Philippines Mourns at the Death of its First Woman President

Philippine flags in all government offices around the country, including Malacañang and in police and military camps were raised at half-mast Saturday morning as the country mourn the death of former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino.

At 8 a.m., Philippine flags in Malacañang, military and police camps around the country were simultaneously raised at half-mast.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines also fired volleys at the same time, declaring the day of mourning for the death of the former president.

"We will provide full military honors befitting a former president of the republic and commander in chief," the armed forces said in a statement.

It said the military will go on a vigil and Masses will be held in all military churches during the entire wake of Mrs. Aquino's death.

"Let us continue to pray for her soul and for the entire Filipino nation," it said.

Flags will remain raised at half-mast all over the country during the 10-day mourning declared by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. With a report from Noel Alamar, radio dzMM.

The Aquino family has opted for a private funeral for the late Corazon Aquino instead of a state funeral given to former presidents, according to Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Aquino said this was because his mother had chosen to be a private citizen when she finished her term in 1992, years after she was installed as the first woman president during the People Power revolution.

The democracy icon succumbed to colon cancer 3:18 am, August 1.

“We want to spend as much time as possible as a family,” said Aquino, as he thanked the public for following their advisories that visitors were not allowed at the Heritage Memorial Park.

He added that a necrology service in Malacanang might not be possible.

“I’m not anticipating an offer, I’m not asking for an offer. There’s a point in time that we would want privacy,” he said.

A public viewing, however, has been scheduled at the La Salle Greenhills gym starting 5 pm Saturday until Monday morning. The former president will then be brought to Manila Cathedral for an overnight vigil, requiem masses and necrological services. Interment will be at the Manila Memorial Park on Wednesday, the Aquino family said.

Aquino said his mother will wear her signature yellow dress and will be buried beside her husband, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, whose assassination sparked the first EDSA revolution.

Fighting back tears during the press conference, Aquino said his sisters have been very emotional, but the death of their mother brought them closer.

“We draw strength from the five of us,” the senator said in a press conference Saturday.

He said he last talked to his mother days ago, before doctors gave the former president morphine to ease her pain.

“We were told to say everything we want to say because after the morphine she will be sleeping all the time,” he said.

He related that instead of complaining about her illness, the former president would first think about her children’s welfare or check what was on the news.

“Nung first time ko magbantay, she would ask me kung kumain na ako. Other times nagbabasa ako ng diyaryo itatanong niya ano laman niyan. She never demonstrated pain,” he said.

credits to:

Thea Alberto
Yahoo! Philippines

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