MANILA, Philippines - Showers of confetti and the “L” sign for Laban greeted the funeral cortege of former President Corazon Aquino as Filipinos filled the streets of Metro Manila for the procession to the Manila Cathedral yesterday.
Streamers and banners bearing the words “Cory, di ka nag-iisa,” “Salamat at paalam President Cory” and “We love you Cory” also filled EDSA and Ayala Avenue in Makati.
Filipinos from all walks of life honored Aquino as her coffin, with a Philippine flag draped over it and loaded on a flatbed truck adorned with yellow flowers, passed through yesterday.
Business establishments along EDSA and the Makati central business district showered the procession with confetti, reminiscent of the funeral march for Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in 1983.
Employees and people doing business at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency in Mandaluyong went out of the building to watch the procession escorted by three police mobile cars.
The flatbed truck bearing Aquino’s remains carried a streamer with the words “Mahal Ka Namin, Cory,” as four honor guards stood by the coffin.
People spilled out to the streets either flashing the “L” sign or shouting “Laban! Laban!” or raised a clenched fist, a trademark of Senator Aquino in his fight against the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
Yellow ribbons and banners filled the entire stretch of the procession to show sympathy to the Aquinos.
A marching band playing the song “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” greeted the funeral procession.
As early as 9 a.m. commuters, office employees and pedestrians waited at the intersection of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue as the drum and bugle corps of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) played songs as a tribute to Aquino.
People on top of the foot bridge and sidewalks along EDSA erupted in cheers while flashing the “L” sign as Aquino’s convoy passed by.
The MMDA band played its rendition of the 1973 hit song “Tie A Yellow Ribbon,” which became popular during the ’80s, especially after the assassination of Senator Aquino.
Yellow became Cory’s signature color, which she used in her campaign for the 1986 presidential snap elections and until she was elected president.
Vans and buses carrying members of the Aquino family, relatives and close friends followed by various private vehicles decorated with yellow ribbons and Cory posters were later joined by the media, emergency and police vehicles in the procession.
A man on top of the Guadalupe footbridge in Makati waved a huge Philippine flag as Aquino’s cortege passed.
As the procession approached Estrella street near Rockwell, MMDA employees from atop the building showered the cortege with confetti.
People clad in yellow shirts on top of the Buendia flyover released hundreds of yellow balloons.
They also hung yellow streamers bearing the words “Maraming Salamat President Cory Aquino” on the railings.
Crowds thickened as Aquino’s funeral procession reached Ayala Avenue in Makati, while more supporters and sympathizers clogged EDSA.
It took at least an hour before the cortege reached the Ninoy Aquino Monument at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, where it stopped for about five minutes.
Prayers for Cory
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, whom Aquino named the then municipality’s officer in charge, and members of the August Twenty One Movement welcomed the cortege.
“Salamat, sapagka’t kayo ang nagbalik ng tunay na demokrasya. (Thank you because you brought back true democracy),” Binay said in a short tribute to Aquino.
A huge yellow banner was prominently hung at the 6750 Building along Ayala Avenue.
The crowd then sang “Bayan Ko,” which was first heard during the 1986 EDSA People Power uprising.
The Insular Life building across the monument displayed the message “Cory, Hindi Ka Nag-iisa,” on its projection screen.
The Philippine Stock Exchange also displayed streamers bearing the message “Thank You Cory” and “Goodbye Cory.”
A streamer bearing the words “Cory, Di Ka Nag-iisa” was strung between electric posts at the center island on Ayala Avenue.
A shopping mall in Makati played the song “Magkaisa,” as the funeral procession passed through.
Yellow lane to cathedral
On the route to the Manila Cathedral, people in yellow lined Roxas Boulevard in Manila and chanted “Co-ry, Co-ry” while flashing the “Laban” sign.
Others threw yellow confetti and yellow ribbons as the 10-wheeler truck bearing Aquino’s flag-draped casket passed.
Vendors on the procession’s route sold yellow t-shirts bearing Cory’s image for P110 each, as well as Cory pins and yellow flowers.
Manila police director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay said he has ordered a 24-hour watch of the Manila Cathedral’s vicinity to prevent criminals from victimizing mourners, who are expected at the two-night wake.
Thousands waited at cathedral
Thousands of people awaited the remains of former President Corazon Aquino at the Manila Cathedral yesterday, as 1,000 policemen stood guard for 24 hours around Intramuros.
The Manila police said the number rose from 7,000 to 25,000 when the funeral procession that brought Aquino’s remains arrived shortly before 4 p.m.
Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, Manila police Station 5 commander, said some 1,000 policemen in three shifts of more than 300 each are deployed around the Manila Cathedral.
Police will secure the area in 24-hour shifts until Wednesday, he added.
Sapitula said the Manila police have prepared for the three-day event since Sunday night. “Final run through for the security was done at around 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. yesterday, before finally deploying the entire contingent yesterday around 7 a.m.,” he said.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim was seen helping secure the streets around the Manila Cathedral and directing traffic.
Yellow ribbons adorned the streets of Manila in honor of Aquino.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa oversaw yesterday the orderly arrival of Aquino’s remains from La Salle Greenhills.
Verzosa wanted to personally supervise the security arrangements at the cathedral, according to Chief Superintendent Lina Sarmiento, Police Security Protection Group director.
Sen. Benigno Aquino III arrived at the Manila Cathedral before 1 p.m., ahead of his mother’s funeral procession.
He shook hands with supporters who waited the whole day at the cathedral.
The crowd at the Manila Cathedral sang “Bayan Ko” before the remains of Aquino arrived.
Yellow confetti also fell from the nearby Palacio del Gobernador and other buildings.
