Cory hears Mass for her surgery

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Corazon Aquino, although visibly weak, yesterday attended Mass organized by her good friend Margie Juico at the Christ the King Church in Green Meadows, Quezon City for her upcoming laparoscopic surgery for her colon cancer.

Aquino’s eldest grandson Jiggy Cruz said there was a need to remind people that prayers are again needed for the success of her surgery.

“Maybe we need more prayers again. People might think she is getting better (but she is) steady lang… Hopefully, everything will turn out for the best,” he said.

Wearing a powder blue suit, Aquino entered the chapel and joined her family and friends, numbering about a hundred, in a Mass intended to pray for her successful operation and full recovery. 

Aquino is scheduled to undergo surgery any day now. The Aquino family did not give a definite date as it seemed that they would want to keep the details of the operation a secret to avoid excessive publicity and media coverage.

Her son, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, said his mother is still strong enough to stand the heat in the kitchen and fusses over family members.

Noynoy told reporters that just three weeks ago, his mother made her famous chicken liver pate and served it to visitors, such as former education secretary Florencio Abad.
“She shared it for the first time, normally she does not share,” he revealed, adding that he misses his mother’s spaghetti with meatballs.

He believes that her cooking was a “significant sign” of her improving health, which they owe to the public’s prayers for her.

“The kitchen is hot and (cooking can be) tiring, yet she was able to do it. I keep on saying she has become more and more motherly, that she has normalized in her motherly role to the extent that she comments on my barong. We take these as signs of her improving health which we credit to prayers,” Aquino said.

Aquino spoke with a weak voice and was assisted by her grandsons in entering the chapel and returning to her vehicle after the Mass.

Just before the Mass ended, she was given the opportunity to speak. She thanked Juico for arranging the Mass, as well as her family and friends who have been supporting her through the years. “I want you to know that I pray for you every night. I am overwhelmed by your kindness.”

She recalled an instance when her doctors told her that they were impressed with her progress, but she told them, “I am prepared to go.”

She said the equipment needed for her operation was not available in the country, but the doctors managed to arrange for the surgery be held in the country. She did not want to go abroad because she did not want to disrupt the lives of her children and grandchildren.

“I don’t think I would be able to manage well if I did not have five children who have been there for me, encouraging me. I think I have suffered enough but it is God who would say when is enough,” she said.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Catalino Arevalo who mentioned in his homily that even Balanga, Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas asked that a novena to Our Lady of Fatima as well as praying the rosary from May 4 to May 13 be offered for Mrs. Aquino.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales reportedly copied the letter of Bishop Villegas and circulated it to all the parishes in Manila.

Fr. Arevalo said Mrs. Aquino has been regarded as the country’s spiritual leader while the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin was the country’s political leader.

He credited Mrs. Aquino for helping unite the country and that prayers should not only be dedicated for her immediate recovery but for the country’s healing as well.

Among those present were former vice president Teofisto Guingona, Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin, the wife and children of now-jailed NBN-ZTE whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada Jr., former Senate president Franklin Drilon, and former senator John Osmeña.