i remember.
What is a moment?
All the world’s a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.
— Sean O’Case
Posted October 25, 2009 at 11:04pm
Conquer yourself, not the world
— Rene Descartes.
The Carabao.
The Story of Cory Aquino.
Corazon Aquino had always been introduced to my generation as a woman who defiantly brought down a dictatorship, restored democracy and inspired a nation to take control of its fate through peaceful means. Armed with our textbooks we were taught about how this woman and her tragic story would change the Philippine’s course forever. But of course, that was only half the story of the most loved Philippine president that is Cory Aquino.
It seems that after seventeen years after Cory had gone down from the presidency, the people have failed to remember who Cory truly was. Textbooks will never be able to capture her story, and our parents and those who have witnessed her life have forgotten to relay to us her story.
I guess the sad saying that one only truly remembers someone when they have come to passed can be best used on Cory. It was only after her death that her story truly steps forward. She was a simple widow and mother who never really want to take the reins. She even describes the day that she stepped down from her office as that of being one of the happiest days in her life. But she knew what had to be done. She sacrificed her life so that we may enjoy freedom.
She wasn’t perfect either. We often see her hailed as a great president, but in fact she wasn’t. She was a simple housewife to begin with after all. But Cory did try her best while she was president. She always strived to do what was best for the country and more importantly, her heart was always in the right place, an important point we always fail to see.
Who knew this simple girl from Tarlac would end up uniting Filipinos time and time again and inspiring the world. Cory’s body was buried last night, at the same time, a nation buries her in their hearts. Cory leaves us with all that she has done for us. After all, we do owe her the full freedom we enjoy today, like the freedom of the press, expression, free elections – and yes, even to watch Voltes Five.
But greater than that, Cory leaves us her story, a story that serves as an example and an inspiration to us, and with her story, we continue her fight. She was once known has Ninoy’s wife, then the mother of Kris, now finally, with her story, she is now simply Cory: a sister, friend, prayer warrior, wife, student, president, and m
other.
Tonight, we buried Cory Aquino’s body, but tonight her bury her also in our hearts forever.
the Philippines is Yellow.
