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Cory cortege leaves LSGH for Manila Cathedral


(UPDATE) Supporters of former President Corazon Aquino waved yellow pennants and flashed the Laban sign as the flatbed truck carrying her flag-draped coffin slowly made its way from the La Salle Greenhills gymnasium to the Manila Cathedral around noon Monday. Mourners greeted the presidential cortege with confetti as it left the gymnasium, reminiscent of scenes during the 1986 People Power revolution that toppled strongman Ferdinand Marcos and swept Mrs. Aquino to the presidency. The Laban sign was also the symbol of Mrs. Aquino's husband, opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr., whose assassination in 1983 sparked widespread protests that culminated in the EDSA people power revolt. The truck with Aquino’s coffin was followed by two coasters carrying family members. Three buses transported friends and other supporters. Confetti was showered onto the procession as it passed through the famed EDSA Shrine, a testament to Cory’s lasting legacy to the Filipino people. The procession headed down the length of EDSA, where thick crowds had gathered. They cheered the cortege with chants of “Cory! Cory!" and banners saying “Salamat, Cory Aquino" and “We love you, Cory." Traffic slowed to a crawl along EDSA as motorists on the north-bound lane stopped to take part in the procession, honking their horns and waving Laban signs to the motorcade. Aquino’s family and friends waved the Laban sign back to the crowds to the delight of the people. Mourners showered the casket of Mrs. Aquino with flowers before it was placed on the truck. The cortege left La Salle Greenhills shortly after 11 a.m. Monday.

Route of Cory's procession from La Salle to Manila Cathedral (Map provided by GMA News Research)
It will take the following route: Ortigas to EDSA, turn right at Ayala Avenue, turn left at Buendia Avenue, turn right at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), turn left at Quirino Avenue, turn right at Roxas Blvd., and turn right to Intramuros. There will be a brief stop at the Ninoy Aquino monument along Ayala avenue, the organizers said. The cortege is expected to reach the Manila Cathedral at 2 p.m. The Manila Traffic Police office deployed about 1,000 cops around the premises of the cathedral for the wake, as well as the funeral procession on Wednesday to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque. Public viewing of Mrs. Aquino’s remains will resume at 4 p.m. at the Manila Cathedral. Mass at LSGH Earlier, hundreds of supporters - which included Mrs. Aquino's province mates from Tarlac - flocked to the LSGH campus for the Mass celebrated by Tarlac Bishop Florentino Cinense. Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, Mrs. Aquino's brother, delivered the message from the Aquino family. He quoted his sister as asking them not to pray for her, but for the nation "to find a cure for its illness." Among those present at the Mass were Mrs. Aquino's immediate family including her youngest daughter Kris, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim who served as head of the National Bureau of Investigation during the Aquino administration, and NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, whom Mrs. Aquino had supported. Sonia Roco, wife of the late Senator Raul Roco, also attended the mass. Bishop Cinense said the proliferation of yellow ribbons “signify that democracy is still alive, and that faith is nothing to be ashamed of." He declared that he is proud to share his home province with the “heroes" Ninoy and Cory Aquino. Although the Aquino family wished to keep the mass private, they allowed 100 people from Tarlac to attend the Eucharistic services before Mrs. Aquino's Cory’s remains were brought to the Manila Cathedral. - with Sophia Dedace and Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV