The media, traditional and new, have been overflowing with eulogies, tributes, and anecdotes about the late Corazon Aquino. I have never met her, nor do I know her personally. But to me, she is a great part of my life.
When I was barely four years old in 1986, I learned how to do the L (for Laban) sign and I watched, like the rest of the world, while a housewife took the fight of her husband, ran for president and led the Filipinos to revolt against a dictatorship.
This revolt led to, among many other things, the death of my father who then and the imprisonment of my mother. Both of them were CPP-NPA officers. I do not blame Aquino for both events. But it was her leadership that led to the fall (in my opinion) of the CPP-NPA. That, to me, is who Cory Aquino is… a housewife whose fight for democracy was far more courageous and meaningful than those who did it with arms.
She may be many things, great and not so great, to many people. But to me, she is an icon. The beacon of light who showed me, and many others, that the fight for democracy is not to be won by force or violence.
Aquino, along with the many brave Filipinos and Filipinas of EDSA, gave me my life, the freedom to write, blog, and say as I please and the inspiration to believe that there are others ways to achieving freedom and democracy other than through arms and violence.
That is my Cory Aquino.
She will be remembered for a long time. Rest In Peace President Cory.
Salamat cory sa lahat ng iyong pinama, lalong lalo na sa kalayaang sinimulan ng iyong asawa at iyo namang tinapos.
baunin mo ang aming tauspusong pasasalamat at pagmamahal.
Halika ipapasyal kita sa burol niya.
i am amazed at your levelheaded look at somebody who has affected your family in a not too positive way. no bitterness. i admire your attitude.
Life goes on.