EDSA 20

MANILA, Philippines—The period of mourning for millions of people who knew or barely knew Corazon “Cory” Aquino began as quickly as news of the former President’s death spread on radio, TV and the Internet.

Many paused to listen to—or watch the news—on their radios, TVs and PCs, setting off unscheduled trips to churches nationwide where prayers were offered for the late President.

Beatriz Saoi, 88, of Tarlac City, said she had been praying for Aquino since she learned from relatives that the former President had colon cancer.

Saoi, who used to work as a masseuse for the Cojuangco siblings and in-laws in the family-owned Hacienda Luisita, learned of Aquino’s death also by word of mouth, since she had no TV or radio.

Skies cried

In places where the rains were heavy and black clouds blotted out the sun, people said the skies “cried.”

In Legazpi City, the roads were almost empty as people stayed home to watch TV and listen to radio broadcasts of Aquino’s death.

In Dumaguete City, people with Internet access quickly set off a barrage of blogs and filled chat rooms to spread the news and offer condolences.

Internet traffic

Some said Internet traffic brought by the number of people hooked to reports and blogs about her death surpassed that of Michael Jackson’s.

Radio stations in Iloilo City replaced regular programming with features on the life of Aquino and her role in the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship.

Flags in government offices and centers nationwide were flown at half-staff.

A black cloth was draped around the provincial capitol building of Albay in Legazpi City.

Workers at the San Pablo City Medical Center tied yellow ribbons around posts and fences in the hospital.

In Laguna, yellow ribbons were tied to fences, posts and anywhere they could be attached to as a symbol of a nation’s love and respect for a leader that ended two decades of one-man rule.

Officials in San Pedro, Laguna, said the yellow ribbons would stay until Aquino is buried.

Across Panay island, radio, TV and the Internet carried messages of condolences and sadness.

People on Boracay island, the country’s prime tourist destination, also offered prayers.

Yellow all over

The governor of Aklan ordered yellow ribbons tied to posts and fences around the provincial capitol.

In Batangas City, residents didn’t wait for orders and started placing yellow ribbons in their homes.

All over Tarlac, the Cojuangcos’ home province, yellow ribbons were tied around tree branches and electric posts.

Passenger utility vehicles went around decorated with yellow ribbons, some of them tied in a bow.

Yellow banners hung in windows and wide yellow ribbons with the message “Maraming salamat, President Aquino,” were draped over car rear windows.

Edgardo Aguas, chair of Barangay Central in Tarlac City, where Cory was a registered voter, said he went around the village early Saturday to tell his village mates that Cory had died.

Marcos bailiwick

In Ilocos Norte, bailiwick of the Aquinos’ arch political enemy, the Marcoses, radio stations paid respect to Cory by airing the speeches she delivered throughout her presidency—from her inaugural address in 1986 to her last State of the Nation Address in 1991.

Some people, however, called to complain about hearing nothing but reports and features on Cory’s death.

Michael Keon, Ilocos Norte governor and nephew of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, said that while the province does not share the general sentiment about Cory’s contributions to democracy, “we need to share the loss of the Aquinos despite our political differences.”

In Pampanga, the Benedictine community tied yellow ribbons on the fence and gates of the St. Scholastica’s Academy in the City of San Fernando.

Catholics began converging at the Shrine of Virgen de Lourdes in Cabetican, Bacolor, to pray. They held a Mass for her healing at the same shrine on July 26.

The city government of San Fernando draped a white cloth and tied yellow ribbons on Heroes Hall and displayed the Philippine flag at half-staff.

Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City was offering all its Sunday Masses for Aquino.

In Isabela, Philippine flags at the Cauayan and Santiago city halls also flew at half-staff.

Peacemaker

In Nueva Ecija, early morning broadcasts over radio station dzXO in Cabanatuan City called on listeners not to forget Cory as the icon of freedom and democracy.

Meanwhile, in Baguio City, members of the militia founded by slain rebel priest Conrado Balweg said it was sending a delegation to Aquino’s wake.

Aquino signed her administration’s first peace agreement with Balweg in July 1987.

“She really was the personification of government in the sipat (peace pact),” said former Bucloc (Abra) Mayor Mailed Molina, who was among the leaders of Balweg’s Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army.

The result of the peace agreement was the issuance of Executive Order No. 220 that created the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Flags in all military headquarters and camps in Mindanao flew at half-staff.

Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said he would offer Sunday’s Mass for Aquino at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cotabato City which was recently hit by a terror attack that killed six people.

Eid Kabalu, civil-military chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, described Aquino as “second to no one in championing democracy.” Reports from Russell Arador, Tonette Orejas, Carmela Reyes and Anselmo Roque, Inquirer Central Luzon; Cristina Arzadon, Vincent Cabreza and Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon; Julie S. Alipala, Edwin O. Fernandez, Orlando B. Dinoy and Dennis Santos, Inquirer Mindanao; Rey M. Nasol, Jonas Soltes, Maricar P. Cinco, Romulo Ponte and Marrah Erika Lesaba, Inquirer Southern Luzon and Alex Pal, Inquirer Visayas