Sin's role in EDSA revolt recalled, 2 yrs after death

(Updated 12:26 p.m.) Former President Corazon Aquino and leaders of the Catholic Church on Thursday morning led devotees, relatives and friends alike in commemorating the second death anniversary of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral. Balanga Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas, who is considered Sin's protegé, was the main celebrant and homilist. He led about twenty members of the clergy to the altar. "I miss the strong guiding hands of our prophet to lead us from darkness to light," Villegas said about Sin's contribution to topple the Marcos regime. He added that, "Those hands reached out to countless brothers and sisters needing consolation in the jails or in the congested government hospital. Those hands guided us, shielded us from harm, drove away our anxieties and pointed us the way to the promised land beyond EDSA 1986." Aside from Aquino, Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCP) president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo as well as Bishops Guillermo Afable and Rolando Tria Tirona were also present in the Mass. Former ambassador to the Vatican Francisco Alba and Ambassador to the Holy See Leonida Vera, as well as Sin's brother, Ramon, also joined the event. For her part, Aquino praised Sin for helping restore freedom and democracy in the country. "Kung wala si Cardinal Sin wala rin tayong People Power (If we didn't have Cardinal Sin, we wouldn't have had People Power)," Aquino said. She added in Filipino that, "I wish there would be another Cardinal Sin ... but I pray that the Lord send not just one but many people like him." Sin died on June 21, 2005 due to a debilitating ailment. He retired as archbishop of Manila in September 2003, a month after his 75th birthday. "He was archbishop of Manila for 29 years and throughout a turbulent period in the nation's history. He's hailed as a hero of EDSA I, the People Power which brought to an end the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos," Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) said in a statement Wednesday. - GMANews.TV