Cory Aquino in My Memories
I woke up this morning, seeing my motherland mourning with the loss of her beloved daughter and a stoic icon of democracy – former president, Corazon C. Aquino. At the same time, my mother, who was a big fan of Ninoy and Cory Aquino, seemed to turned glassy-eyed with tears. Both the husband and wife became part of our lives, as they were to the nation back then.
When I was still living in the quiet village of San Lorenzo in Makati, my family was witness to the historic changes of our country’s history. I guess we were lucky enough to have lived there, though, it was only temporary – as my father worked as a humble family driver for one of the rich families there. In short, the typical “stay-in” in San Lorenzo Village.
My parents belonged to the generation who witnessed Ninoy’s memorial. As the coffin marched in a sea of people, adorned with flowers and placards stating that “Ninoy, hindi ka nagiisa” and “Cory, the country needs you now”, right in front of my parent’s eyes, they saw a historic event unfold.
And when EDSA Revolution 1 erupted, I was barely 2 years old then. My family, as my mother told me, went to EDSA to witness the same event. I received my earliest baptism of fire, the first taste of the fight for democracy in EDSA 1 as a toddler.
Forward to her presidency, I was a young student then. Again, we witnessed the coup de etat of the RAM soldiers. We fled to the nearest village, Dasmarinas Village and sought refuge to the home of my father’s boss. We nearly escaped the tank barrage, trying to get in to San Lorenzo. I watched the TV, seeing Cory Aquino’s stoic stance during that time. And it was indeed admirable. A female president with the iron will and determination. The coup de etat lasted for almost a week, as I recall. I returned to our preparatory school in Don Bosco (a formerly prep school for boys and girls at the back of Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati) a few days after Cory resolved the coup de etat. I even found our classroom full of bulletholes and overheard my teachers that our school, just overlooking Pasay Road back then, was used by the military as some sort of a bunker and sniper’s nest.
Again, the lasting image of Cory Aquino in my memories during that time was the calm and stoic woman. Despite what was happening in our country during her term, she never resorted to using emergency powers nor declared martial law – like her former nemesis did.
And as I grew up, somewhat disillusioned of seeing what my country and government is, today – I still remembered many things about Cory Aquino. Of course, I can say there is no perfect government as there is no perfect person in this world – I can say that despite the tragedy and calamities as well as political intrigues that struck our nation back then during Cory’s time, it was a proper transitional government. Cory Aquino never took advantage of the power vested to her by the Filipinos, but took care of it and made sure to effect the necessary changes she can do. She tried the best of what she can do to help our country rise up from its darkest hours into the light of democracy.
Nobody can underestimate or perhaps, undermine Cory Aquino’s contribution to the Philippine society despite the intrigues, tragedies and calamities.
Now, that stoic icon had silently joined our Creator while the rest of Philippines is slumbering, she will remain forever in my memories as the housewife of a slain influential icon and the president who tried her best for her country to get up and survive in its toughest times.
Let us remember that the fight for proper governance and democracy does not stop with Cory Aquino’s death. Rather, let us treat it as a legacy that she left to us and continue to fight for the better future of country – in the best way that we can.
My condolences to the Aquino family and thank you, Cory Aquino.
RIP Cory Aquino. 
Photo credits: PCIJ.org
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silver is the blogger behind Dare to Speak Out, a personal and commentary blog.She graduated with a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She posts blogs that ranges in different topics – from trivial to the political. She currently works as a freelance writer.
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Sad day to all of us.
Indeed it is, Darbs.
[...] the other hand, you can check my latest post in Barrio Siete about this stoic icon of democracy. Posted in Life's musings, Special Requests / Notices, news. [...]
and for all those coup, she managed it all. i wonder what those RAM people have to say now. in the end, these RAM people benefitted from what Cory did and so that GLORY fied runner of Obama
Kapitana,
I wonder too. Ano kaya ang masasabi ng mga RAMbutan na yan ngayon.
kaya pala simula kagabi di tumitigil ang pag ulan nagluluksa ang kalangitan
Oo Mars. Luksang luksa ang langit.
