Prayers, messages of love flood Cory website

MANILA, Philippines – From Singapore to the United States, messages of love, prayers and support flood the official website of former President Corazon Aquino after her family announced that she was afflicted with cancer of the colon.

In three days alone, since April 3, at least 100 people — mostly Filipinos from Singapore, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Canada and different parts of the United States — sent their brief electronic mail (email) to Aquino’s official website http://www.coryaquino.ph/feedback.asp.

A majority of them were ordinary people and not personal friends of the former leader.

Jiggy Cruz, the eldest grandchild of the former president, said the website has been there for a long time. He explained that when they announced his grandmother’s condition, they asked that their family be given privacy.

“People just thought of browsing through the website,” and were able to convey their messages to his lola, said the 22-year-old grandson.

Rapa Lopa, a nephew of Mrs. Aquino, said, “Check out her website. (There are messages from) Filipinos all over the world. It is really an overwhelming expression of love and affection to President Aquino.”

Apart from prayers and medicines, there were also those who suggested alternative ways to fight cancer such as fresh carrot juice, barley grass juice, and lemon grass. A few made mention that they were fans of her daughter television host Kris Aquino-Yap.

The email address of Mrs. Aquino was included in the novena prayer leaflets that were being distributed during the health and healing Masses offered for her.

Included in the four-page leaflet were prayers for grace and healing of Mrs. Aquino, Memorare, and a prayer for the intercession of the late Pope John Paul II. It also provides the schedule of six healing Masses.

“We are hoping that the public will show their support to these healing Masses. It is open for everyone,” said Cruz.

He added that his grandmother has been responding well to medical treatment.

“She is eating a lot, lot more compared during the last few days. Her weight is okay, we are just hoping that her weight would not decrease. The doctor said she could eat anything she wants,” he said.

Last April 5, they held the second healing Mass at the St. Joseph Convent of Perpetual Adoration (more popularly known as the “Pink Sisters”). It was officiated by Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes.

Among those present were her daughter Viel Dee and relatives Francis Dee, Eldon Cruz, grandsons Jiggy and Jonty Cruz and Miguel Abellada.

Personalities such as former Ambassador Howard Dee, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) chairperson Henrietta “Tita” de Villa, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, and couple Jackie and Beaver Ejercito also attended the Mass.

In his homily, Bishop Reyes said sickness was related to suffering. He clarified that God does not want men and women to suffer, but “He allowed suffering because He gave man the freedom to sin and to do wrong. God respects our freedom. He wants us to know what it means to suffer.”

However, during these trying times in our lives, the Bishop assured that God is beside us to give us strength and shares in our suffering. “When we suffer, we often complain and we stop believing, but God loves us and gives us the strength to go on believing. God accompany us in times of our joy and suffering, especially when we see innocent people suffer.”

The third 6 p.m. healing Mass is scheduled on May 3 at the St. Joseph’s Convent of Perpetual Adoration; followed by the fourth Mass on May 13 at the St. John Bosco Parish in Makati City; on May 30 at the Church of the GESU in Ateneo de Manila University; and on May 31 at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (or Manila Cathedral).