MANILA - Death has a way of softening old hurt and lingering pain.
The Aquinos and the Marcoses—at least the children---appeared to have finally have buried the political hatchet following the visit of Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his wife Liza, and Imee Marcos at the wake of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday.
“We went there to express our sympathies,” Imee told abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak. “We have no official statement.”
The Marcos siblings were welcomed by Cory’s eldest daughter, Maria Elena “Balsy” Aquino-Cruz. The Marcoses stayed for around 15 minutes.
The Aquino family had earlier said the Marcoses are welcome to attend the wake, but should not expect an instant reconciliation. Cory’s youngest daughter, Kris Bernadette, had thanked Mrs. Marcos and her family for praying for her mother. Aquino died Saturday, losing her battle against colon cancer.
Asked if the Marcoses and the Aquinos have kissed and made up, Imee replied: “We are already together in the opposition.”
Imee said they sought the help of Bongbong’s wife, Louise Cacho Araneta-Marcos, who is related to the wife of Cory’s brother, Pedro Cojuangco. Mr. Cojuangco is married to a Cacho. From this channel, they “secured” the “clearance” to attend the wake.
Imee said not many people know that she and Balsy were childhood friends. She recalled that she would go to the Aquinos' home in Times Street in Quezon City and spend some time there.
“Mrs. Aquino would cook for us,” Imee said. “We were all children of LP (Liberal Party) leaders,” she added, explaining how she and Balsy became friends.
The late President Marcos was an LP member, but bolted to join the Nacionalista Party as its standard bearer in the 1965 presidential elections. Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr. was then a rising stalwart of the party.
For decades, the Aquinos and the Marcoses were bitter political families, highlighted by the murder of Ninoy Aquino, following his return to the Philippines in 1983 after years of exile.
The Aquino family believes President Marcos masterminded the killing. While in power, President Aquino had rejected the Marcos family’s request for the dictator’s body to be brought back to the country. His remains were allowed to be brought back in 1993 by then President Fidel Ramos.
The Marcoses fled to Hawaii following the EDSA 1 people power revolution that installed Mrs. Aquino to the presidency.
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Corazon Aquino: Woman of simplicity

She was a woman of simplicity, honesty, and integrity. This was how most of her family and close friends remembered the late president Corazon Aquino.
In the necrological services at the Manila Cathedral Tuesday, Aquino was described as a woman who was never extravagant, yet full of love and always ready to share whatever she had.
“Simplicity characterized her in her lifetime. She is the most credible and outstanding embodiment of integrity,” said a nun, identified as Sister Remy.
“She is a loving sister. Cory, you will forever be with us,” Aquino’s brother, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. said.
Aquino’s sister-in-law, Maria Aurora Lichauco, meanwhile, tagged the former president as a great mother, having been able to raise “refined, responsible and beautiful offsprings,” despite the absence of her husband, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino who was killed at the tarmac upon his return to the Philippines in 1983. It was his death that sparked People Power revolution, which catapulted his widow to power in 1986.
“I promised Cory I will always be here for her children,” she added, making Aquino’s children emotional.
Designer Paul Cabral who made Aquino’s yellow funeral dress said the icon of democracy was “truly a wonderful woman.”
“Thank you for the fond memories. I feel blessed for the privilege of loving you and being loved in return,” he added.
But the most memorable speech came from Aquino’s bodyguard of 23 years, Inspector Mel Mamaril.
“She nicely treats people around her, no matter how big or small. She treated us just like how a mother treats her son,” said Mamaril who gave his boss a final salute. His act made Aquino’s youngest daughter Kris more emotional.
Aquino’s only son, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, again thanked the public for condoling with their family, noting that they were deeply moved by messages from grade school students who were not even born at the time Cory was president.
“Mom, I really, truly believe you have fought a good fight and you have finished with a cause,” the senator said.
Also present the necrological services were Former president Fidel Ramos, diplomats, cabinet members of the Aquino administration, heads of business communities and ranking officials of the police and military.
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'Thank you, we love you, goodbye'

MANILA, Philippines - Loved ones, friends and strangers showered messages of grief, gratitude and farewell on the late president and people power icon Corazon Aquino last night on the eve of her burial today.
One of the most touching eulogies was delivered by a security aide of 20 years – Inspector Melchor Mamaril – who said he felt he had lost a mother . After his eulogy, he walked closer to Mrs. Aquino’s casket and saluted.
“She shall always remain engraved in our hearts. Thank you, We love you. Goodbye,” Mamaril said.
Mrs. Aquino’s younger daughter Kris could be seen weeping hard as Mamaril was reading his eulogy in English and a few lines in Filipino.
Mamaril was one of the two security escorts of the Aquino family pulled out by the government. The Arroyo administration claimed no knowledge of the order to pull them out and has since apologized.
