Our Beloved President Cory Aquino Died On August 1
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.