Think about it
Outpouring
By Jun Velasco
IT will take some time when Filipinos and democracy-loving people around the world are able to get over the impact of former President Cort Aquino’s death on August l. 2009.
The nation wept. But it eventually rejoiced.
We casually call her an “icon” of freedom and democracy, ideal wife to national hero, Ninoy, loving and exemplary mother to children Kris, Noynoy, and others. Cory was indeed, all of the above.
Judging from the national outpouring of grief, love and sympathy, millions (let’s include those who were not able to join the funeral) have found their noble and virtuous side because of her. The outpouring was the clearest show of a people’s longing and prayer to be on the side of the good.
If you ask us, the transcendental convergence of humanity around Cory was a flaming proof of man’s nobility, his passion to embrace what is good, what’s honest, what’s humble, what’s Godly.
Instead of grieving — though it couldn’t be helped at first — we should therefore rejoice, because we found our bearings, our real and true selves, our authenticity, our Godliness, our spirituality, our innate goodness.
What a sight to behold then, thousands, nay, millions of Filipinos clutching on one another, weeping as the heavens, too, wept for a dear one. What a most apt and historic symbol of our greatness as a people, bowing to the good. Through her, we instantly became our true selves as a good people.
Right! Hallelujah! The shining gold in us, in our hearts, in our bosom, in our depths have surfaced. What Rizal has taught us has been there waiting to come out, like a phoenix that finally jut out to the sky . . . from the rubble, from the muck.
Goodbye, Cory, and welcome our renaissance as good Filipinos! No wonder Ninoy conceived that immortal line, “the Filipino is worth dying for.”
Parodying her daughter Kris exulting at the privilege of her being her daughter, we also thank Cory for having come to our lives that we may allow the good in us to see and embrace the light again, and say goodbye to all that we reject and abhor.
In death, Cory lives.
* * * *
One of a few kindred souls who have sent in their memorable comments of Cory include University of Luzon Senior Vice President Aurora S. Reyna who said, “Thank you, Tita Cory, for witnessing for me how to be a morally upright Filipino, a loving mother, a simple yet courageous servant -leader, and above all, a faithful children of God. Truly she is God’s gift to the Filipino people.”
Another friend sent this tribute with its built-in head, ‘Cory, A Life Complete’
“After today, when flowers and mass cards shall have all been sent; accolades and condolences, all the fondest prayers offered; all mourning rites done, the story that is Cory will continue to run; told and retold over again, time after time.
For now, there is no imminent cloud that may disrupt the spell and enchantment of a roused citizenry to tales of her piety and courage as a wife, a widow, a mother, a faith loyalist and defender, and a president.
Citizens in this lifetime, from Tarlac and Times Street to EDSA; from New York to Washington DC; across all continents of the world, would not have hesitated to salute and grant this proud-to-be-Filipino woman of humility in her awesomeness, a standing ovation for ideals well performed, for cause well spent and work well done.
For here was a woman of simple quietude as plain housewife, who, by personal tragedy and loss, and perhaps God’s will, allowed herself to go through a transfiguration to become mother to a nation that was then desperate from greed and oppression; a people resolute to bolt out from bondage to freedom.
They say Cory is a gift; and a gift we have just lost. But gain we did as she left a dower of life and virtues.
In this generation, we are blessed to be first-hand witness to one human being that has lived well enough to epitomize what it is to be woman and wife, in sickness and in health; to be mother, even to an imperfect child, who, in the end, she made out to be perfect; to be incessant patriot to a country reluctant to heal, and above all, to be Christian, constant and true to her Catholic faith, even in suffering and pain; always compliant to her passion to be God’s true-born child. And shall we miss that she was the plain housewife who became president and restored democracy in a country that starved for freedom?
In her passing, let not today’s Filipino just say, “Cory shall not have died in vain! G and dismiss it like another one pathetic quote of wisdom, most often laid to rest as plain rhetoric unchallenged and undone.
As Cory treads her way now to total fulfillment of her life beyond, reuniting with her beloved Ninoy, let us be disturbed, roused, and spurred by the life and virtues she has left behind. Pursue her task, let us. And with resolve and constancy, we may even do better now, finally.”
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