Crosses and roses
Make my life more meaningful
I cannot complain
- a haiku written by Cory Aquino -
Fr. Arevalo, S.J. quoted this haiku in his very moving eulogy for the late Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, fondly called "Tita Cory" (Auntie Cory) by Filipinos. A family friend of the Aquinos, Fr. Arevalo said this haiku was written at the back of a painting that Tita Cory had given him when she had taken up the hobby after her term of office as president had ended.
I thought these few words captured everything that Tita Cory was all about. She had many crosses to bear during her lifetime, foremost of which was as the wife of opposition leader Ninoy Aquino whose fearless stance against the Marcos regime caused his incarceration in a military jail for 7 years and eventually his death upon his return to the Philippines from exile on August 21, 1983. Despite being largely out of the public eye while Ninoy was alive, Cory bravely faced the world media after his death with her trademark calm and dignified demeanor. I was only in college when these events unfolded and I remember marvelling then at how strong she was to have been able to talk to reporters just hours after having learned about Ninoy's death.
This strength was not lost on the Filipino people and she became a rallying point for the overthrow of the Marcos dictatorship. The streets filled with protesters not only from the leftist groups but also from the middle class and elite. Her high girlish voice devoid of artifice had everyone, young and old, rich and poor, hanging on to her every word. She looked fragile and strong at the same time but everyone knew that she meant every word she said.
She was in Cebu when news of the EDSA Revolution broke out and the Cebuanos, including my dad, immediately made plans to protect her. Cory and company were whisked away and hidden in the Carmelite Monastery until such time as she was able to find safe passage back to Manila.
More crosses came her way when she became President. In hindsight, the seven coup attempts that took place during her term were probably made by soldiers and men who had been so used to having a strongman lead them in the past that they could not fathom this gentle, kind, and soft-spoken woman. They believed her to be a pushover; they thought she would buckle under pressure. But they underestimated her strong will and unwavering faith in God and in doing what is right. After six years, she peacefully handed over power to her successor, Gen. Fidel V. Ramos.
The roses in her life were also plentiful. She had an entire nation that loved her and millions of other people around the world who admired her. I remember going to Japan in the summer of 1986 with my family and having people say to us, "Ah, you're Filipino, how is Cory Aquino?" as if she were their friend too. It was very touching to see Jose Ramos Horta, first president of the newly formed East Timor, attend her funeral because he said that she inspired him and other people in the world to fight for democracy.
It has been 26 years since a widow had to step into the shoes of her slain husband and carry on his work. The Philippines and the world have changed so much since that time. In my lifetime, I have seen fear of a dictator turn into giddy hope for the future when Tita Cory assumed power. Sadly, in recent times, the feeling is more of mounting despair that politics as usual has once again taken hold of our government. Tita Cory's death and the tremendous outpouring of love and gratitude from the Filipino people serve as a reminder that we do not have to accept this. There is a better way and once before Tita Cory showed us it could be done.
Tita Cory's death has united us in a manner that is reminiscent of those exciting days in February 1986. May this unity that her death has brought about give us hope and the impetus to do what is right from now on.
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