'Cory's burden now upon me'

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino rallied the people yesterday to stay by his side, just as they did with his mother, democracy icon and former President Corazon Aquino, who passed away one year ago today.

“The burden that she once carried is now upon me. She managed to overcome it with the help of the people. I hope and pray that you will also be by my side so that the change that we committed to work on together will soon become a reality,” Aquino said during the unfurling of a giant photo mosaic of his mother at the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park in Manila.

Aquino admitted that he would not have been president if his mother were still alive because she wanted him to finish his term as senator. The death of his mother triggered calls for Aquino to run for president in the May 10 elections, replacing former Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II as the Liberal Party standard-bearer.

“When she passed away a year ago, I must admit that, at first, I was a bit concerned that public support for the principles that she stood for had waned over the years. Did they feel that the struggle for truth, justice, and freedom was still relevant to them? After her passing, who would continue the good fight?” Aquino said.

However, Aquino said he became more than reassured that his mother was never forgotten with the record numbers that flocked to her wake in La Salle, Greenhills, at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila and the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque to pay tribute to her and what she stood for.

“As we said during our final goodbye when the nation joined us, it was an expression of tremendous love we did not expect - thousands of people patiently waiting in line, enduring hunger and fatigue, marching long distances, and coming together to escort her to her final resting place,” Aquino said.

“On the other hand, beyond expressing sympathy, it was a resurgence of hope and a realization that each of us has a role in alleviating our common burden. This mosaic of photographs is a symbol of that hope,” he said, referring to the 250 feet by 200 feet photo mosaic of Cory.

But the real challenge, the President said, was in making Cory’s example and legacy “part of our daily lives.”

“All through her life, she demonstrated love, not only for her family but also for every single Filipino. Remember this as you widen your horizons and realize that there are people who may not be as fortunate as you are,” he said in a speech.

“My mother confronted many challenges and no matter how difficult they were, she never gave up. Remember this when you feel like surrendering to all your problems. I remember her best for what she taught me when she said I could not live with myself knowing that I could have done something and I chose not to. That lesson about conviction was critical in my decision to run for the presidency,” Aquino said.

Destiny

Aquino’s ascension to the presidency had been attributed to “destiny” as he never had plans to run until the death of his mother.

“I don’t know if I would have been president if my mother was around. I would have fulfilled my duties as senator of the republic,” Aquino said.

He said there were a lot of fears as to who would continue her legacy. He said his mother had always been “the leader, the inspiration, the guide, my moral authority” and when she passed away, he wondered “how do you rally everybody to the cause?”

“If the people are not united, you would not have been able to overcome the past. But, I guess, isn’t it God really has very good plans for all of us? So this was a necessary step leading to the triumph of the people in the last elections,” Aquino said.

Aquino stressed he would not compete with the legacy of his parents but would make sure that their aspirations would be achieved.

“Well, about getting out of their shadows, it’s like I’ll make my own mark. What I’ve always stated is that I am continuing the fight that both of them have rendered for the people. So why is there a need to reinvent the wheel, why is there a need to digress and diverge from what they were fighting for?” Aquino said.

“What they were fighting for was right so I don’t see a need to move away from anything that they have fought for and if I pale in comparison to them, that would be okay with me as long as the end result is that the aspirations are achieved,” Aquino said.

Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday the political impact of the death of former President Aquino was already experienced by the country even before her first death anniversary with the election of her son as president of the republic.

Yesterday, Aquino said there were so many emotions going through him as he viewed the mosaic and that “I frequently miss my mom.”

He said he was touched by the cadets who volunteered to unfurl the mosaic even under the rain because it looked like they could feel the significance of the event even if they were not even born yet during the first EDSA people power revolution in 1986.

Photo mosaic

Aquino also thanked all those who participated in the photo mosaic project.

“I hope we do not disappoint the representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records who are here to witness this tribute by the people to our mother, former President Cory Aquino,” Aquino said.

The mosaic is composed of 3,200 photos taken during the former president’s term in office.

The project was funded and conceptualized by the private sector, including the Cory Veterans Group and Aquino’s relatives.

Those behind the project said the four-ton giant photo mosaic was a labor of love and cost them P2 million that was shouldered by private donors.

The organizers of the event said it took two years to make and the photographs were sourced from the Internet and various sectors.

A total of 120 tarpaulin panels make up the giant photo mosaic, which is about the size of 10 National Basketball Association basketball courts, organizers said.

The photo mosaic will remain at the Quirino Grandstand for seven days for public viewing.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said over dzRB that the death of Cory gave the people renewed hope since people had become skeptical and would take everything that the previous administration would say with “a grain of salt.”

Activities lined up

The Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF) announced that to commemorate the first death anniversary of former President Cory Aquino today, they have lined up a number of activities with the help of other concerned groups.

Rafael Lopa, NCAF executive director, said that to honor her legacy, there will be a memorial Mass at the St. Benilde Gymnasium, La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) in Mandaluyong City.

The concelebrated Mass, with Bishop Soc Villegas as main celebrant, will be preceded by a short program titled “Her Legacy, Our Promise,” starting at 9:30 a.m. 

This “people’s tribute” will feature the relaunch of President Cory’s “People Power People,” a program designed to recognize and mobilize support for individuals and groups which have been empowering marginalized and disadvantaged Filipinos.

“We want the commemoration of President Cory’s first death anniversary to go beyond the tradition of babang luksa and the celebration of her life as our unique icon of democracy and integrity in governance. Now that the spirit of volunteerism is very much alive, we’d like to harness our people’s talents and energy to make a difference among needy sectors of our society,” Lopa said.

As part of today’s event, the group said the La Sallian community will unveil the historical marker for the St. Benilde Gymnasium, which first gained national prominence as the site of the 1986 National Citizen’s Movement for Free Election’s Operation Quick Count, which provided the basis for presidential candidate Cory Aquino’s claim of triumph over Ferdinand Marcos during the snap elections.

Before the formal commemorative ceremonies at LSGH, a horde of cyclists is expected to take part in “Ride for Cory” in honor of the late President. They will ride around the Ortigas-Boni Serrano-EDSA-Connecticut loop from 6:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. for the benefit of cancer-stricken Filipinos and their loved ones.

All set

The Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City is all set for today’s first death anniversary of Mrs. Aquino.

Park manager Lamberto Peña told The STAR that they have already set up tents and chairs at Mrs. Aquino’s gravesite should her close friends and family decide to hold Mass there today. He added that park’s security personnel have also been briefed for today’s event.

As of Saturday, the Aquino family has yet to inform the park if President Aquino and his sisters will visit their parents’ tombs, said Peña.

Malacañang on Friday said the President will attend a Mass today at the De La Salle Greenhills where Mrs. Aquino’s wake was held last year.

The Southern Police District is also all set for today’s event. About 160 policemen will be deployed today to maintain peace and order and ensure smooth traffic flow, ground commander and Parañaque City police chief Senior Superintendent Alfredo Valdez said. - With Rhodina Villanueva, Sandy Araneta, Pia Lee-Brago, Aie Balagtas See