Cory calls for sobriety amid tape furor, prayers for nat’l leaders

Former President Corazon Aquino, who once successfully led mass protest actions that culminated in the downfall of the Marcos regime, called on the people yesterday to pray for the country’s leaders and follow the rule of law amid growing political unrest and mounting calls for President Arroyo to step down.

In an interview after the second Benigno Aquino Jr. Award for Nationalism ceremonies at Malacañang, Mrs. Aquino said she shared with the President her thoughts on the current political situation but did not elaborate.

"I think the best thing we can do for our country now is to pray for each other and pray for our leaders and, as always, I would advise that we stick to sobriety and just follow the rules," Mrs. Aquino said.

She said the Filipino values life and tends to give the nation’s leaders the "maximum benefit of the doubt." "Given a good leader, because he is a good follower, the Filipino can attain great heights," she said. "Together, let us all help the Filipino attain great heights."

She made this statement as the opposition and left-leaning groups vowed to continue their protest rallies until the President steps down.

Security was tight at Malacañang, with platoons of anti-riot policemen and members of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) deployed at the streets and intersections approaching the Palace.

Mrs. Aquino said the late Manila archbishop emeritus Jaime Cardinal Sin helped her rally the people to gather for the funeral march of her husband in 1983 and to protest the Marcos dictatorship.

"It was he (Sin) who led in the concelebration of the funeral Mass in the Sto. Domingo Church, who advised me to speak on Radyo Veritas and urge the people to join us in the funeral procession, reminding them to always adhere to non-violent practices," Mrs. Aquino said.

Despite the current political situation and the country’s unique history of regime changes via people power, there is still much to be hopeful for, since "the Filipino is worth dying for," Mrs. Aquino said, quoting her late husband.

The former president shared her reflections on the Filipino with The STAR: "I have asked myself many times if the Filipino is worth suffering and even dying for. Is he not a coward who would readily yield to any colonizer, be it foreign or homegrown? Is a Filipino more comfortable under an authoritarian leader because he does not want to be burdened by the freedom of choice? Is he unprepared, or worse, ill-suited for presidential or parliamentary democracy?"

After carefully weighing the virtues and faults of the Filipino, Mrs. Aquino said she has come to conclusion that the Filipino is, indeed, worth dying for "because he is the nation’s greatest untapped resource. He is not a coward."