Filipinos mourn ex-president Aquino
- Source: Global Times
- [01:06 August 03 2009]
- Comments
Philippine mourners pay their last respects yesterday to former president Corazon Aquino at her wake at a Catholic university gymnasium in Mandaluyong, east of Manila. Photo: AFP
By Zuo Xuan
Thousands of mourners paid their last respects to former Philippine president Corazon Aquino yesterday, lining up to file past her coffin in silent tribute to the “People Power” democracy leader.
Aquino, who died at the age of 76 Saturday after a long battle with colon cancer, led millions of Filipinos to topple Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, before taking over as president.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, in New York after meeting with US President Barack Obama, cut short her visit to attend Aquino’s funeral and announced 10 days of national mourning.
“Today, the Philippines lost a national treasure,” Arroyo said. “She picked up the standard and helped lead our nation to a brighter day.”
Tributes came in from around the world for the woman who led the country from 1986 to 1992, when she restored the country’s democratic institutions and survived several bloody coup attempts.
Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of sympathy by the Chinese embassy in Manila to Arroyo over Aquino’s passing, according to the Foreign Ministry of China.
“She was an outstanding leader of the Philippines, and a good friend of the Chinese people,” said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.
Deeply saddened by Aquino’s death, US President Obama said in a statement, “Her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation.”
Pope Benedict XVI remembered Aquino as a “woman of deep and unwavering faith,” while former first lady Imelda Marcos said her family joined the nation in mourning and praying for the ex-president.
Aquino is to be buried Wednesday after a family-led ceremony, in accordance with her wishes not to be given a state funeral, according to the presidential palace.
Schools across the country were to close for the day.
Aquino will be laid to rest beside her husband, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, who was assassinated in 1983 after flying home from exile to lead the anti-Marcos campaign.
Until March last year, when she withdrew from public life after being diagnosed with colon cancer, Aquino had been active in street protests denouncing government corruption and demanding Arroyo’s resignation.
Agencies contributed to this story
