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
October 19, 2009 at 11:22 am |
do you have some pictures when.. you know, it was last year eh and nung performance nila Roberto Valdez and Sarah nung sa la salle gh dati? i’m sure that was the month of december,i just don’t know what date??
October 20, 2009 at 5:27 pm |
I remember that demonstration at LSGH. Unfortunately, its only my wife who went there as I have work. So I don’t have any photos. Again, my apologies.