Last Wednesday, August 1, the country remembered the ninth anniversary of the death of former President Cory Aquino. She remains in the hearts of many, and we all remember her works, sacrifices and the gift of democracy.
President Aquino died in 2009 due to colon cancer. Her wake was held in La Salle Greenhills on Ortigas Avenue in Mandaluyong City. She was later buried beside her husband, the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino.
It would be proper to inform many of our young people today about these events in our recent past, as they may not remember them anymore. A big part of our population today was not yet around when these things happened. Those of us who know and those of us who were witnesses have the great responsibility to inform our youth, in the hope of inspiring them and helping them value the freedom that we are all enjoying today.
Maria Corazon Aquino was born on January 25, 1933, the sixth of eight children of Jose Cojuangco and Demetria Sumulong. She studied at Saint Scholastica’s College and went to the United States for high school. In America, she studied at Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia and Notre Dame Convent School in New York. Many people probably don’t know that the former president graduated with a bachelor’s degree in French (minor in Math). She wanted to become a lawyer upon her return to the Philippines, and so she started taking law classes at the Far Eastern University. She, however, stopped her studies when she married the late senator Ninoy.
Tita Cory was the country’s first female president. The one who led the country from dictatorship to democracy after the Edsa revolution of 1986 toppled the 21-year rule of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Nine years after her death, her son, the former President Noynoy Aquino, led the commemoration at the, Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque. The family and some participants wore yellow, Cory’s color. Everyone prayed the rosary for the late president.
It may be remembered that, when she was still alive, President Cory was very religious. It is said that Mother Teresa of Calcutta herself gave Cory a rosary. In Cory’s resting place, she holds a rosary given by Fr. Sonny Ramirez, OP.
Let us keep her memory alive, especially her works and dreams for the people. Most of all, let us protect our democracy. Many martyrs and heroes have died so we could enjoy our freedom.
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I would like to congratulate the winners of the PCSO Special Maiden Race (Santa Ana) on July 21: Storm Bell (with jockey JB Hernandez), Caloocan Girl (with RM Garcia), Interstate (with RG Fernandez), Golden Buzzer (with JT Zarate) and Snap Dance (with AP Asuncion). Warm congratulations too to the July 21 PCSO Special Maiden Race winners (Philippine Racing Club Inc. in Naic, Cavite): Storm Bell (with jockey JB Hernandez), Caloocan Girl (with RM Garcia) and Interstate (with RG Fernandez).