Yesterday I accompany my daughter to the nearest beauty salon here in our place. She had hair cut and also thread eyebrow. To tell you honestly, I never do that to my eyebrow only my daughters. I don’t know why they like it. They said, thread eyebrow really hurts for the first time but not in the second time. This kind of method long lasts compare to the other techniques. It’s great, cheap and makes your eyes looks gorgeous. Eyebrow threading can groom and shape your eyebrows as an alternative to plucking or waxing. It sounds very painful. I don’t know how hurt it is. According to the beautician, threading eyebrows gives you a better result than waxing or plucking. Well, it looks pretty after she threads her eyebrow. Even though she felt pain but she’s satisfied with the result.
She’s my second daughter Norm. I would describe her as simple and you never get bored of her because of her being jolly. She can make you smile and laugh of her jokes. Aside from that she is very generous especially to her friends and family back home. According to her, she’s not perfect but real. She is a reliable friend, a sweet sister, good daughter and a caring mom.
President Maria Corazon “Cory” Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino was born on January 25, 1933. She was the sixth among the eight children of Jose Cojuangco and Demetria Sumulong. She was the 11th President of the Philippines and the “Mother of Democracy”, serving from 1986 to 1992. She was the first female president of the Philippines and the first female president of any country in Asia.
She was married to Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., a leading figure in the political opposition against the autocratic rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. After Ninoy was assassinated last August 21, 1983, she was drafted to run against Marcos in the 1986 snap presidential elections. After Marcos was proclaimed the winner despite widespread reports of electoral fraud, Aquino was installed as President by the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution.
Last March 24, 2008 her family announced that she was diagnosed with colon cancer and the doctors said she had only three months to live. She undergone chemotherapy that can cause her heavy hair loss, loss of appetite and immunological problems. After suffering from colon cancer at the age of 76 she died on August 1, 2009 at 3:18 am due to cardiorespiratory arrest at Makati Medical Center.
Her body was lay in state at a public wake at the St. Benilde Gymnasium of La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong up to August 3, then later on she was transferred to the Manila Cathedral. There were more than 120,000 people who witnessed the transfer of her remains from La Salle Green Hills to the Manila Cathedral.
It was Bishop Villegas who gave the final blessing and with the request of Aquino family, the coffin was opened for the last time. The glass was removed, then Bishop Villegas and Aquino’s children sprinkled it with holy water. Most members of Aquino’s family gave a final kiss to Cory. The casket was sealed for the last time and the Philippine flag was removed from the coffin and folded before being presented to Sen. Noynoy Aquino. The name plate of Aquino was a simple design identical to that of her husband.
“Yun po ang opening line ng mommy namin every time na kakausapin niya ang bayan. In a very specific way, that sums up exactly how our family feels.
“What words can I use to convey to all of you the depth of our gratitude for the respect, appreciation, and love you have showered upon our mother? How do we say thank you to all of you for the expressions of sympathy and support for our family during our time of bereavement. Come to think of it, from March of 2008, you are one with us and constantly praying for our mother’s healing.
“Paano po ba kami makapagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat sa effort ninyong pumila sa gitna ng matinding init at malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan para po masulyapan ang mommy namin, magbigay respeto at maipagdasal siya sa huling pagkakataon?
“Isa po sa huling binilin ng Mom sa akin ay ang magpasalamat po ako sa inyong lahat. You have given our family honor beyond anything we could ever have hoped to receive. That no matter how great the sacrifices of my parents, I can honestly say to all of you that for my family, the Filipinos are worth it.”
Sa puntong ito ay sandaling nag-pause si Kris sa kanyang pagsasalita dahil sa palakpakan na ibinigay ng mga tao sa loob ng Manila Cathedral. Matatandaang naging pamoso ang linya noon ng ama ni Kris na si dating Senator Ninoy Aquino: “The Filipinos are worth dying for.”
“…SILENCE AND PASSIVITY WERE NEVER OPTIONS.” “Allow me please to speak in my Mom’s voice so that I can share with you her wishes for our country that she instilled in us by virtue of her example. Mom believes that true public service did not end when one term of office ended. She continued selflessly working for the betterment of the lives of our countrymen. Immediately after my dad’s assassination, she set up a foundation in my dad’s honor to help further my dad’s advocacy, started when he first held elective office, of helping deserving students fulfill their dreams of a college education.
“I continue to meet a lot of people… some a little older than me, some a decade younger. They proudly tell me that they are Ninoy’s scholars. Mom believes because of her experience of having to raise us singlehandedly during my dad’s incarceration and after his assassination, the importance of empowering women. In her later life, she did this through her support of micro-finance programs by giving women viable means of livelihood. Masisiguro na maayos at maginhawa ang pamumuhay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino.
“Dahil po binuwis ng dad namin ang buhay niya para makamit natin ang kalayaan, ang mom namin, inalagaan at pinaglaban ang demokrasya natin. Tuwing may nakikita siyang pagmamalabis sa hawak na kapangyarihan, para po sa kanya, kailanman, hindi mo puwedeng biguin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob sa ‘yo ng taong-bayan.
