Just like Ninoy's funeral in August 1983

MANILA - An estimated crowd of 25,000 lined the whole length of Ayala Avenue in Makati City and thousands more viewed the funeral convoy of former President Corazon Aquino as she was brought to Manila Cathedral from La Salle Green Hills on Monday.

In scenes reminiscent of the 1986 People Power revolution that catapulted Aquino to the presidency, Makati employees threw confetti out of their office windows while the electronic ticker outside the Insular Life Building on Paseo de Roxas-Ayala Avenue flashed pictures of Aquino and the words "Paalam, Tita Cory."

Footage taken by ABS-CBN's Sky Patrol showed the crowds flashing the "L" for Laban sign, which was popularized during Aquino's presidential campaign in 1986. Others clapped and cheered as Aquino's funeral convoy pulled in close near the Benigno Aquino monument on Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas. 

Former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, who was on board one of the vehicles in the funeral convoy, said people from all walks of life lined the streets from Greenhills to EDSA and Ayala Avenue to pay tribute to the former president.

"The streets are lined with people, Everywhere we go, we see people, some flashing the Laban sign with tears in their eyes. The most important message is that people are with her, that hindi siya nag-iisa. Some made handpainted signs, one of which read: "Thank you for democracy." It's so overwhelming," she said in an ANC interview.

Franklin Drilon, Aquino's former labor chief, said he had never seen a crowd like the one he saw in Makati on Monday in recent years. "The people are so enthusiastic. It's all yellow colors all over the place...It's really something to see. Nakakakilabot, ika nga," he said.

He said one image that would stay with him was how people inside the Makati Stock Exchange started raining yellow confetti all over the convoy.

The funeral convoy stopped for five minutes beside the Benigno Aquino monument on Ayala Avenue where Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, a close friend of the former president, delivered a short eulogy. He also led the crowd in singing "Bayan Ko" with many people raising their fingers for the famous "L" sign.

Tears of joy

Aquino's youngest daughter, Kris, said she could not stop her tears as her mother's body was slowly moved from La Salle Green Hills to the truck that would bring her to Intramuros.

"Every step you take brings her closer to Manila Memorial. I try not to cry but each journey, iyak-talaga ako ng iyak," she said.

She said, however, that she also shed tears of joy as she saw the thousands who expressed their love for her mother.

"We're in the middle of Makati near the stock exchange. I am looking out the window now and I see women crying. I really appreciate the love. This is just so beautiful for us. Our hearts feel so wonderful dahil pinaparamdam [nila] na mahal na mahal ang mom...the people are so appreciative of what she did for our country. It brings back so may memories of my Dad and i just want to say thank you very, very much," she said.

Kris said her nephews went outside the La Salle Greenhills gym early Monday to shake hands with people who lined up until 3 a.m. just to get a glimpse of the former president. "My sister Pinky stayed until 2 a.m. saying thank you to everybody because that's what out mom taught us, to express our gratitude to everyone," she said.

She said even their former security detail from the Presidential Security Group visited the wake at Greenhills. "They're all in active service and we thanked them for coming," she said.

No pullout of security detail

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, meanwhile, visited the Manila Cathedral before noon to check the security arrangements in the church.

In an interview, Ibrado denied that two security guards assigned to former president Aquino before her death had been pulled out. He said the two were merely transferred from the Armed Forces to the Philippine National Police since it is the PNP that provides security to former and current government officials.

Kris Aquino earlier scored Malacañang for removing her mother's security detail especially after Mrs. Aquino spoke out against the Arroyo administration.

President Arroyo on Monday apologized to the Aquino family for the pullout of Aquino's security detail. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told reporters in the US that they were shocked to hear about the pullout and that the military had initially admitted that the move was a "bureaucratic slip-up."

Escorted by around 50 policemen, Aquino's funeral convoy left De La Salle Greenhills Gym in Mandaluyong City around 11 a.m. enroute to the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros Monday.

Aquino's coffin was loaded on a flatbed trailer, which was adorned with yellow and white flowers.

The funeral cortege passed through EDSA, then right on Ayala Avenue in Makati. It is turned left on Buendia, then right on South Luzon Expressway. It turned left on President Quirino Avenue and right on Roxas Blvd., then finally right on Intramuros.

Mourners also showered the convoy with yellow confetti and released yellow balloons as it  reached EDSA-Ayala Avenue.

Tarlac Bishop Florentino Sinese earlier celebrated Mass at the De La Salle Greenhills Gym before the convoy left.

In his homily, Sinese said Filipinos see in Cory "the best in each and everyone of us."

"The more we praise her, the more we reveal that we too desire to be like her. May these stories continue to be told and better still may these stories unfold forever," he said. 

Sinese said critics of the former president often criticized her for always resorting to prayer in everything. "Prayer cannot be a last recourse but instead the first recourse in everything," he said.

"Certainly, Cory Aquino was not perfect but her imperfections were never an excuse not to govern and rule wisely. As we pay tribute to our beloved  former president may we not only heap praises on a dead person but instead let her lfe and virtues challenge us to strive to do even better. We all dream to have a better country. She did her share. We also must do our own share," he said.

Sen. Mar Roxas, meanwhile, filed a resolution declaring January 25, the date of birth of former President Corazon Aquino, as “Cory Aquino Day.”
 
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