BEST INTENTIONS by Marie Rea, BSDevCom There’s No One Else Like Tita Cory!

With the sad passing of the Philippines' very own “Mother of Democracy,” former president Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino last August, this columnist and her family wish to convey her utmost condolences to the Aquino family. President Aquino's difficult battle with colon cancer has finally taken its toll!

This self-proclaimed “plain housewife” was also my former boss at the Office of Press Secretary under Thomas Gomez though I was not based in Malacanang but at the NAIA. 

It is well-known our Tita Cory (her popular name) rose to fame via the  equally famous  and peaceful People Power Revolution in 1986 which this 
 writer also personally participated in and which installed her as the first female Philippine president and first woman president of any Asian nation.

Here in Sydney, as we were unable to join the throng of mourners, rich and poor during her funeral, we contented ourselves watching with moist eyes and solemn faces the  televised mass for her funeral at the Manila Cathedral last August 5th.

During her wake, a number of familiar politicians and personalities gave their respects; notably former President Fidel Ramos and Vice President Noli de Castro. No less than the Marcos siblings were also photographed at the wake.  

Of course, the current president, Gloria Arroyo who reportedly was not invited to the funeral mass still turned up at her wake, cutting short her trip to America. With this gesture, I could only assume her dilemma of “damned if she did and damned if she didn't.” Go figure (that out)!

Alas, many more mourners included former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Pampanga Gov. Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio and Sen. Rodolfo Biazon. There were also foreign visitors, like Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, wife of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and Ambassador Alistair Macdonald, head of the European Commission delegation to the Philippines.

The list goes on, not to mention many of Kris Aquino's showbiz mates, including the has-beens and hangers on! 

How many more would Tita Cory inadvertently help return to popular mass appeal?       Let the funeral speech of Kris, the youngest and most popular of the Aquino children and perhaps the whole Aquino clan, enlighten you. Granted, many of us have only sympathy and sadness in our hearts over the demise of a true icon of modern-day Philippine history and democracy as a whole.

Indeed, we acknowledge with Kris the sacrifices her parents have made for the Filipinos, especially the assassination of her father Ninoy which gave 
 impetus to Cory becoming the thread that united the nation against Marcos.   But, with all honesty, I must mention, that after all was said and done, it 
 became clear to me that Kris, in her speech to the nation and to the world that she was starting to sow the seeds of her own intention and that of her 
 elder brother Noynoy to inherit their parents' political bastion! Kris didn't mince words when she campaigned for Noynoy and truthfully declared her desire to participate in the political arena. I can only say good luck to her and her brother!

One thing is sure though. There will never be another Cory Aquino ever again! This column just hopes the Filipinos are really, still worth dying for, as declared by Ninoy! – ?