黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� President Cory Aquino was fully aware of her role as the Philippines鈥� 鈥渟ymbol of democracy,鈥� and she did not renege on her commitment to Filipinos to restore the institutions that dictator Ferdinand Marcos 鈥渄estroyed,鈥� her friends and allies said as they prepared to mark her 10th death anniversary on聽 Thursday.

鈥淪he took it to heart. That鈥檚 why she lived up to it 鈥� It was an honor,鈥� said Deedee Siytangco, Aquino鈥檚 press secretary during her presidency from 1986 to 1992.

Among these democratic institutions were a free press, an independent judiciary and Congress, and a credible electoral system 鈥� all nonexistent during the Marcos dictatorship.

鈥淲hat she wanted was to lay down the fundamentals,鈥� said Maria Montelibano, who headed Aquino鈥檚 communications bureau. The revolutionary government after the Edsa People Power Revolution in February 1986 was brief and installed simply to put things in order, and Aquino considered herself a 鈥渢ransitional president,鈥� Montelibano said, adding:

鈥淚mmediately after [the revolutionary government], we had our Constitution, we had elections, because [Aquino] believed the institutions had to be in place 鈥� the things that Marcos really destroyed.鈥�

Aquino鈥檚 husband, former Sen. Benigno 鈥淣inoy鈥� Aquino Jr., whose assassination on Aug. 21, 1983, triggered the massive protests against Marcos, used to say he pitied anyone who would succeed the dictator. Little did he know that Marcos鈥� successor would be his widow.

Firsthand view

Siytangco, Montelibano and Margie Juico, who was Aquino鈥檚 appointments secretary, were among those who saw firsthand how she struggled to preserve the Filipinos鈥� hard-won freedoms that many take for granted now, more than 30 years since the bloodless revolution.

She had to deal with conflicts in the Palace and among her allies, with criticisms here and abroad, and with a fickle business community, a testy press, and an impatient people, they said.

They recalled how everyone expected her to undo the mess made by Marcos鈥� two-decade regime in less than a year, and appeared to ignore the life-threatening attacks from military rebels that nearly killed her only son, Benigno Aquino III, whose own presidency in 2010-2016 was propelled by her death.

On top of all these, they said, Aquino had to deal with Cabinet officials who finished their golf games first before showing up for meetings she had called.

They noted that while the international community hailed her for breaking the glass ceiling for women, at home her gender made her a target.

It was easy to criticize her because 鈥渟he was a woman,鈥� Siytangco said.

鈥淎 lot of people miscalculated her, misunderstood her, and just underrated her,鈥� Juico said.

There were men who were truly 鈥渕ean to her. They [saw] her as just the wife of Ninoy. She was typecast. They failed to understand that she was really his strength,鈥� said Montelibano, whose mother, Erlinda, was Ninoy鈥檚 elder sister.

And she spoke her mind when she and her husband had their differences, Montelibano said.

Aquino was 53 when she succeeded Marcos. Early in her marriage, she lived in the shadow of her brilliant and charismatic husband who had dreamed of becoming president, and prepared coffee for the men who discussed politics with him.

But this homemaker held a degree in mathematics and French from the College of Mount St. Vincent in New York. She was studying law at Far Eastern University in Manila when marriage beckoned in 1954, and she chose to focus on starting a family.

Toughest times

The seven coup attempts launched by military rebels during Aquino鈥檚 six-year term were among her toughest times, but 鈥渟he had tougher battles in the Cabinet,鈥� said Siytangco, citing the two factions among those who had pledged to support and help Aquino govern.

How did Aquino manage them?

鈥淪he didn鈥檛. She just listened to everybody, then she said what she wanted,鈥� Montelibano said.

鈥淭hen she fired them,鈥� Siytangco quipped.

鈥淭o be fair, she fired one from both [factions],鈥� Montelibano added.

It was Aquino鈥檚 鈥渆quanimity鈥� and her deep faith and trust in her God that helped her survive the ruthlessness of the post-Edsa situation, according to Montelibano.

Juico recalled one particular coup attempt: Realizing she could die, Aquino asked Juico to call a priest from nearby San Beda College on Mendiola to say prayers with them at the Guest House. Juico complied and literally banged on San Beda鈥檚 door.

The rector, Fr. Bobby Perez, went with Juico back to Malaca帽ang. After praying, Aquino handed Juico a bag and told her to leave for her own safety.

鈥淚n the car, I wondered what was in the bag, so I looked,鈥� Juico said. I saw Ninoy鈥檚 letters to her and his diary. I started reading the pages, and I cried and cried. I thought that was the end. I thought that was the last time I was going to see her. She thought so, too.鈥�

鈥榊别濒濒辞飞鈥�

Ten years since Aquino鈥檚 passing, Juico, Montelibano and Siytangco continue to be protective of her life and her legacy.

Asked to comment on criticism of the 鈥渄ilaw,鈥� or those loyal to the Aquino legacy and the color yellow associated with the family, Siytangco said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not fashionable to be yellow today. But when it was fashionable, everybody was 鈥榙ilaw.鈥� It鈥檚 so crazy. You know the very people who benefited from 鈥榙ilaw.鈥� That鈥檚 what I hate.鈥�

Juico organized the Mass to be held at 5.30 p.m. today at Power Plant Chapel in Rockwell mall, Makati City. It is open to the public.

As they have done every year, Aquino鈥檚 five children will lead the morning Mass at Manila Memorial Park in Para帽aque City.

Siytangco estimated that 鈥渁 hundred or less鈥� people would be at the cemetery to pay their respects to the late former president.

鈥淚f a lot come, well, it鈥檚 because they love Tita Cory. It could also be a test of how many we are,鈥� Montelibano said.

鈥淪he used to tell us, Edsa was once in a lifetime,鈥� Siytangco said. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l never have Edsa again. You鈥檒l never have People Power again the way it happened.鈥�

Asked if Aquino remained relevant, Juico said: 鈥淚f you really want what鈥檚 best for your country or your freedom, I guess you鈥檒l have a lot to be thankful to Tita Cory for.鈥