While the country is grieving over the death of the former president Corazon Aquino, local celebrities relived some of their memories about the first woman president of the country.

Aquino passed away last Saturday, August 1, after battling colon cancer for more than a year. She was 76.

abs-cbnNEWS.com interviewed some stars and asked them of their memories of the country's first woman president and icon of People Power.  

Gary Valenciano

"I remember, I was playing golf sa Hacienda Luisita. Habang naggo-golf kami dumating 'yong  parang assistant niya, sabi niya 'Sir, si Mrs. Aquino would like to gusto kayong makita after ng golf niyo,' sabi ko 'sige sige we will go after'....  This is many years ago. Noong pagpunta namin it was me and two of my friends si Jojo Lastimosa and Pastor Gus Lising. Pumasok kami, sabi ng assistant 'pwede kayong pumasok  doon sa presentation room kasi may 10-minute video tungkol sa museum.' Sabi ko 'Bago ito ha,' pero walang tao it was not open to the public that time.  After ng video presentation dumating si Mrs. Aquino... and she says 'Oh Gary your friends are here. To make a long story short mula doon sa picture na yon, for the next two hours to two and half hours tinour niya kami sa buong museum siya ako at ang dalawang kaibigan ko ng walang ibang tao sa loob pati assistant niya wala. Tapos dito ako natauhan,  tinanong ko siya 'Ma'am Ninoy was shot many years ago but do you miss him? Tapos sabi niya 'actually no.' Sabi ko 'Why would that be your answer?' Sabi niya 'you know a lot of people fought, Ninoy fought for the country and a lot of people are fighting for the same thing now so  in many was he really hasn't died.' So noong  bumalik kami sa kotse halos wala kaming masabi sa kotse kasi biro mo former president Aquino are taking you on tour and hindi siya yong tipong nagyayabang pero talagang proud na proud siya na at least may nakasalo ng history ng pamilya niya, ng asawa niya na hanggang ngayon ay buhay na buhay pa din sa alaala ng tao. For me that is so important and that's for me  is one of fondest memories I have with madam Cory Aquino."

Martin Nievera
 
"I will never forget the little quiet talks that we would have when I was going through an awful time. Thanks to Kris who informed her mom about everything that was going on between my separation with Pops but she was always so supportive. She  never pried into 'so what really happened.' I was given really good spiritual talk. In a span of two or three minutes I learned. I may not have understood the politics of President Aquino but I understood and I will always remember her heart. For me that is the difference between politician and a president.

So for me I think if Cory Aquino, we refer her as former president Cory Aquino I think forever if a government, if a country has heart and soul, Cory Aquino will be the heart and soul of the Philippines forever."

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

"You know President Aquino is an icon of democracy bagamat nagluluksa ngayon ang Sambayanang Pilipino siya ay mananatiling inspirasyon sa bawat isa sa atin. Siya ay mananatiling buhay sa ating puso at isipan."

Mother Lily Monteverde

"I'm so inspired when I was called, I went to Malacañang to have a short talk with her of course she endorsed me with Kris Aquino somehing that touched my heart. I really love her, from the bottom of my heart talagang siya ang pinaka-idolize ko not only as a president but as a woman and as a mother."

Charlene Gonzales
 
"Para sa akin Tita Cory has inspired us in so many ways... 'yong pagkatao niya, the goodness that's in her heart that inspired and changed the lives of many people and para sa akin ay isa siya na we will never forget.  She will be forever in our hearts."

Ina Raymundo

"Ang bumabalik sa akin kapag naririnig ko ang pangalan ni Mrs. Corazon Aquino ay ang EDSA Revolution.Talagang mahal na mahal ko si Cory kasi she reminds me of my lola. Pareho silang mapagmahal 'yong gusto mong mahalin. She's very special to me. “

“She's (an inspiration not only to me but to all women) of course bilang unang unang pangulo na babae. Kumbaga she set the trend. Isa siya sa powerful na babae, talagang very proud ako sa kanya."

Beverly Salviejo

"Nandoon din ako sa EDSA noon (noong 1986) para sa EDSA Revolution). Democracy, 'yon ang maalala ko kapag Corazon Aquino ang sinabi --  democracy."

Jommy Teotico
 
"Si Ms. Corazon Aquino is the president na inilaban niya ang karapatan ng lahat ng tao 'yon ang pumapasok sa isipan ko. Hero (oo), kasi siya ang naging boses ng tao.

“Siya ang first na gumawa ng act na lumaban na hindi natakot. Kasi (hindi ba) 'yong mga lumalaban noon ay pinapatay. Siya kababaeng tao talagang nilaban niya at part siya ng history."

Denise Laurel

"President Corazon Aquino, she is a noble lady. I have nothing but respect for her and she has led our country to be where we are today, so without her we wouldn't be here."

Hansen "Sen" Nichols

"When I hear Corazon Aquino, I see and I hear hope. Whatever she did while she was in power there's that kind of hope lalo pa sa mga Pinoy lalo pa ngayon  at medyo mahirap ang panahon.

“Pero let's always have hope for us Pinoys we stay strong.  There's still hope for the Pinoy and we are nation who will face it together.

Derek Ramsay

"For all the women out there, I don't think you will see somebody as strong as Mrs. Cory Aquino. She represented the country, she defended her country, she defended her people. I'm not  completely from the Philippines but the time I spent here I've heard so much things of she has done. She fought so many battles... women should be inspired to be like her. I don't think I can be strong and tough as her and I'm guy... She is an amazing woman.