President Aquino prays at the grave of his parents during the concelebrated Mass to commemorate the fourth death anniversary of his mother and democracy icon, former President Corazon C. Aquino, at Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Para帽aque City. MALACA脩ANG PHOTO
(Editor鈥檚 Note: 黑料社 is reposting the article by the Philippine Daily Inquirer with some corrections and additional details.)
Like Pope Francis.
Father Manoling Francisco, the Jesuit composer, drew parallels between the lives of the late democracy icon Corazon C. Aquino and Pope Francis of the Catholic Church in his homily at the Manila Memorial Park Thursday afternoon.
鈥淲e remember Tita Cory for her austerity and simplicity. And she shares these virtues with our Blessed Pope,鈥� said Francisco as the former president鈥檚 family, friends and colleagues gathered at her tomb to mark her fourth death anniversary.
Francisco, who concelebrated the Mass with Fathers Catalino Arevalo, Aquino鈥檚 spiritual adviser, and Arnold Abelardo, said that like Pope Francis, the late president had preferred a simple life and rejected the opulence of Malaca帽ang when she chose the Arlegui Mansion for her official residence.
Simple life
鈥淚t鈥檚 similar to the Pope鈥檚 decision not to stay at the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope, and instead live with the other clergy in the Domus Sta. Martha building,鈥� said Francisco whose musical play 鈥淧amana鈥� about the Aquino legacy will be presented on August 21, the death anniversary of Aquino鈥檚 husband and martyred Senator Benigno Jr.
He recalled a time when the ailing president refused to have a Mass said in her home 鈥渂ecause she did not want to bother other people.鈥�
The current President Benigno Aquino III joined his sisters Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abellada and Viel Aquino-Dee and their families in remembering the legacy of their mother, whose death in 2009 elicited an outpouring of public sympathy that eventually prompted then Sen. Aquino III to run for president in 2010.
Kris Aquino, the youngest daughter of the former president, is reportedly in Israel.
The president, who wore a black shirt with his trademark yellow ribbon, stood during the entire Mass, giving way to the elderly in canes.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Franklin Drilon, close family friends, members of the Cabinet and Congress attended the Mass.
Concern for Filipinos
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who was the Philippine Army chief and head of the Presidential Security Group during Cory鈥檚 administration, also turned up at the Mass, so with Communications Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia and members of the first Aquino Cabinet鈥擟arlos Dominguez (agriculture) and Jose Gonzales (tourism).
Coloma told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the homily highlighted the personal qualities of the late leader. 鈥淪he was not preoccupied with power and authority but more with concern for her fellow Filipinos,鈥� he said.
鈥淥ne of the greatest things we have learned from Corazon C. Aquino is the work that it takes to maintain and improve a working democracy. So as we celebrate the life she lived, we remain cognizant of the challenges that persist,鈥� said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, reading the Malaca帽ang statement at a briefing in the Palace.
鈥淲e thank Cory Aquino once more, while at the same time realizing that the truest expression of gratitude would be the continuation of her work鈥攃reating in this country a democracy that is better, stronger and even more inclusive,鈥� he said.
The widow of Aquino Jr. succumbed to colon cancer on Aug. 1, 2009.
鈥楽afeguard her legacy鈥�
鈥淲e remember the life of Mrs. Aquino. After her husband, former Senator Ninoy Aquino, was assassinated on Aug. 21, 1983, the mantle of fighting for democracy fell upon her shoulders, and she responded. In the years that followed, she became the face of the Filipino people鈥檚 struggle for freedom鈥攁 struggle that culminated with the 1986 Edsa Revolution,鈥� said Lacierda.
He said Aquino spent her six-year term 鈥渞eclaiming our national dignity, rehabilitating our country鈥檚 image in the international community and reestablishing institutions to better safeguard our democracy.鈥�
鈥淓ven after her term ended, she continued her public service through her political activism and through her support for nonprofit organizations,鈥� said Lacierda.
In her speech after the Mass, the former president鈥檚 daughter Pinky thanked Fr. Francisco as she recalled that every time a Mass was said on Aug. 21, her mother would always say: 鈥淚f I am no longer here, please don鈥檛 do this.鈥�
Pinky said it was the idea of Margie Juico, chair of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and members of the Yellow Ribbon Movement to hold the private event.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 stop the people from gathering here to remember a great woman,鈥� said Juico. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our way of showing her our gratitude.鈥�
Originally posted: 6:27 am | Friday, August 2nd, 2013