Will there be another Cory Aquino in our midst who will selflessly serve and lead our nation? I’m not a big supporter, but I admire her for doing her best in her job and foremost for being a loving and understanding mom to her children (especially ‘yung time na ang isa sa mga anak niya got involved in a controversy).
I am one with you guys in mourning the loss of the country’s democracy icon. A woman, wife and mother. Let’s pray for the repose of her soul.
Thanks Mam Cory.
Not sure Yami. But what I am sure is that we can follow her footsteps.
[...] Here is another piece from one of my Ka Baryo (Silver), “Cory Aquino in My Memories.” [...]
kagigising ko lang at dito ko nalaman na patay na pala siya. nalungkot ako..
nanonood ako ngayon ng tribute ng GMA PINOY Tv sa kanya…
thnax sa info teacher Silver
No problem dencios. Ang gloomy dito sa pinas ngayon.
ang pangalang ninoy at cory aquino mananatili ng nakaukit sa puso ng mga pilipino.
sana magkaron din si tita cory ng monumento tas pagtabihin sila nong ke ninoy.
Korek ka dyan toni.
Influential ang mag-asawa na yan sa bansa natin.
This is sad day to all the Filipinos who value democracy as the living symbol has just died.
To Madam Cory: Rest in peace and God bless you always.
To be honest, I am quite affected by her death. She’s a Philippine icon of democracy kasi. Hay…
Relax lang Snow. Her spirit lives within us.
At least her pain is gone, she is in peace…She’s left us a precious gift, a lasting democracy and freedom. I personally can’t thank her enough.
Yes Chi. Aptly said. We cant thank her enough for the legacy she left to our country.
An email from Jeri:
Nice to hear from Jeri.
Dont worry Jeri, pagbalik mo dito sa Barrio e magpapashoktong ako for you.
Bakit kaya pati ang panahon nagpahiwatig ng pagluluksa what a coincidence.
eto sa new orleans, bumabagyo den, kairita! an lungkot nang panahon!
Mark,
Nagluksa din ang bagyong jolina for tita cory.
anu ba yan papangalanan din lang ang bagyo, sa jologs pa! hahaha
Cory Aquino is a symbol of purity and uncorruptable spirit. I was very proud to have taken part of the EDSA revolution in 1986. She embodies the resolve of the Filipino people.
Nice to know that Gil.
EDSA 1, so far, is the true embodiment of the power of people. Sad to see nga lang na yung EDSA e inaabuso na ng mga politiko.
Yung Edsa Dos na yan, I dont believe in the agenda of the leaders I saw there. Puro sila mga peke sa akin. Gingamit pa nila si Tita Cory.
Katulad mo Mam Silver,kung tiga west triangle si Pres. Cory, tiga south triangle ako, magkatapat ang barangay namin. dinadayo namin ang times st.mag-carolling, at laging may nakalaan para sa amin. Kabarangay naman namin ang abs at gma at opo pati camelot hotel. Kaya yang gringo na yan, hmmp! Maligalig ang sundalo na yan. Pati pananahimik ng barangay namin, nililigalig ng gringo na yan sa pag coup nya. Sa panahon lang ni Pres. Cory ako naging mayabang being a Filipino. Isang Presidenteng maipagmamalaki ko sa buong mundo.
Lani,
Nung coup de etat, we have to run like hell sa Makati noon para lang makaiwas sa mga tangke nina Gringo. Nung una, lumipat muna kami sa Dasma. Nung yung Dasma naman ang akmang susugurin, we have to flee to BF homes ba yun or sa Forbes. Di ko na tanda yung third place na pinagtaguan namen.
Mabait ang amo ng father ko. He sheltered his stay-in employees sa ibang houses nya para lang di madamay sa gulo. And shucks, ang hirap pala kapag unan at tubig lang ang dala mo. You dont know what will happen talaga. Akala ng nanay ko noon e baka maging civil war na.
