challenge is to convince those who want to support us that we are fair, just and sincere in our intentions to help our country. We can do this, if we live our lives trying to emulate Cory Aquino’s example in our service to our country and to our fellowmen,” he said.

Mr. Aquino tackled his resolve on the anti-corruption front and the need for public cooperation during the first death anniversary of his mother at La Salle high school in Greenhills.

Clad in a yellow polo, he was accompanied by his family and relatives during the commemorative event that included a mass officiated by Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

“The part that I would leave a clean legacy, of course, that’s my vision. Even from the beginning, when I was asked whether I will run or not, I questioned myself whether this was our destiny. We'll fix the country, but others will harvest what we sow. Perhaps, that's really meant to be,” he said in Filipino during a press conference after the mass.

“By 2016, my burdens would end and I can already retire,” he said.

Villegas, in his homily, called on the President to make it easy for his successor and leave a corrupt-free government by 2016. He also encouraged him to remain the country’s “most accessible and loving bachelor” leader.

While he disclosed plans to retire from politics in 2016, the President was mum on whether he would remain a bachelor during his term. He said people shouldn’t give too much meaning to the remarks made by the bishop about his personal life.

“I have duties and obligations to the people. Before I think I have demonstrated in the past before I embark on anything else, I take very high consciousness of my responsibilities and obligations,” Mr. Aquino said.

In his speech, the President encouraged people to carry the torch of his mother’s legacy of simplicity, humility, and committed democracy. He said everyone has a duty to fulfill social contract with the Filipino people by putting the interests of others before self.

“We can only end poverty if we fight corruption, and this is where everyone has a major role to play. It can be done in simple ways, by showing common courtesy to strangers, by paying taxes, by following traffic rules and by disposing of our waste properly,” he said.

Mr. Aquino said his plans to live in Bahay Pangarap along polluted Pasig River would serve as daily reminder of how careless can be about our environment.

“This, too, is a form of corruption. Does it take that much to stop our neighbors from further destroying these resources?” he said.

The President also encouraged people to report to authorities any wrongdoings in government and society.

“Let us challenge ourselves and our leaders to brave the straight path. Naumpisahan na natin sa pamamagitan ng pagpatay ng mga wang wang, at pagpigil sa mga naghaharian sa daan. Sana naman po, sa ilan pang pagkakataon ay susunod pa rin kayo at itutuloy ang maganda nating nasimulan,” he added.

The President said the fight against corruption would be difficult because there are some who cling to their old crooked ways. “Subalit hindi ko pababayaan ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo at ang pagkakataong ito na isulong ang makabuluhang pagbabago,” he said.

Mr. Aquino said he has already laid out his plans in his State of the Nation address, from public-private partnerships to the laws that should be passed in Congress.

Before he ended his speech, he thanked all the volunteers “who helped us get to where we are now, and are still with us in the more difficult part of the journey towards change.”

“You make it easier for us to overcome the hardships we face each day. May your number increase as your efforts persist. I hope that when the time comes to seek your help once again, I can still count on your support,” he added.

MOST PRAYERFUL R.P. PRESIDENT

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas paid tribute to Cory as “the Philippines’ most prayerful President.”

In his homily Sunday at the De La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City, Villegas said Cory was the country’s most prayerful President who never missed a chance to encourage the people to pray and whose example of prayer, translated into her life, was a source of inspiration for many.

“Her memory is a sterling lesson of detachment from power and prestige. Her life was a story of full and unconditional dependence on the power of God and the strength of prayer,” he said.

“She gave us her best when she was our President and yet she remained detached and unaffected by the trappings of power and prestige. Everything is vanity! God alone for Tita Cory is enough!” added Villegas.

Just like his mother, the prelate also found President Benigno Simeon”Noynoy” Aquino III’s indifference to power as edifying and incredible.

“Thank you for restoring our trust in government and for showing that public officials are indeed honorable people,” Villegas said.

He, however, reminded the President not to make things difficult for his successor once he steps down from office in 2016.

“Make it easy for your successor. You know how hard it is to inherit a corrupt system. Don’t do it unto your successor. Everything will pass. The nice things will end. The problems will also end,” said Villegas.

“At the sunset of your presidency, you will be judged onlyaccording to how much you have loved this country. In the end, only love will remain. While Cory is the most prayerful president, may you be our most available and loving bachelor President,” he added.

Cory known as an icon of democracy in the country died of colon cancer last year while confined at the Makati Medical Center.

YELLOW RIBBON MARKER UNVEILED

The program dubbed “Her Legacy, Our Promise: People’s Tribute to Cory Aquino” was attended by the President, his sisters and other members of the Aquino clan.

A short video clip was played paying tribute to the former president, followed by the unveiling of a marker for the Saint Benilde Gymnasium which was led by the President and his sisters.

The marker, a metal mold of the yellow ribbon used by the Aquino Family, represents historic role of the gymnasium being the first site of the National Citizens Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) Operation Quick Count which provided basis for Cory’s triumph over Marcos during the snap elections in 1986.

MANILA REMEMBERS CORY

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim led Sunday a tribute in Manila for the late former president, offering flowers at the foot of her statue at the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Park.

The event was attended by City Hall employees and Manila residents.

The monuments of Ninoy and Cory were built by Lim so that their sacrifices in the name of democracy and love for the nation may forever be remembered by Filipinos. (With reports from Leslie Ann G. Aquino, Carlo S. Suerte Felipe, Czarina Nicole O. Ong)