nation thanks Cory for peaceful people power

'Cory National Hero' resolutions filed
by Carmela Fonbuena, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 08/04/2009 5:44 PM

MANILA - Two resolutions have been filed in the House of Representatives seeking to declare former President Corazon Aquino a national hero.

House Joint Resolution No. 41—A Joint Resolution extolling former President Corazon Aquino, her leadership, and her contributions in restoring and strengthening Philippine Democracy, and urging the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines to proclaim Corazon C. Aquino as a Hero of the Republic of the Philippines—was filed by Rep. Rodolfo Plaza.

“President Aquino is recognized all over the Philippines as having lived for Democracy and for the People which her husband and fellow freedom fighter, Benigno S. Aquino Jr., believed, are worth dying for,” the resolution states.

Declaring President Aquino as a national hero is “a way of ensuring the continuity of her legacy of democracy and love of country,” it says.

House Joint Resolution No. 42—A Joint Resolution to recognize the valuable contribution of President Corazon C. Aquino by declaring her as a National Hero—was filed by Rep. Liwayway Chato.

“The most recognized symbol of freedom and democracy that led to the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, President Corazon C. Aquino had showed throughout her life and death the true hallmarks of modern heroism,” the resolution states.

President Aquino is also recognized as a democracy icon in the international community. She received numerous citations and recognitions including TIME Woman of the Year in 1986, the J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding in 1996, the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding in 1998, and her nomination to the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.

The two measures are expected to be consolidated and reported out for plenary approval next week, according to a statement by House Speaker Prospero Nograles. A similar resolution is also expected from the Senate.

Another resolution, House Joint Resolution 40, also seeks to declare January 25 as “Cory Aquino Day.” It was initiated by Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III. He is a son of Wigberto Tañada, who served as customs commissioner during the Aquino administration and won as senator in 1987 under the Cory ticket.

In the Senate, Senator Loren Legarda filed Senate Resolution No. 1252 expressing “sincerest gratitude” to President Aquino and “deepest condolences” to her family.

“President Cory has been a constant moral force in the life of our nation, consistent in her ideals of courage, simplicity, faithfulness, and compassion; her public service record was exemplary and untainted by any wrongdoing; and she was a staunch advocate of democracy, peace, good governance, and women empowerment,” the resolution reads.

"President Aquino, was a unifying force for Filipinos of all political affiliations and sectors; an unfailing figure of prayerfulness and faith in God; and humanity owes to Maria Corazon Cojuangco Aquino the gift of people power and peaceful revolution as means for exercising their sovereign power,” it adds. -- abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak

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Senate honors former President Cory Aquino

The Senate honored former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino with a resolution declaring her as truly worthy of having led the country into democracy.

Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino, more popularly known as "Cory", peacefully joined her Creator on August 1, 2009, at the age of 76.

In a prayer he read at the start of the session, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile extolled the virtues of the late president, recognizing the pivotal role that she played in giving voice to the nation's clamor for democracy against a dictatorial regime.

"Despite our differences, the former President proved that she was a woman worthy of respect. The fact that she was a housewife thrust into taking care of the ills of a nation, she truly deserves the admiration, respect and gratitude of the Filipino people."

Enrile enumerated several accolades given to her by the international community, most notable of which were the following: 1986 Woman of the Year by Time Magazine; the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award, also in 1986; Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize in 1987; One of the 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th century by Time Magazine, and the Women's International Center International Leadership Living Legacy Award in 2006.

"The passing away of former President Aquino, an icon of democracy, a loving wife, a caring mother, and God's gift to the Filipino people, has left the nation she dearly loved and the nation she dearly served, bereft of a shining exemplar of moral leadership, unwavering in faith and dauntless courage" added Enrile.

With deep sadness on her passing, the Senate resolved and approved the resolution acknowledging the late Corazon "Cory" Aquino as a worthy leader of the Filipino people having dedicated her life in the service of the country and of the Filipino.




Satur: NDF has a lot to thank Cory for
by Carmela Fonbuena, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 08/03/2009 7:17 PM

MANILA - Former National Democratic Front (NDF) spokesman and now Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo said the rebel movement has a lot to thank the late President Corazon Aquino for.

"President Aquino was very instrumental in starting the peace negotiations between the government and the NDF. Though this effort failed for many reasons, Cory also took the road for a just and lasting peace at the start of her government," Ocampo said on Monday.

