‘Paint town yellow’ for Aquino – evangelist

MANILA, Philippines -- Former President Corazon Aquino’s “world-class statesmanship” will live forever in the hearts and minds of Filipinos, born-again pastor Brother Eddie Villanueva said on Sunday as he urged Filipinos to “paint the town yellow” by tying yellow ribbons on every door.

“She will stay with us, alive in our hearts and minds. For her patriotism is a flame that shall ever burn within our souls. Her courageous fight for freedom and democracy shall always compel us to protect this liberty,” Villanueva said in a tribute of Aquino, who passed away Saturday after battling colon cancer.

Villanueva, in a statement, also urged members of the good governance group Bagong Pilipinas, Bagong Pilipino Movement, the political party Bangon Pilipinas, Jesus Is Lord Church, Philippines for Jesus Movement and other allies to pay their last respects to the former President by tying yellow ribbons on every door – homes, churches, establishments.

“By painting the town yellow, we shall also show to her bereaved family that we as a nation are paying our debt of gratitude to them for not withholding their sister, mother, grandmother from us,” he said.

Villanueva challenged government officials to honor Aquino by following her example of world-class statesmanship.

“Blessed with the covering of the 1986 Freedom Constitution, Mrs. Aquino had in her hand both executive and legislative powers. But instead of being tempted to use such to her advantage, she strengthened the nation’s democracy by gifting us with the 1987 Constitution … the same constitution that some quarters in our society are trying so hard to amend,” Villanueva said.

“If these people are therefore sincere in their desire to honor Mrs. Aquino, it is a must that they respect the freedom legacy of the former president,” he said.

Copyright 2009 INQUIRER.net and content partners. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.