Yellow

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

I WAS not a fan of the color yellow before. My favorite color is red, which I label as a symbol for warriors and gallantry, particularly if you talk about sports competitions. In fact, the French-made bike that I used to win my three national tiaras was colored red, same with my four-wheel vehicle, aside from having a lot of red-colored shirts and handkerchiefs. I don’t know why. I just love it.

But my affection for yellow started during the 1973 Tour of Luzon when I initially won the first stage and mandated to wear the yellow jersey, a cycling parlance of overall leadership. I never relinquished that coveted yellow up to the final and last stage during that 10-day battle of the roads and tasted my first conquest. That’s a record that still stands today.

My love for yellow bumped up during the first Edsa revolution when Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, the wife of slain former solon Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., instigated a fight against the Marcos tyranny. She did it with much gusto, trending a “Laban” hand sign, a symbol of protest for the assassination of her husband Ninoy on August 21, 1983. Mrs. Aquino, who wore yellow, defined it as symbol of her sincere love for the country. And so did her supporters. Streamers, ribbons, balloons, armbands, hats, confetti, fans were all fashioned in yellow, and became the color code for Mrs. Aquino’s war against the Marcos regime. It was the sea of yellow that eventually led to that monumental and memorable event “People Power.”

“Tita Cory” rose to lead the country in 1986 and revitalized the economy and the business sector. The return of the ABS-CBN and GMA communication moguls and Meralco, national dailies, to their rightful owners signaled that. She led our country in six years with some lapses because she was not perfect. But I truly believe that she fought a good fight, finished the race, kept the good faith and left a legacy that is definitely positive. Her former employees said they were touched by her humility and simplicity even she was the supreme leader of this country. Cory adhered to what the Good Book says, that we should always be humble so we’ll be exalted. Look at the couple’s tombs, made very simple.

“Hindi siya mayabang kahit na naging pangulo na siya ng Pilipinas nuon, hindi kagaya ng iba nating kapwa Pilipino na makapunta lang sila sa abroad, mahalal na kapitan o kagawad man lang ay napakayabang na nila. Siguro dahil si Cory ay nagbabasa ng ating Banal na Aklat,” said Randy Ubando, a native of Bonuan Boquig. Unlike this present administration, Cory also believed in our traditional Christian values, including not to be vindictive.

Cory’s former cabinet escritoire and now GMA’s cabinet secretary Silvestre Bello III, despite receiving “dagger” looks from some people during Cory’s wake last Monday, praised Cory hailing her as one of the greatest presidents the world ever had.

Well, he could be right. Just as God’s prophet Moses had similarly done, Cory she led us to freedom.

Cory’s last wish was to go on a pilgrimage with her family to Jerusalem but that did not happen owing to her illness. But I guess she’s now in Holier Land at the kingdom of God with her husband Ninoy.

So no need to pray for Cory because she’s now in the presence of God. What we should now pray for is for ourselves, that God will forgive our sins before it’s too late.

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