Untold stories about Tita Cory

It was a phenomenal confluence of people of diverse colors and persuasion. Volunteers showed up armed with love and dedication willing to sweat it out as human cordon, gate keepers, traffic coordinators, secretaries, security guards. “This is the least we can do for Tita Cory,” one declared. There were times when we couldn’t enter the cathedral because I had no ID. I understood the ushers who stick to the rules given to them so that order would prevail. They must have been the most maligned people as both the deserving and the “short-cutters” demanded for easy and priority view of the late president. My heart went out to them. Some people waited for eight to 10 hours falling in line without doubt, complaint or question under the sun or rain, against strong winds with nothing to protect them except their fierce love to their beloved mother and president.

Bravo to the indefatigable Rapa Lopa, the great Maria Montelibano, Fr. Monching Francisco and all who risked life and limb to be of service to Tita Cory and the country she loved so dearly.

Aug. 2 – Sunday. We did The Buzz at La Salle Greenhills gymnasium. It was the first time Kris was talking about her mom’s death, the last days they spent together at the hospital. People wanted to know more details about many things only Kris could shed light on. People waited and watched. Some asked if I prepared questions and if I was briefed on what Kris was going to say. I know from our conversations most of her declarations, but I didn’t know what she outlined to say on The Buzz. It turned out to be a most honest, riveting interview. Days after, people would tell me that they would still cry while watching Kris on YouTube.

During the nine-hour journey to Manila Memorial Park, no one peed. We were all blessed with amazing grace and stamina. I look back in awe on how we all made it without kidneys bursting. Brown coaster #1 was reserved for immediate family members. I was invited to join them together with Jessica Soho, Karen Davila and Fe Zamora from the media. They did interviews with family members which aired live in various programs. My estimate of the journey was, it was going to last between 4 to 5 hours. But the crowds from Manila Cathedral to Manila Memorial Park just got heavier. Devoted Coryistas withstood the wind and rain just to get a glimpse of their beloved president in her final march to her resting place. Ten minutes short of nine hours, we arrived at Manila Memorial Park.

Inside the van, there was a cooler filled with bottled water and cans of juices. Halfway through the journey, I sensed that I was heavily breathing. I was scared as I haven’t experienced anything like that. I pride in the fact that I am healthy, that I drink a lot of water, that I sleep eight to 10 hours a day, that I play badminton four times a week, that I watch my diet, that I go to Baclaran every week, that I try to be a good citizen and human being and here I was having difficulty breathing. But I couldn’t complain aloud because I didn’t want to create an unnecessary problem which I wasn’t sure of. Until Gerbel, Baby James’ nurse started to quietly complain to me about the same problem. Val, the Channel 2 cameraman also mentioned the same and said he was also embarrassed to complain. And we realized that people inside the van were experiencing difficulty in breathing caused by the buildup of carbon dioxide and which would have caused nitrogen asphyxiation for all. Someone ordered that the windows be opened so air could come in. Lo and behold, after a few minutes we were fine!

Somewhere in Bicutan, Senator Noy went down the van to walk with the multitude. Josh all throughout the nine-hour journey was well-behaved. Baby James was constantly waving to the crowd. Every time he’d see Pres. Cory’s photo he’d say, “Lola, Lola, bye.”

We saw the honor guards positioned around Pres. Cory’s coffin in the truck right in front of us honoring the president with their love, dedication, tenacity and courage to stand still under the sun and rain, through humps and curves for almost nine hours without moving a strand of hair. Bravo!

At past 11 in the evening, I did SNN Live from Manila Memorial Park. My whole body was trembling in fatigue, my mind was weary. Our Business Unit head Louie Andrada, executive producers Nancy Yabut and Jasmine Pallera ran the show from the stillness and darkness of the memorial park. Our shoes were all covered with mud, we were all tired and famished but our hearts were beating strong with pride that in our little way we did something good for our beloved mother and president, Cory Aquino.