President Corazon Aquino, 1933-2009

Some people are just destined for greatness. For some, it is thrust upon them. But for Corazon Aquino, it is both. All this plain housewife from Tarlac wanted to do was raise her children, while her husband battled the political evils that have plunged the country into its darkest times. But when Ninoy Aquino was murdered right on the tarmac where his plane had just brought him back home, fate just had to step in for Cory Aquino.

Unwillingly, she became the freedom fighters’ leader. With no political background whatsoever, she challenged a strongman who had held on to power for two decades. And as it became evident that she was going to be cheated out of a victory, the people rallied behind her, prompting an uprising this country, and the world, had never ever seen before. With the dictator exiled, freedom and democracy have been restored.

For four years, she led the country out of the rut that it was in. Even as those who had helped put her in power decided that they wanted it for themselves. She survived several coup attempts, many bloody and even at one point almost costing the life of her son. But she remained steadfast at the same time magnanimous, all throughout the six years of her presidency. Even as her term ended, she remained true to her advocacy of truth and transparency, turning over the reins of power, and formally saying goodbye.

She would still be a force to reckon with, whenever political evils would emerge and pull the country back into the doldrums that she fought hard to get out of. She would heed the call whenever the people beckoned her to lead against bad governments. She is after all, an icon of democracy.

But the past year has had her fighting another enemy. One that attacks and destroys from within. As news had broken out that she was diagnosed with an advanced stage of colorectal cancer, the country once again rallied behind her, this time in prayer and support in the hope that she would pull through. And she did fight it out, going through the pains and hardships of chemotherapy.

But on August 1st, 2009, she succumbs to the cancer. The country has lost its Jean D’Arc. Her efforts have put the Philippines into the limelight, in terms of fighting for democracy. Indeed we owe our freedom to President Corazon Aquino.

No other person, much less politician, will be as celebrated as her. No other person, much less politician, can be as magnanimous as her, as a state funeral was not her wish. No pomp and pageantry, just simple rites for a private citizen wanting to be buried beside her late husband.

For everything that we now enjoy, thank you, Madame President! A sad but grateful nation mourns your passing, while at the same time promising that your spirit will live on, even if it means fighting for it!