Bidding Farewell to an Icon of Democracy 2 Wednesday, Aug 5 2009

Perhaps the heaven wants to join the Philippines in mourning the loss of the country’s gift and treasure.  Today, August 5, 2009, Former President Cory Aquino will be buried in Manila Memorial Park in the tomb beside her beloved husband, Sen. Ninoy Aquino.

The strong rains and flood did not deter the people to go to the Manila
Cathedral for the last mass before President Cory Aquino will be laid to rest.

A banner carried by the Franciscan order of Metro Manila

Outside the Manila Cathedral, two elder ladies, one clad in a dress with the colors of the Philippine flag prayed the rosary for the EDSA heroine.

Just outside the entrance of Manila Cathedral.

A 4-storey high tarpaulin banner from Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim giving thanks to Cory Aquino.

A row of Manila’s Finest, the WPD policemen form a cordon to secure the people who want to pay their last respect and show their love for the former president.

I saw this man falling in line last Sunday to the wake at La Salle Greenhills.  He was wearing a “NO To Gloria Forever” t-shirt.

The former President’s casket was placed on top of a flat bed truck, instead of a hearse, for the people to catch a last glimpse of her.    She is guarded by 4 servicemen, each representing the various units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.    Yellow confetti showered as the truck pass by.  It was like EDSA and Ayala Avenue in February of 1986.

A multitude of people follow the flatbed truck carrying the former President, chanting “Cory, Cory, Cory” while flashing the Laban sign.    Former Senator Pedro Paterno is very right when he said that in 1986, people flocked to the streets in anger and in their desire to end despotic rule.  Today,  people flocked the streets out of love and reverence for, perhaps, the only President of the Philippines who was never seduced by power and prolong their stay in Malacanang.

This reminds me when I was still a 10 year old boy when my father brought me along to EDSA to heed the call of fighting for the restoration of democracy.

From the Manila Cathedral, I ran all the way to the Anda Circle to catch another glimpse of  former president’s Philippine flag draped casket.

A man displayed this placard near the entrance of Manila Cathedral.

This is serendipity.  Beck and I were looking for a way to avoid the traffic that the funeral parade will bring.   I erroneously thought that the funeral will pass along Roxas Boulevard and make a left turn to EDSA, so we went to Quirino Avenue.   We were surprised that are moving right smack to the path of the funeral parade.  But, this gave us the opportunity to capture images of how revered the former president is.

It seems that “Cory Magic” has not lost its luster for the past 20 years.

This is the crowd along Quirino Avenue.

The crowds have not waned even along Osmena Highway (South Super Highway)

And an even larger crowd is waiting at the intersection of Gil Puyat and Osmena Highway (South Super Highway)

I don’t know, if I will ever see Filipinos would again display their respect, love and reverence to a Philippine President or Leader the way they did with President Cory Aquino.

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Bidding Farewell to an Icon of Democracy 1 Tuesday, Aug 4 2009

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.  Live your life in such a way that when you die, the world will cry.  And your soul will rejoice- An Indian Proverb

August 1, 2009 was a sad day for the Philippines.   President Cory Aquino, a housewife who had the courage to struggle for democracy and fought a dictator,  succumbed to colon cancer in the early hours of the first day of the month.

Pres. Aquino’s family are gracious enough to have a public viewing of their beloved mother in order for the hundreds of thousands of supporters and friends of the former president could pay their last respect.  The first two days of the wake was held at the gymnasium of La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City.  The people who flocked to the said venue ignored the stormy weather and the long lines just to have one last look at the person who was instrumental in restoring freedom in the Philippines and end the 20-year rule of a feared tyrant.

I was a veteran of two People Power Revolutions.   In 1986, I was just a 10 year old Elementary school student who was brought along by his father to what will become a momentous part of the Philippine’s history.   In February 1986,  my father and I were part of the crowd who heeded the call to troop to EDSA and protect what the then Manila Archbishop Jaime Sin called, “the friends of democracy”.      EDSA was then a sea of yellow shirts and yellow ribbons.  I never thought that I will be seeing that color again being proudly worn by the masses.

The long line to La Salle Greenhills

Yes.  NO to Gloria forever, 9 years is more than enough.

This European man was standing behind me in the queu line.   He’s a Ph.D. in History from Netherlands and he acknowledged that the 1986 EDSA People Revolution was the model and inspiration of the movement that restored democracy that swept across Eastern Europe from Romania to Russia.     Here, a young beggar asked him for some alms.  He instead bought the young boy a stick of ice cream.

A correspondent from Channel News Asia

This is the historian from Netherlands pictured earlier, here, he’s being interviewed by Channel News Asia and explained why he was among the thousands who fell in line for hours just to pay respect to the recently departed former president.

At the entrance of La Salle Greenhills gymnasium

Enduring images of Cory Aquino.

Cameras were not allowed beyond the green cordon.

Flowers from Sen. Mar Roxas and his fiances, Korina Sanchez

Flowers from the Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Bhejjajiva

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Media Kickboxing Challenge 3 Sunday, Aug 2 2009

The Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas, the NSA for the sport of amateur kickboxing in the Philippines recently held Media Kickboxing Challenge 3,  An amateur kickboxing competition open to kickboxers/martial arts practitioners from the members of the media.  This event was supported by the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines, PCSO, PAGCOR and the international governing body for kickboxing, World Association of Kickboxing Organizations.

The main activity area of Metrowalk Pasig, is supposed to be the venue of this event.  But due to strong rains (it was an open air area), the organizers decided to transfer the venue to the Central Gym of MAP.

The following are  line-up of competitors  in the Media Kickboxing Challenge 3

1.  Micheal Dichoso vs. Ramon Camba (Winner via Decision)

2.  Ricky Poliran vs. Joel Lorenzana (Winner via Decision)

3. Harold Orara (Winner via Decision) vs. Jun Mestica

4.  Edward Paitan (Winner via Decision) vs. Melvin Roldan

5.  Rolando Pascua (Winner via Referree Stoppage) vs. Angelo Almonte

In  my opinion, the best fighter in that evening is Edward Palitan who displayed well executed and well timed techniques.   Rolando Pascua, a former WBC World Boxing Champion also participated in this event and won via referee stoppage over a Kyokushinkai Karate Master, Angelo Almonte

Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas is sanctioned by WAKO, the International Sports Governing body for kickboxing.

Me with former WBC World Champion, Rolando Pascua.   He was surprised when I asked to have a picture taken with him.  I remember watching on TV his two greatest fights when I was in 4th year high school,  it’s an honor to meet him

Kru Billy and Ajarn Pudpadnoy served as the judges and jury of the competition.

The set up of the ring and the competition.

In the heat of the fight, this competitor didn’t noticed that he ripped his shorts when he did a high roundhouse kick earlier.

A well executed Superman punch by Edward Paitan.

The two protagonists in the main event.   Angelo Almonte (wearing blue gloves), a 55 year old Kyokushin Karate master will face former world boxing champion, Rolando Pascua (in the background)

The old champ still has the moves.  Rolando Pascua winning by Referee Stoppage.

And of course, the mandatory pose of the RP muay thai team with the ring girls

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