Manila holds exhibit to mark 100 days since Cory's death

MANILA, Philippines - To commemorate the 100th day since former President Corazon Aquino’s death, the Manila City government will hold a two-week exhibit at the city hall starting today.

Yesterday morning, Mayor Alfredo Lim, Aquino’s daughter, Pinky Aquino-Abellada, and Councilor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto led the ribbon-cutting that formally opened a group exhibition at the Lacson underpass in Quiapo dubbed, “Democracy in Yellow.”

Also present during the event was Museo ng Maynila head Monina Santiago, who said that after the exhibition, the artworks will go back to its home, the Sigwada Gallery in Sta. Cruz.

Servo, who conceptualized the project, said the exhibition features various artists from different genres, who united for one purpose – to espouse freedom and democracy.

“This exhibit brings to the fore how Tita Cory led a new kind of democracy in the country,” Servo said, adding that the artworks depicted how Aquino acted as a mother to the Filipino people even when she was no longer president.

A statement from the Manila City Hall said, during the opening of the exhibit, Lim called on Manila residents, especially the youth, not to forget the selflessness shown by the Aquino family.

Abellada, for her part, thanked Lim and Servo for honoring her mother even in death. She said Lim was one of only five politicians they let into her mother’s hospital room during her final days, the statement said.

She said the whole Aquino family will forever be thankful to Lim, who never left her mother’s side even if the decisions he had to make then were unpopular.

Abellada vowed to keep their family’s name and public service record clean.   – Sandy Araneta