“For her, silence and passivity were never options. Above everything else, she had a deep faith in God and unwavering belief in the power of prayer, a more personal devotion and relationship with Mama Mary. She was unwavering in her faith in the innate goodness of every Filipino.
“While it’s true that she was overwhelmed with gratitude for the prayers people were offering for her healing, she never failed to mention that we must all pray for those who are suffering illness and other forms of pain. She would always reach out in compassion for those she felt were in distress and she reminded us constantly that we must pray for each other.
“Allow me please, on a personal note from our family, Father Arevalo, noong mamatay ang dad, in Boston , you were there for us. For every Christmas Eve after that. For every time we needed spiritual guidance, maraming-maraming salamat.
“Kay Bishop Soc Villegas, hindi ko alam kung anong guardian angel ang kumakalabit sa ‘yo, pero sa loob ng kuwarto ng Mom, every time na kailangan namin nandoon ka to lay your healing hands. Bishop Soc, the last time that Mom shed a tear, it was because you laid your healing hands on her. For the rest of our lives, we will be indebted to you.
“TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.” “When I was asking myself, why you have come to embrace our family as your own? Why do you regard our mom as your own? I came to the realization it is because you see in our family the journey of your own family. You had seen in my Mom all that you wished all mothers could be. Somebody who will love you, pero hindi kukunsintihin ang iyong mga pagkakamali. Isang taong palaging nandiyan na maasahan, pero walang hinihinging kapalit. At isang inang kahit kailan, hindi nawalan ng pag-asa na kayang maging mabuti ng kanyang anak.
“Kagaya po ng inyong mga pamilya, kami man ay nagkaroon ng maraming pagsubok. Dumaan kami sa mga panahon ng hindi pagkakaintindihan. Pero natuto kaming humingi ng tawad at magdamayan sa panahon na kailangan namin ang isa’t isa.
“The last word mom expressed to each of us, ‘take care of each other.’ I know that those words weren’t meant just for our family, but for all of us as a nation. In the way that all of you have been thanking us for sharing mom with you, our mom never failed to thank each of us.
“To my Ate, our oldest sister, Ballsy, I would like to say thank you for being beside mom, working for her and with her from the time of dad’s death. Thank you ate for always keeping the peace. For always being so patient with all of us. For always being ready to listen to each of us.
“To my brother-in-law, Eldon, my nephews Jiggy and Lloydy, thank you for sharing your home with mom during her entire illness. Sa inyo siya tumira, thank you.
“To my sister Pinky, you and I will forever share that most painful memory of seeing mom finally break down and release all her pains that she so bravely tried to conceal from all of us. Mom never allowed us to see her vulnerable because she was always our strength.
“Pinky, you and I needed to witness this for us to understand that it was time to let her go. To my brother-in-law, Manolo, to Miguel and to Nina, every night you made the effort to pray the rosary with Mom. Together with Ate’s family, you all made sure that mom would never feel that she was alone.
“To my sister Viel, you’ve always been the most quiet. And yet you organized everything in the hospital. You were the one meeting with mom’s doctors and together with Dodo, you were the one who tirelessly researched all medical options and possible treatments for mom. Kiko found his voice and was so articulate in our family prayers. Gia made mom feel so proud with her musical talents.
“To my brother Noy, in the same way that mom was so patient and loving towards Josh, I want to thank you for giving Josh so much of your love, your patience, and your caring. Noy, alam ko, sa hospital sinabi sa ‘yo ni Josh, ‘Please, Tito Noy, never get married.’”
“Sana maintindihan mo, you’re now his security blanket. You’ve taken Mom’s place as his protector. Pero huwag kang mag-alala, kaming mga kapatid mo, kung saan ka liligaya, puwede na rin.
“Kagaya po ng pangakong iniwan ng Dad at Mom sa ating bayan, Noy, ikaw at ako ang nasa posisyon para ipagpatuloy ang lahat ng kanilang nasimulan. Noy, you know all that…during our last conversation with Mom, nangako ako sa kanya. Whatever support you needed, I will be there for you.
“James told me now that Mom is gone, he has lost his number one supporter. James and I thanked Mom for reminding us to constantly try to be supportive of each other. Mom always told us, we should bring out the best in each other. Mula po nang ipinanganak ko si Baby James, sa dalawang taon na nakapiling siya ng mom, every time na nakikita ng mom si Baby James, ‘pag ine-enjoy niya yung atensiyon ng mga tao, kapag tsina-charming niyang lahat, sabi ng Mom, akong-ako daw si Baby James.
“MOM, I LIED TO YOU.” “For all my life, I would constantly hear mom tell everybody that I was the female Ninoy. I was truly my dad’s daughter. Maybe that’s why I always felt that I was mom’s favorite.
“Mom, I know in your lifetime, among your children, you went through the most for me. Pero gusto ko ring maniwala, dahil nasabi mo sa akin, that I was able to give you the most joy. I would also like to believe that in the last twelve days of your life, when I never left your side, during the moment when you most needed me to be brave, when you needed me to be reassuring, to be decisive, and to be strong for you, the very same best qualities in you, I was finally able to find within myself.
