Multitudes line the streets, honor Cory with little sacrifices

Even as heavy rains poured erratically in Metro Manila on Wednesday, tens of thousands of mourners and supporters took to the streets to pay their last respects to former President Corazon Aquino. Early in the morning, streets in Manila's "walled city" of Intramuros turned into seas of yellow as supporters continued to flock toward the Manila Cathedral while a requiem Mass was going on. Mourners from as far as Tarlac, the Aquinos’ hometown, came in buses to have a last glimpse of their beloved Cory, who died due to cardiorespiratory arrest on August 1. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2008.

Crowds also lined the major thoroughfares where the cortege was to pass on the way to the Manila Memorial Park in Paraňaque City, where the icon of democracy is to be laid to rest at the family mausoleum alongside her assassinated husband, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr. As the cortege crawled along the length of Roxas Boulevard, and later along Quirino and Osmeňa avenues, confetti showered from rooftops, once again evoking memories of Ninoy's funeral march in mid-1983. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos awakened by Ninoy’s murder poured into the streets then, turning the funeral procession into a protest march. Ensuing protests and demonstrations would later culminate in the world-renowned “People Power Revolution" of February 1986 that ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and propelled Cory to power. Like in Ninoy’s funeral, thronging crowds slowed down the movement of the cortege. To keep order, officials charged with securing the procession urged marchers to hold on to ropes as they moved slowly forward amid chants of “Cory, Cory." Adoring crowds flashed placards showing their admiration for the late leader. “We love you Cory," one streamer carried by onlookers read. Others flashed the “L" or “Laban (fight)" sign, which Cory Aquino and her millions of supporters used when she agreed to challenge Marcos in a “snap election" set on Feb. 7, 1986. Along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the funeral procession was supposed to pass along the Skyway but police diverted it because people had already crowded the elevated highway. Down south at SLEX Sucat Exit, thousands more battled rainshowers and congestion, patiently anticipating “Tita Cory’s" hearse. Along the road leading to the cemetery, the crowd continued to gather as news that the cortege was drawing nearer circulated. Grumbling stomachs generally did not faze mourners, who stuck to their posts along the highways so as not to miss their chance to show their support for the former president. Not all of the marchers who made the almost 8-hour procession that started at the Manila Cathedral at around 11:30 a.m. and ended 8:20 p.m., however, were able to get inside the Manila Memorial Park as space was limited. Nonetheless, the general mood was one of fulfillment for being there to show their support. As one marcher said, the “sacrifices" they were making were small compared to those Cory Aquino had given to the country. A Facebook user, Jheng Barican, commented during GMANews.TV’s live streaming of the event: “Ang Pilipino, subok na matiyaga at matiisin (Filipinos are persevering and adaptable)" – qualities that were surely attested to during the cortege. - With Mavie Almeda-Ungco, Cheryl Arcibal and Aie B. See GMANews.TV