MANILA -- As the nation brought former President Corazon Aquino to her final resting place at the Manila Memorial Park on Wednesday, August 5, more and more supporters posted messages of gratitude, and said their farewells to the popular Philippine leader in cyberspace.

On Facebook, a social networking site that is extremely popular among young Filipinos, there are almost thirty group pages at the moment set up to pay homage to the former president. 

A group page by Definitely Filipino, which invited users to post messages to the former president on their page through a Facebook ad, now has 191, 002 fans posting at least 5 messages every minute.

As of 4:14 pm, fans of abs-cbnNEWS.com’s Facebook account, have posted 313 wall posts, all dedicated to the president that many fondly called ‘Tita Cory.’
 

Personal messages

Some of the messages were very personal, citing the late president’s impact on their lives. Others referred to memories of the peaceful EDSA 1 revolt. Many of the messages were posted by individuals who were still very young at the time Aquino assumed the presidency.

‘I asked myself, why I do I mourn to a person I do not know personally?’ Clauven Navallo lamented. Then she wrote: ‘aside from being a former president, she is an inspiration to me. She symbolizes a woman of courage,hope and faith. Despite the difficulties in life she believes that prayer is still the most effective ways in dealing such sufferings.’

Clarafina Jalop Reomamadam, recalled the time saw the late president in her hometown of Hilongos, Leyte before the historical people power revolt in EDSA. ‘Ang saya-saya ko pati ang mga tao. Hindi ko maintindihan at mapigilan ang pag-iyak ko. Iyon ba ay luha ng tuwa at galak dahil sa tagal ng lumilipas na taon sa ilalim ng martial law ay magiging malaya na ang Filipino? Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mayroon ka, ang alam ko lang malaya na ako. Parang ibong malayang lumilipad sa patutunguhan.’
 

Rhea Guzman Tarlengcoit who said he was 5 years old during the EDSA revolt regards Cory as an inspiration. ‘You will always be in our hearts and I as an individual will do my part to love and be of service to our country by keeping my family intact no matter what and will continue our faith with God.’

When Frank Quiaot narrated that when he learned of Cory's life story, he instantly admired her. ‘I was just a two years old during the time of Pres. Cory assumed the presidency. As a child I don't [have] any knowledge [about] what [was] happening in my country. But when I [went] to school, that's the time I [knew] a little about her. Then I read about her life story and I [was] amazed how she became a president. I always admired her leadership," Quiaot wrote.

Ruth Gallofin voted for the late president the 1986 snap elections and was very grateful to Cory for "restoring democracy in our native land."

Although born after the EDSA revolt, Jose Ronn Mahinay has high regards for Cory. "She is one of the real symbols of true democracy. Gaya ng maraming ina, naging mabuting halimbawa siya ng lahat. She's an inspiration. She's very gentle, kind, humble and prayerful. Even though hindi ko po siya na-meet personally, utang ko sa kanya ang demokrasyang na-enjoy ko ng husto."

Poems and photos

Supporters has also shared various homage and creative outputs for the country's first female president. Trisha Samiana wrote a thank you poem:

"I don't know why...
but I am so affected by your death...
perhaps because I've heard too many beautiful things about you...
then again, I'm still not sure why...
perhaps it's because I'm a Filipino...
and perhaps because without me being born back then you stand beyond the biggest adversary, when you fought to fight for my [our] freedom and my [our] destiny...
perhaps because now, with your passing we are all awakened by the sense of unwavering gratitude to what we, the Filipino people, are experiencing now.
DEMOCRACY... you've served as our national symbol of conscience, of self-respect, self-value and worth as a Filipino worth fighting and dieing for.
again, no words can be simpler and profound at the same time...
all we can say is thank you...

Myra S. Gascon wrote a poem entitled, ‘Bulaklak sa Gitna ng Dawag’

‘di kinain ng mga damong nagkalat..
naging matatag patuloy na bumukadkad..
samyo'y humalimukak sa munting pagbukad..
ngunit kahit lumupas tumatagos sa lahat..
pagkat ang lahat sa maykapal inilahatag..
maraming salamat...
bulaklak sa dawag..
patuloy mo kaming ipagdasal...’
Yet another poem was posted by John Paul Pagunsan Nacion:
‘patuloy na pumapatak ang bawat sandaling natitira habang ikay kapiling ko.
siguro nga’y mrami kang dahilang mabibigay subalit ako ay may tanong, hindi ka ba magtatagal.. pagtigil moy dalangin na aking inaasam. siguro nga’y paalam na, subalit may iiwan kang puwang..’
Those who have met Tita Cory personally posted their photographs taken with the late president. Same goes for those who went to her wake.

Michael Archangel drew a sketch of the late president wearing a yellow dress.
 
Yellow shirts, ribbons

Edmund Perez together with other fellow Filipinos based in Illinois, USA uploaded group photos where everyone wore yellow shirts and held message boards saying ‘I'm proud to be a Filipino’ and ‘We love you Cory.’

But humans were not the only ones shown to be wearing yellow. Lady Pacis took a photo of her white dog with a yellow ribbon. She wrote in the caption: ‘The shockwaves from the late Pres. Aquino's bereavement was a tragedy felt all over the country. May we Filipinos see her death as the 'rebirth' of our defense to freedom and democracy. In this poignant moment of history, let us recapitulate the real essence of the golden heritage she fought for...’

Irish Casupanan wrote: ‘Though I am not yet alive during those times when Tita Cory fight for our freedom and democracy, I can see the true bravery and love that [drove] her for us to gain what we have right now. Tita Cory was the symbol for us to see how powerful prayers are. Her weapon was stronger than a gun or even a bomb or any that can create mass destruction.’