Sunday, August 30, 2009

visiting tita cory at manila memorial

Last Saturday, we were all at home at the same time so we decided to go to the Manila Memorial park in Sucat to at last visit the grave of 2 Pinoy heroes, Cory Aquino and Ninoy Aquino. We thought that by now, we would probably have the park all to ourselves, but when we asked for directions, the guard said a lot of people were already there. In fact, another guard said that a lot of people still come everyday!
Balikbayans were having their picture taken and while I said a silent prayer I again wondered at the simplicity of the grave where Ninoy and Cory lay. No marble, no gates.While other people would have made grand mausoleums in their own honor, the Aquinos would have gone unnoticed if not for the people gathered and the various offerings on their tombs. This was a cute drawing probably made by a schoolkid As seen on TV...a charcoal drawing...Masyado yatang pinaganda si Tita Cory kaya di na kamukha...

When we left, more people were arriving to pay their respects, to say thank you, to promise to always remember how great the Filipino can be.
Jon says there's a new meaning to T.G.I.F. = Thank God I'm Filipino!



Afterwards, we went outside the gates of the park to look at the souvenirs on sale (It's like the park had become a tourist spot!)

That's Twinx trying out a shirt...


...and us hanging out at a pizza resto, all infected by the yellow fever!

Monday, August 24, 2009

tita cory's funeral procession





it seems almost everybody was either watching tita cory's wake and funeral on TV or outside like my family did. People were genuinely eager to walk /wait under the rain for hours just to say goodbye and it fills my heart with hope. I still have a yellow ribbon pinned on my bag to remind to be kinder, more patient with everyone I meet, just like tita cory.




there was a documentary on TV last night about ninoy aquino and according to twitter, lots of young people watched it. I'm glad that the kids who weren't even alive during the People Power revolution have been inspired by the lives of these 2 heroes.




the big question now is what happens next?


Sunday, August 02, 2009

Goodbye tita Cory



Yesterday former president Cory Aquino passed away ever so quietly while we slept. I felt sad that a guiding light has gone but I am also happy that she is now free from pain and at peace with Ninoy at last. My lolo also died of cancer and I prayed that he not suffer needlessly.


I never met her personally but we all knew her as tita Cory. I remember the Edsa people power revolution and waking up at our relatives' place in Pasay. Pa and Ma had brought us there before they went to Edsa to block the tanks. Pa recalled saying goodbye to our car which was one of the first in line to be crushed. My parents believed in Cory so much they were willing to die for her. That's why tita Cory has always been like family to us.


That's why I pity the young who don't see what all the fuss is about. They're so lucky they can bitch and complain about anything so freely. Back in the Marcos years, all media was controlled, suppressed. Imagine being harassed by the powers- that-be just for honking your horn twice to sound like "co-ry"? That's what happened to us during the 1986 snap election. My pa made that sound while driving in Pasay and someone snitched. The next day my aunt was summoned to Mayor Pablo Cuneta's office (Sharon's dad) to explain. Ridiculous but true!


Thank tita Cory for freedom we now take for granted. I feel sad for us because she was always the person we turned to because we knew we could trust her. She was our moral compass when Ramos tried to amend the constitution, when Erap tried to bring down the Inquirer, when Gloria (who she campaigned for) virtually admitted she cheated with Hello Garci...


Now comes the hard part. Tita Cory is gone and we only have each other now to turn to in times of crises. Let's not fail her.

I remember this song used by Namfrel...

It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark

Better far just to light just one little candle all you need's a tiny spark

If we all said a prayer that world would be free

The wonderful dawn of a new day we'll see

And if everyonelit just one little candle what a bright world this would be!



More stories from http://www.inquirer.net/

linkwithin

”related
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...