“Thank you is not difficult. Expressing your love is not hard. Pero ngayon, how do I find the words to say goodbye? Paano bang magpaalam kapag alam mo at alam ng puso mo na hindi pa rin sapat ang panahon na ibinahagi sa ‘yo ng Diyos, sa piling ng iyong pinakamamahal?
“I’m sorry, Mom. Mom, I lied to you. Nagsinungaling ako when I told you that we would be okay. I did this because we wanted you to be free from all your pains, at para hindi ka na mag-alala tungkol sa amin. Pero, Mom, it will take a lifetime for us to be okay because we will forever miss you.
“Wala nang makakasabay si Ate pauwi from the office, na makakakuwentuhan niya about everything na nangyari that day. Wala nang magdadasal kasabay ni Pinky that Miguel would have the good job. Wala nang magsasabi kay Viel how impressed she was at the simplicity of Viel’s family. Wala na rin yung tao na hindi lang nagkampanya, pero gumastos ng malaki para matulungan si Noy manalo sa apat na beses niyang pagtakbo.
“Wala nang magte-text sa akin tuwing maglu-launch ang bagong programa ko ng ‘good luck’, at pagkatapos, as soon as mag-end ang show, nagko-congratulate kaagad to say, ‘I’m proud of you’.
“But maybe, that was what love is really all about. It means sacrificing your personal happiness and interest for the good of the one you love. It’s forcing yourself to let go, so that your Mom will be free from pain.
“I love you, Mom. I thank you for the privilege of being your child. And for every day that I will be missing you, I will remind myself that my greatest gift to you will be living a life that will make you proud that I am your daughter.
“Dad, please take care of Mom. It’s your turn now. You were her one and only love, and now that you’re together again, no matter how painful it is for us to let her go, we are comforted knowing that Mom is happy to be reunited with you.
“I love you, Mom. Goodbye, Mom. Maraming salamat at paalam.”
I was touched upon watching and listening this wonderful article of Bum D. Tenorio, Jr. entitled Hindi Ka Nag-iisa, The New Beginnings at The Philippine Star last July 19, 2009.
Why do people cry for someone they don’t even know personally? I cried because I felt for the icon of my political awakening –– you were the mother who, by virtue of what you did for our country, taught me to understand what democracy was all about. Even without us knowing each other personally –– and I ask for your understanding with my temerity in calling you Tita –– I have always regarded you as my mother in more ways than one. And here’s a son saying a prayer for you. And like the million others who do the same, I have this fervent belief that God acts fast on our pleas.
I was only 10 months old when martial law was declared; 11 years old when your husband Ninoy was assassinated; and 14 when the late strongman called for a snap election. If only I could vote then, I would surely have written your name on my ballot. But my parents and my other relatives did.
Life in my little and sleepy barrio in Laguna went on with the heat of the presidential campaign slightly felt. We had no TV yet then but our transistor radio was always on. It was the same radio that my parents would bring to the rice field. (I remember having to place two big Eveready batteries under the sun hoping that doing so would charge them longer). In the farm, my parents would wear identical yellow long-sleeved shirts made of polyester with “Sobra na, Tama na, Palitan na” slogan. Those shirts of theirs would naturally be smudged with mud at the end of the day but mother would always find time washing them. At least twice a week I would see my parents wear those shirts to the field. By the time those yellow shirts faded to white with constant washing and the slogan almost wiped out, the tenant in Malacañang was also expunged like the dirt in my parents’ shirts after a hard day’s work in the field.
It was at the height of the presidential campaign that I understood brilliantly the meaning of charisma. All I had to do was to watch you in our neighbor’s television and you would simply become charisma personified—with the mammoth crowd surrounding you, listening intently to whatever you would say. That gave birth to my being drawn to what they called then the Cory magic.
When People Power ended on Feb. 25, 1986, my parents declared a holiday from working in the field. I felt I also won. Indeed we all won!
Since then, I have become a silent fan. The rallies, marches and demonstrations against Marcos from 1983 to 1986 that I heard or saw in the news escorted me on my way to being politically aware. You were at the center of this awakening. And I feel, I owed it all to you.
You were installed into power via a bloodless revolt that the rest of the world will remember. And for the democracy you restored for me and the rest of the Filipino people –– a prayer every day, anywhere, anytime is all that a stranger son like me can offer you.
Wowowee is one of my favorite TFC shows on TV. If I miss my beloved country I just turn on my TV and watch The Filipino Channel (TFC). I’m glad that they went to the different countries like Dubai and entertain my co-Filipinos there. To, willie and company, congratulations to your show, it’s beautiful and many people love your show. Also, I enjoy watching the famous talk show in TFC called “The Buzz”. I love Kris, Ruffa and Boy Abunda as the host. Kris and Ruffa are my favorite actress and TV host and of course the charming host Boy Abunda. They are very smart and intelligent to tackle the issue.
