When news broke out that former President Cory C. Aquino was battling the dreaded colon cancer, it jolted everyone about their own vulnerability and shocked many that the woman in yellow is suffering at a time when this country needed more noble leaders and a moral mother.
She has lived a very remarkable life and has sacrificed many things to served this country more than any leader after her term. For Cory, courage is the highest virtue.
Cory never turned her back on a good fight and always faced danger with courage. For instance, when the rebel soldiers were closing in on her Arlegui residence during the 1989 coup attempt and death stared at her in the eye, Cory refused to leave the Palace. Instead, she turned over her most valuable possessions, including Ninoy’s prison diaries, to her trusted Appointments Secretary Margie Juico. Cory then asked Secretary Juico to leave the Palace because it was getting dangerous and to look after her own children. Cory would survive that trial, and many more after.
Even as she is suffering from her current illness, Cory is still thinking about the welfare of others and finds it difficult to think that she might be an inconvenience to others. This is what Cory was, is and forever to all democratic Filipinos. An icon that is other-centered, focused on the welfare of the country, its people and her family.
To the younger generation who cannot appreciate the efforts of Cory, this description about her life written by Mr. Cesar R. Bacani in a pamphlet that was published by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation aptly described her life:
Please don’t get this blog writer wrong. This is not an obituary nor hinting at one. This post is a tribute to a leader who has given a lot for this country, before, during and after her presidency. Actually, she should have not done anything more, but she knows that she could still be the morale force after her retirement.
To those who want to express their concern and support for Cory Aquino, this blog would like to invite you to visit a site dedicated to her: Cory Aquino - A Call To Prayer.
She has lived a very remarkable life and has sacrificed many things to served this country more than any leader after her term. For Cory, courage is the highest virtue.
Cory never turned her back on a good fight and always faced danger with courage. For instance, when the rebel soldiers were closing in on her Arlegui residence during the 1989 coup attempt and death stared at her in the eye, Cory refused to leave the Palace. Instead, she turned over her most valuable possessions, including Ninoy’s prison diaries, to her trusted Appointments Secretary Margie Juico. Cory then asked Secretary Juico to leave the Palace because it was getting dangerous and to look after her own children. Cory would survive that trial, and many more after.
Even as she is suffering from her current illness, Cory is still thinking about the welfare of others and finds it difficult to think that she might be an inconvenience to others. This is what Cory was, is and forever to all democratic Filipinos. An icon that is other-centered, focused on the welfare of the country, its people and her family.
To the younger generation who cannot appreciate the efforts of Cory, this description about her life written by Mr. Cesar R. Bacani in a pamphlet that was published by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation aptly described her life:
To the world, she is the widow in yellow who toppled a dictatorship in a stirring show of People Power in 1986. To her native Philippines, she is the courageous president who saw off a series of coups d’etat and single-mindedly restored the institutions of democracy. But to herself, Corazon C. Aquino is a plain housewife who, in all conscience, could not refuse her country’s call to service when her husband, former senator Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr., was assassinated in 1983. She continues to serve after her term of office ended in 1992 through her work with nongovernmental organizations. "What is important is that we believe in the Almighty and that we try to do whatever we can to help ease some of the sufferings of our people," she says. "I always tell my children: 'I don’t know how many good years I still have left, but whatever I can do at this time, I really want to be able to continue not only for the cause of democracy, but also to help in bringing about a better Filipino. For the rest of my life, I will be doing whatever I can to improve things."
Please don’t get this blog writer wrong. This is not an obituary nor hinting at one. This post is a tribute to a leader who has given a lot for this country, before, during and after her presidency. Actually, she should have not done anything more, but she knows that she could still be the morale force after her retirement.
To those who want to express their concern and support for Cory Aquino, this blog would like to invite you to visit a site dedicated to her: Cory Aquino - A Call To Prayer.