Ocampo fondly remembers how, in December 1983, Aquino visited political prisoners of the Marcos regime in the Bicutan Rehabilitation Center in Taguig. It was after her husband, staunch Marcos critic Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was assassinated and she was forced to continue his battles.

"On a personal level, I remember her visiting us at Bicutan. We were many there--from the Left, the Light a Fire Movement, and others--and she expressed her solidarity with us and promised to work for the release of political prisoners," said Ocampo.

True to her words, Aquino fulfilled her promised in 1986 only days after she was swept to power through the People Power revolution. Ocampo remembers how Aquino released 450 political prisoners despite the strong opposition from the military and even from within the Cabinet.

"We should remember that Ninoy was also a political prisoner. She knew what it was like--the harassment, the body searches, and the tortures. When she visited after Ninoy's death, she knew our sentiments," Ocampo said.

Ocampo was not among the 450. He had escaped from Bicutan in 1985. As a former official of the National Press Club, he was granted a pass to vote in the National Press Club elections that year. But he was able to slip away from his military guards and return to the underground movement.

He resurfaced in 1987 to become the spokesman of the NDF.

Jose Maria Sison, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair and NDF chief political consultant had earlier also recalled his "exceptional" relationship with the late president.




‘A giant has passed’
Written by Fernan Marasigan / Reporter
Saturday, 01 August 2009 21:07

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives gave paeans to the former President and joined the nation in mourning her passing.

Speaker Prospero Nograles, who is in the US with President Arroyo, said in a statement, Mrs. Aquino’s “courage, honesty and humility gave hope and life, and inspired the Filipino to fight and win back freedom and democracy—a legacy that will forever be engraved in the hearts of a grateful people.

Nograles added: “Catapulted to the highest office of the land, whether by design or by destiny, former President Cory was a blessing to the presidency.”

“We thank God for giving us Cory during our most crucial episodes of history,” he said.

Lakas Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay said one facet of the character of President Cory Aquino which stands out in his mind was “her respect for and capacity to tolerate differing views and opposing partisan positions.”

Lagman, a die-hard supporter of Ramon Mitra in the latter’s presidential bid, while Mrs. Aquino supported the presidential candidacy of Fidel Ramos, recalled, “She respected my political persuasion and did not attempt to change it with the budgetary support she had just given to my district, or the fact that she once appointed me as her undersecretary of the Department of Budget and Management shortly after the Edsa People Power Revolution.”

Members of leftist party-list groups, who were at odds with Mrs. Aquino’s policies during her term, also expressed their praise and “deep sense of loss” for the passing of the former President.

Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna said, “My progressive party-list colleagues and I join the Filipino people in saluting former President Cory Aquino. We are very saddened by her passing at this critical point of our nation’s history. We share her family’s deep sense of loss but also relief in that she has been freed from the pains and burdens in the last moments of her life.

Party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño also of Bayan Muna, said, “We [Bayan Muna] join the nation in mourning the passing away of Cory. She will always be remembered for her struggle for freedom and democracy against tyranny, whether of the Marcos or Arroyo kind. Her death saddens us all but does not diminish nor dampen our continuing struggle to protect democracy from the evil plots of those in power.

Gabriela’s Party-list Rep. Liza Maza said the memory of President Cory’s courage and the quiet grace of her spirit will always be a reminder to those who aspire to be dictators or tyrants that the Filipino people, inspired by the same memory, will never allow them to rule again.

Maza described Cory as a formidable voice in the anti-Arroyo administration struggle and has been instrumental in the cause against corruption and greed for power.

“Up to the last days of her life, she has been one with the people in calling for change. She served as an inspiration to millions of Filipinos who dare to challenge and oppose the existing bankruptcy of the Arroyo administration,” she said.

Maza added: “In the light of moves to amend the 1987 Constitution through constituent assembly, the Filipino people should constantly be reminded of how the late Cory Aquino stood up against this threat to democracy.”

Liberal Party Rep. Rozanno Rufino Biazon of Muntinlupa said the passing of former President Cory Aquino is a national loss. But her life was a “national gift.” Her physical life has ended but it will continue to inspire us.

Independent Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque said he did not have the honor of serving in her government “but I had the privilege of joining her cause after her presidency as she continued to fight for her democratic principles and ideals.”

He said: “A giant has passed…. It will take many generations before another leader of her towering stature will pass our way again.”

Rep. Edno Joso of Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija said, “Long live Cory and democracy! She fought for the country when others dare not; she lived for truth and honesty while others cannot; she loved, laugh and cried with us in moments of triumph and perfidy, and she led the way so that never again shall our nation go astray.”