As early as 8 a.m. Monday, roads leading to the Manila Cathedral were closed.
Gridlock in Makati
A huge traffic jam occurred as Aquino’s funeral procession passed through EDSA and Ayala Avenue in Makati yesterday.
Ronnie Rivera, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Metrobase chief, told The STAR that 200 MMDA traffic enforcers were deployed to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic in the main thoroughfares.
“The traffic buildup started at around 9 a.m. and started to normalize around 12:30 p.m.,” he said.
“We had to stop the motorists on the other directions of EDSA (Northbound) to allow the smooth flow of the convoy of the late president.”
Rivera said the funeral procession caused a gridlock on Ortigas Avenue in San Juan, especially the portion in front of La Salle Greenhills all the way to Shaw Boulevard, Pioneer Street and Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong; J.P. Rizal, Buendia and Ayala Avenue in Makati.
“The people who expressed their sympathies to the Aquino family filled EDSA and Buendia in Makati causing a buildup,” he said.
“Same thing with the areas under Ortigas flyover, Megamall, Boni. The sympathizers went in the middle of EDSA Guadalupe, Estrella and Buendia.”
Rivera said heavy traffic in the funeral route started to decongest at around 12:30 p.m.
“It did not automatically normalize because some vehicles also traveled the main thoroughfares, such as EDSA, because it’s lunch time,” he said.
“We have to stop the northbound portion of EDSA to allow the continuous flow of the convoy of the late President Aquino. But the expression of support of the Filipino people for the late president added to the buildup of traffic in EDSA, Buendia and Ayala.”
Mass held for Cory
A Mass was held for Aquino at La Salle Greenhills gymnasium before her remains were taken to the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros yesterday.
The Mass was concelebrated by Tarlac Archbishop Florentino Cinenze.
After the Mass, a novena was led by Aquino’s grandson Miguel while heavy rain fell outside.
Among those who attended the Mass were Aquino’s grandchildren, members of the Cojuangco family, daughter Kris and her husband James Yap, and some 150 workers of Hacienda Luisita and local officials from Tarlac.
After the novena Aquino’s brother, former Tarlac lawmaker Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, gave a statement for the Cojuangco family.
“Gusto sana naming madala si Cory sa Tarlac pero ang panahon ay di pumayag,” he said, expressing regret there was no time to bring the body to Tarlac.
“It dawned on me na when we had our First Friday Masses, hindi nagkasama-sama ang mga officials ng Tarlac.
“Pero ngayon, nagkasama-sama tayo, para kay Cory kahit na iba’t-ibang partido tayo (But now we’re all together for Cory even if we belong to different parties).”
At 10:30 a.m., preparations began for the move to the Manila Cathedral as military pall bearers waited near the casket.
At this point, the casket was closed and wrapped in a plastic sheet and a black leather sheet before it was covered by the Philippine flag.
Then the crowd started singing “Bayan Ko,” a signature tune of the EDSA People Power revolt, and flashed the “Laban” sign.
As the casket made its way through the gym’s door, the crowd started singing “Hindi Kita Malilimutan” and clapped their hands.
The casket was also showered with white petals.
Outside the gym, the casket was loaded aboard a red flat-bed truck bedecked by yellow mums, roses and white anthuriums.
The casket was escorted aboard the truck by four honor guards, one each from the Marines, the Navy, Army and the Air Force, as a military band played.
At 11:15 pm., the truck made its way out of the La Salle grounds bound for Makati.
The truck was escorted by policemen on motorcycles, followed by a convoy of vehicles.
Streets closed
Streets around the Manila Cathedral were closed to traffic starting at 9 a.m. yesterday. They will remain closed until Aquino’s burial on Wednesday.
The closed streets are A. Soriano (Aduana) from Arzobispo to Solano; Magallanes from A. Soriano to Sta. Potenciana; Cabildo from A. Soriano to Sta. Potenciana; General Luna from A. Soriano to Sta. Potenciana; Sto. Tomas from General Luna to Magallanes; Beatro from General Luna to Magallanes; Anda from General Luna to Magallanes; Real from General Luna to Magallanes, and A. Soriano from General Luna to Cabildo.
21 gun salute for Cory
A 21-gun salute will be fired in key military camps when Aquino’s remains are taken out of the Manila Cathedral for burial at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque tomorrow.
Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., Armed Forces public information chief, said another 21-gun salute will be fired when Aquino is laid to rest.
“Pagkalabas na pagkalabas sa (When she leaves) Manila Cathedral there will be simultaneously firing of 21-gun salute in all key military camps,” he said.
The practice is contained in the military manual for honoring presidents and former presidents who have passed away, Brawner said.
Cory to be buried next to Ninoy
Former President Aquino will be buried next to her husband, Sen. Ninoy Aquino, at the family mausoleum at Manila Memorial Park.
Lamberto Peña, Park manager, said Mrs. Aquino’s tomb will be on the left side if one is facing Ninoy’s niche.
“Preparations that included construction of the mausoleum where the former president’s coffin will be placed are now being undertaken,” he said.
“What has been coordinated to us by the representative of the Aquino family is that just like that of the former senator, her tomb will appear to be in cement finish and then painted white.”
Peña said most probably, Mrs. Aquino’s tombstone will also be similar to that of Ninoy’s – marble – and that her name will be engraved in Roman block letters.
“The family just wanted a simple but solemn ceremony at the burial site,” he said.
Two video walls will be set up at the site so that those who will not be able to get near can watch the ceremony, Peña said. — With Jaime Laude, Sandy Araneta, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Nestor Etolle, Mike Frialde, Rhodina Villanueva, Non Alquitran
VIDEO: A huge crowd awaits Cory convoy at Manila Cathedral in Intramuros