'Cory stable'

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Corazon Aquino is now in stable condition.

“She is stable, comfortable. The children can talk to her and report to her about the prayer vigils. She is trying very hard to eat. Everything has been very good. We, together with the doctors, are really watching over her,” Mrs. Aquino’s spokeswoman Deedee Siytangco said, adding that the former president was able to take communion last Sunday.

Siytangco shared that healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez was not able to visit Mrs. Aquino in her private room at the Makati Medical Center the other night because she was already resting.

“But as Fr. Suarez said, he always prays for her because she is a woman that he admires,” Siytangco said.

Meantime, former President Fidel Ramos and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte yesterday joined relatives and close friends of Aquino in praying for her immediate recovery at the Sto. Niño de Paz Chapel in Greenbelt, Makati City.

Ramos said Aquino deserved gratitude from the Filipino people for her role in bringing democracy back to the country.

“It is only proper for people to come here and pray for her in all sincerity so that she could survive her present illness and continue to serve our people longer,” Ramos said, but added that Aquino’s fate is now in the hands of the Lord.

For his part, Belmonte said the Quezon City government has also organized a Mass for Aquino today at the Quezon City hall.

“We are praying for her speedy recovery. I wish her well and pray for her speedy recovery,” Belmonte said.

Pastor “Boy” Saycon, another friend of Mrs. Aquino, said God will be kind to the icon of democracy.

“I believe that God will be kind to her. She has already served the people,” Saycon said.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of former President Ferdinand Marcos, also extended their family’s prayers for Aquino’s speedy recovery.

“With the rest of the nation, my family and I have watched with sadness the serious turn in President Aquino’s health condition. Being a former president of the Republic, her ordeal is also the nation’s. We want to convey to her and her family our sincere hope and prayers for her safe recovery,” Marcos said in a statement.

Siytangco expressed the Aquino family’s gratitude to all the people who have joined them in praying for an improvement in Mrs. Aquino’s health.

“We are really happy that they came, Mayor (Jejomar) Binay and Mayor Belmonte. Mayor Belmonte was Mrs. Aquino’s GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) president, Philippine Airlines (PAL) president and one of her close associates. We are very grateful to Mayor Belmonte,” Siytangco said.