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!

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