Corys funeral, Aug 5, a special non-working holiday

MANILA – Malacañang has declared Wednesday, Aug. 5, as a special non-working holiday in commemoration of the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino. The private funeral of Aquino will be held on Wednesday. She will be buried beside her late husband, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park. According to deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, the declaration of Wednesday as a special non-working holiday will allow the nation to witness the moments before Aquino is brought to her final resting place, radio dzMM reported. A mass will be held at 9 a.m. at the Manila Cathedral before the burial. Fajardo earlier announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has cut short her United States trip in order to make it to Aquino’s funeral service on Wednesday. Arroyo will leave New York for Manila on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines). The chief executive declared a 10-day period of national mourning (Aug. 1 to Aug. 10) over the death of Aquino through Proclamation No. 1850. Aquino, 76, succumbed to colon cancer on Saturday at 3:18 a.m. Her wake is at the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) gymnasium in Mandaluyong City. The public viewing at LSGH began at 5 p.m. of Saturday and will continue until Monday. The daily viewing schedule will be until 4 a.m., and will resume at 7 a.m.

FVR: ‘Aquino represented past, future of Filipinos’

Former President Fidel V. Ramos on Friday expressed grief over the death of his predecessor, former President Corazon Aquino, saying her demise was a loss not only for Filipinos but for the whole world. In a phone-patch interview with GMA News, Ramos, who took over the presidency when Mrs. Aquino bowed out of office in 1992, paid tribute to the role that the democracy icon had played in shaping the Philippines after coming out of martial rule under strongman Ferdinand Marcos. "Not only the entire Filipino nation grieves, but the whole world. Cory Aquino represented the past and the future of our people and led in the direction of a better future for our people," Ramos said. “Dito sa aming lahat sa aking pamilya ay nakikiramay sa pamilya at sa lahat ng mahal sa buhay ni Cory Aquino," said Ramos, who only learned about Mrs. Aquino’s death on radio.

This page requires a higher version browser Ramos, together with then defense chief Juan Ponce Enrile, led a military uprising in February 1986 that sparked the EDSA “People Power Revolution," toppled the Marcos regime and propelled Mrs. Aquino to power.

One of Mrs. Aquino's first appointees was then Lieutenant General Ramos, then Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vice chief of staff, whom she named chief of staff and promoted to four-star rank.

As military chief of staff and later secretary of defense, Ramos stood by Mrs. Aquino in the most difficult times of her presidency, helping quell coup attempts mounted mostly by military officers who helped topple Marcos.

During the 1992 presidential elections, Mrs. Aquino threw her support behind Ramos, discarding then House Speaker Ramon Mitra, who was the choice of the ruling Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) - the party formed by her political allies to back her presidency.

Because of Mrs. Aquino's support, Ramos managed to emerge as winner, albeit by a slim margin, in a field of seven candidates that included Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago; businessman Eduardo "Danding Cojuangco, Mrs. Aquino's cousin; then Vice President Salvador Laurel, former Senate President Jovito Salonga and former First Lady Mrs. Imelda Marcos.

Cory camp denies death rumor

The spokesperson of former President Corazon Aquino has denied reports the former leader has succumbed to colon cancer. “It’s not true,” said Deedee Siytangco, former President Corazon Aquino’s spokesperson in a telephone interview with Yahoo! Philippines when asked about the report. “If there’s anything to be announced, it would be them who will do so,” she said.

“The family appreciates the concern for the mother but if it does not come from any of the five kids and the grandsons or her nephew, she’s not yet (gone),” said Siytangco. However, the spokesman admitted Aquino’s condition has not improved with her continued loss of appetite.

She also said family’s mood has been quite gloomy. “They’ve been not very well,” she added. Siytangco reiterated that visitors were still not allowed at the Makati Medical Center, where Aquino has been confined. She has been battling with colon cancer since 2008 and has been confined since last month.

In a separate interview, Jiggy Cruz, Aquino’s grandson said that Aquino was getting pain relievers. “She’s stable yesterday. She’s getting pain relievers and she’s asleep now,” he said. Cruz, who was at the hospital at the time of interview, also clarified the former president was not on a life support system. However, he said the former leader could not talk well.

“She’s having a hard time to talk so it’s either a yes or a no for her,” said Cruz. “We’re all here. We’ve been praying the rosary together,” he added.

A text message claiming Aquino has succumbed to colon cancer circulated late Friday, prompting the British Embassy to send its condolences to the family. A staff member of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, however, declared that she was still alive but in “critical condition.”

Aquino’s supporters had been tying yellow ribbons in Makati City and Manila to show their continued support for the ailing leader.

The British Embassy has issued an apology after it sent its condolences to the Aquino family.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton wished a speedy recovery for the former president.

Aquino, who has been diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer, was hospitalized for loss of appetite. She is the widow of assassinated opposition leader Benigno Aquino. The assassination sparked a “people power” revolt in 1986 that led to ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Have you tied a yellow ribbon to support Aquino?