- Title: PHILIPPINES: Masses offered for Philippines former president Corazon Aquino.
- Date: 4th August 2009
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARCHBISHOP ANGEL LAGDAMEO SAYING: "The flickering embers of People Power One once again finds new life, new meaning, new spirit." SOLDIERS SEATED ON BLEACHERS YELLOW SHIRTED WORKERS FROM ELECTRIC COMPANY SEATED IN BLEACHERS YELLOW SHIRTED WORKERS IN LINE TO SEE CASKET WAN AZIZAH, WIFE OF MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ANWAR IBRAHIM, WALKING IN CASKET'S DIRECTION AZIZAH TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) WAN AZIZAH, WIFE OF MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ANWAR IBRAHIM, SAYING: "We have lost a great friend, a loyal friend, and, because of the similarities that I share with President Cory Aquino. It's just like, Anwar, my husband, was just like Ninoy. And there's so many things I can relate to. And President Cory Aquino was very nice and very kind to me during my darkest hours. And now, with her loss, I feel such a sense, a deep sense of loss personally." PEOPLE IN LINE IN SCHOOL CORRIDOR FLOWERS BEING PLACED IN FRONT OF SHRINE YELLOW RIBBONS ON TREE YELLOW RIBBONS ON STREET FENCE BANNER WITH AQUINO'S IMAGE, FLOWERS AND BALLOON ON GATE OF AQUINO'S RESIDENCE
- Embargoed: 19th August 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Philippines
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Obituaries,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9NKOUXMRHU53PSNFFVBHC0HNS
- Story Text: Masses are held for former Philippines president Corazon Aquino.
Masses were held for deceased ex-President Corazon Aquino in a gymnasium in Manila on Sunday (August 2), as soldiers, students, government employees and civilians from all walks of life paid their respects for the woman they hail "the mother of Philippine democracy".
Thousands of sympathisers poured into the La Salle Greenhills campus where Aquino's remains lie in state. Lines snaked around a busy avenue, with people queuing up as early as 4 a.m. to catch a last glimpse of their beloved leader.
A number of mourners wore yellow, Aquino's trademark colour.
Priests said a Catholic mass at noon.
"The flickering of People Power One once again finds new life, new meaning, new spirit," Archibishop Angel Lagdameo said in his homily.
Wan Azizah, the wife of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim flew to Manila to pay her respects to Aquino, whom she called a great friend.
"We have lost a great friend, a loyal friend, and, because of the similarities that I share with President Cory Aquino. It's just like, Anwar, my husband, was just like Ninoy. And there's so many things I can relate to. And President Cory Aquino was very nice and very kind to me during my darkest hours. And now, with her loss, I feel such a sense, a deep sense of loss personally," Azizah said.
As news of Aquino's death spread, people offered flowers and lit candles at shrines and in front of her home. She lived in their family home in the central part of Manila as a private citizen after leaving office.
Many tied yellow ribbons to their cars and on trees, lamp posts and gates. A note on a bunch of flowers said "Saint Cory, pray for us Filipinos."
"Dear Tita Cory, thank you for being a good president. We will miss you so much," a girl read from her letter.
Aquino, affectionately known as Cory or Tita Cory (Aunt Cory), was president from 1986 to 1992. But she is best remembered, more than two decades after the fact, as the slim woman in yellow who led the "People Power" revolution that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
She will be buried on Wednesday(August 5), after a private ceremony, beside her husband Benigno, assassinated in 1983.
Her family announced she died in the early hours of Saturday (August 1), shortly after a private mass was held in her hospital room.
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