I can vividly recall my siblings, they are crying out of fear when they heard the tanks and firearms shooting.
So anong napala ng mga sundalo na nag coup de etat? Wala din. Lalo lang nila pinahirapan ang pinas na naghihirap na. Tsk.
Nuong panahon yata ni Pres.Cory, parang ang mababait ng mga tao. Nagtutulungan. At Wag ko makita ang gringo na yan dito sa greenhills, ipapakuyog ko yan. Sadly, kahit kapitbahay lang ng opisina namin ang la salle, hindi ako makakapunta, hindi ko kayang tumingin sa labi ng sinumang mahal ko. Kahit minsan, I would just want to remember Pres. Cory as an alive person. Ang gusto ko kasing maalala at maiwan sa memories ko ay nuong buhay sya..
At habang nakipagputukan yang gringo na yan, wala kaming nagawa kungdi dumapa na lang at magdasal na sana wag kami tamaan ng ligaw na bala. Wala na kami oras to evacuate, dahil sa kasarapan ng tulog namin nagsisigapang na pala ang grupo nila. Nagulantang na lang kami sa tahulan ng mga aso at maya maya, ratratan na. Yun na yata ang pinakanakakatakot na parte ng buhay ko.
pag Gringo na ang pinag-uusapan, yan na yong point na HINDI AKO TIGA SORSOGON kung tiga-Philadelphia HAHAHA!!! HINDI AKO SORSOGANON LANI! HINDIIII! GRRR!
Ako din Mahal na Reynz!! Grrr! Talaga!
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[...] silver [...]
Wow! Ang tatapang nyo. Mga followers at admirers nga kayo ni Cory. But I see lots of hypocrisy around. The present hosannas about her “now” because she died — borders on melodramatic which we Pinoy are very good at doing.
Remember this?:
“BIRTH CONTROL PILL IS ILLEGAL PUNISHABLE BY FINE & JAIL.”
In 1971, Marcos approved birth control pill to halt DEADLY population explosion. Backed by Pres. Marcos & funded by the UN, the program was a success. Our country’s population steadied at 42Million until 1986. The Philippines was an economic success. The result of what Cory did was 95 MILLION HUNGRY FILIPINO MOUTHS from her FILIPINO POPULATION EXPLOSION with her as People Power President. Fast forward to today, we all blame PGMA for not taking care of and feeding the poor. (Well, in the first place it is not the responsibility of the govt to feed the poor unless there is a calamity or disaster. The govt has bigger fish to fry. But I digress.) NEWS FLASH: there are way too many poor today because of the failed policy on birth control, with or without corruption in govt. The Church is still opposing the reproduction bill. How much does the Church get involved in the feeding, housing, giving employment, and educating the poor of our country? How much money do they spend for the poor? HELLO?! And yet they are among the loudest critics of the govt. The funny thing is they do not even pay taxes! Have you heard the Church operate an Ateneo-like schools absolutely free for the poor? Does the Church have soup kitchens to feed our poor? Do they have shelters for the homeless for even an overnight sleep-in? In several more years our population would have doubled. ARRGGHH! I don’t care if a Mahatma Gandhi or a Mother Theresa-like person sits as president of our banana republic but whoever that person is will FAIL miserably in helping the poor in different ways that PGMA is doing now. Then what? Another People Power will ensue? Haven’t we have enough of this nonsense? The government resources is not unlimited. Having such a large IMPOVERISHED population will SIMPLY put a strain on our national coffers, with or without the corruption or lavish dinners. The saying “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” comes to mind when I think about what Cory did due to perhaps the urging of the Church, particularly Cardinal Sin.
Additionally, I noticed most of you dislike/hate Honasan and his RAM boys for doing what they did during Cory’s time and yet Trillanes and his merry men of mutineers are hailed as heroes today. In fact, Trillanes was elected to become a senator. Don’t you see the double standards or hypocrisy there? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.