Kris may take a break for Cory

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Corazon Aquino’s daughter Kris appealed to the public on Sunday to pray for her mother as she admitted on ABS-CBN’s television show “The Buzz” that the democracy icon, who is fighting stage 4 colon cancer, is “in pain.”

Kris likewise announced on “The Buzz” that she wanted to spend more time with her mother in these “very difficult times,” thus she might not be able to appear regularly in her television shows in the next few weeks.

A report on abs-cbnnews.com yesterday said the television host-actress asked the public to pray that the suffering of her mother would be lessened.

“I’m only sharing this with you (public) because you have been on this journey with us,” Kris said, according to the report.

“We don’t know how many more hours, days and weeks God will give her, but please help us pray that my Mom won’t suffer too much pain because it really breaks our heart to see her in such state,” said Kris, who wept as she outlined her mother’s condition.

In a report on GMA-7’s news program “24 Oras,” Kris was quoted as saying that doctors have told them that “it’s only a matter of time.”

Kris hosts “The Buzz” which airs every Sunday and “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon” which airs daily on ABS-CBN primetime.

“I don’t want to have regrets, that why did I report for work when I could have been in the hospital,” Kris further said, according to the abs-cbnnews.com report.

Earlier, the television host also declared she is setting aside shooting for her movies to focus on the health of her mother.

Kris added that she has difficulty entertaining people when her heart is breaking.

Mrs. Aquino’s youngest daughter again expressed their family’s gratitude to the public for the outpouring of prayers and love, as these give them the needed strength to face their ordeal.

“For whatever time left, I want to be beside my mom. The same with all my siblings. Again on behalf of the family, thank you to everybody,” she said.

No significant changes

Sen. Benigno Aquino III, meantime, yesterday said there was no “significant changes” in the condition of his mother.

“I would ask the doctors, where are we? And they would say, status quo. Meaning there is no change. Sometimes they tell me she is stable. But my sisters will later say the contrary,” the senator said.

He told The STAR that the former president was not in constant pain, and that mild painkillers were administered whenever she feels any pain.

The senator said his sister Kris apparently said she might not be able to appear in her shows for the meantime because they would have to discuss a number of things as regards their mother’s treatment. He did not elaborate.

In an earlier interview, the senator said their mother had not been able to eat and that there were times she would be in pain and had to be carried and assisted when turning on her bed or going to the comfort room.

He said he and his sisters were taking turns taking care of their mother at the hospital.

But the senator said there was no need for him to take a leave from the Senate.

“My mother would not look kindly on my taking a leave from the Senate as that would be shirking my duties and responsibilities,” he said.

Healing Masses

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday led a five-day healing Mass for Mrs. Aquino at the Manila City Hall’s Bulwagang Antonio Villegas.

Lim said the five-day healing Mass is being conducted after the nine-day novena in Greenhills and five-day healing Mass in Rockwell ended.

“We started this to continue the healing Masses and prayers for President Cory Aquino. We will have this today until Friday, every 12 noon,” said Lim.

Also seen during the Mass was Mrs. Aquino’s spokesperson Deedee Siytangco, former senator Franklin Drilon, nuns from the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) led by Sister Mary John Mananzan, Justice Adolf Azcuna and Ambassador Voltaire Gazmin.

The one-hour Mass was celebrated by Fr. Enrique Santos, parish priest of St. Niño de Tondo.

Santos said Mrs. Aquino can be likened to the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin because she is the female voice and matriarch of the Church.

Santos said that Mrs. Aquino had once said that she wants the country to heal, even if she is not healed.

“In this Mass, we do not only pray for Cory, let us listen to Cory. We also pray for the healing of the country,” said Santos.

Santos said whatever Mrs. Aquino is undergoing right now, she remains strong.

“She’s in pain, yet we continue praying with her and praying for her,” he said.

Siytangco echoed Kris’ statement that Mrs. Aquino is “in a little pain now.”

“She (Mrs. Aquino) is conscious, and sometimes she could still get up,” Siytangco said, adding that the former president eats very little, but is trying very hard to get better.

“She’s still very thankful that we are all praying for her, getting together like this. And it is a healing also for us, getting together with friends and not so good friends. I think she is the only person who could bring us together to pray,” said Siytangco.

Siytangco said Mrs. Aquino is too weak to undergo chemotherapy.  “I think all cancer patients and survivors know how hard it is to have chemo (therapy). You have to be strong to undergo chemo. That’s why Mrs. Aquino also appeals to everybody who’s praying for her to please pray for the other cancer patients, and for those who have other debilitating diseases,” said Siytangco.

“But at this point, she’s praying and trying very hard to fight the disease. Just by suffering quietly, she’s praying,” she said.

Lim, for his part, stressed that the kind of service rendered by Mrs. Aquino is worthy of emulation and her principled stance was one of the reasons why he stood by her during her administration.

Mrs. Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer last year.

She has been confined at the Makati Medical Center since June 25 for loss of appetite.

Mrs. Aquino, the widow of assassinated opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was propelled into the spotlight in 1986 when she headed a massive “people power” movement that toppled late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The then-housewife who reluctantly became president went on to restore democracy in the country. – With Aurea Calica, Sandy Araneta