“I stand now with a deep sense of pride and gratitude as I bid goodbye to her whom I owe so much. My wife Judy and my four children, join me in paying our last respect to one who has become big part of our lives and one who considered us as part of her family,” Mamaril said.
Mamaril said Mrs. Aquino never made him feel like a mere employee but treated him like a son, a family member.
He related that one of her unforgettable memories of Mrs. Aquino’s kindness was in 1998 when she personally prepared noodles for her security aides after coming home one day with them and finding no food in the house.
“That’s how Ma’am Cory was. She takes care of people around her no matter how big or small, She treated us not as mere employees but like a mother tending to a son after a hard day’s work,” Mamaril said.
He said the goodness that Mrs. Aquino showed him made a strong impact on his life and made him a confident person.
“I feel a sense of wonder and at the same time, I realized that her treatment raised my dignity as a person. She gave me self-respect, self worth and self confidence,” Mamaril said.
“And even when she lay dying in bed, she was always very concerned about us. She would always ask if we had eaten already,” Mamaril said.
“One could always see her compassionate heart for all those in need,” Mamaril said.
He also said that Mrs. Aquino also drew him closer to God and to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“I can always remember those times when we have to go to churches. In those times he brought me to prayer and closer to God. I am praying the rosary now,” Mamaril said.
“She exhibited a deep sense of prayer, devotion that I believe was the foundation of her being a person of dignity and uprightness,” he said.
Mamaril also thanked Mrs. Aquino’s children and family
“We are all with you in prayer, may God continue to bless us all,” Mamaril said.
Tribute after tribute
Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., said Mrs. Aquino and his wife the late Betty Go-Belmonte shared not only suffering caused by cancer but great faith in God.
Belmonte was one of the 19 people – including Mamaril – who spoke in the necrological services for the late president at the Manila Cathedral late yesterday afternoon.
“I am humbled and touched and influenced by two women of extraordinary faith late wife, Betty G-Belmonte and President Aquino. They were good friends. They met the first time during Ninoy’s (former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino) death,” he said.
At the time that Mrs. Belmonte was sick she was concerned that her condition might cause her children to lose their faith in God, but they kept the faith. “Seeing now President Cory’s children, they have kept the faith.”
The Mayor recalled that when Mrs. Aquino assumed power in 1986, she appointed him chief of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Manila Hotel. He was also member of the board of directors of San Miguel Corp..
He recalled that during these times, never did then President Aquino ask for any favors detrimental to the government and the people.
“She never asked for same favors for herself or her family, I realized that she was an exceptional leader, she made a difference between the people’s money and her own,” he said.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who had served as head of the Manila Police District (MPD) during the Aquino administration and helped her crush several coup attempts called Mrs. Aquino “the best president” the country has ever had. He also gave Mrs. Aquino a final salute.
“We owe you so much. You are the source of our pillar of strength. What I did and what I have now, I owe to you. I salute you for the last time,” Lim added.
Gina de Venecia, the wife of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, broke down as she recalled that Mrs. Aquino stood by her when her “so-called friends” abandoned her during the times she needed them most.
It was the late leader who encouraged her to take up painting, to help her to cope with the tragedies that came her way such as the tragic death of her daughter KC in a fire in their Makati home in 2004.
“I thank God for giving Cory, my friend. She believed in me when in times I do not believe in myself. Thank you for the gift of friendship. I will tell my grandchildren about their Lola Cory who taught me to live again,” Mrs. De Venecia said.
Before ending her speech, she added, “Now that you are in heaven please hug KC and tell her that I love her dearly and that we will meet again.”
Businessman Ramon del Rosario said that she revitalized the business section in the country and made many Filipinos proud because of her honesty, integrity, transparency and integrity. 
Dr. Alex Ayco, Mrs. Aquino’s doctor for the last 30 years, said that when he got her test results some 18 months ago, he did not know how to relay the bad news that she was sick. He recalled that she was always kind to Filipino doctors and believed in their capabilities.
Fashion designer Paul Cabral said that up to now, he has kept the notes sent by Mrs. Aquino to him even if they were just reminders of some of the styles that she wanted. “These are cherished possessions of the most wonderful and selfless person.”
Sister-in-law Maria Aurora Lichauco called her as her BFF or BestFriends Forever. “I look forward to see you again but I hope not to soon.” Her comment elicited laughter from the crowd.
As for former Congressman Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. said that Mrs. Arroyo’s example taught him to control his temper.
Grateful
Mrs. Aquino’s only son Sen. Benigno Aquino III thanked the Filipinos for the love they had shown to his mother.
“I truly really believe without an iota of doubt that anyone will contradict me that you truly have fought the good fight you really have finished your course and undoubtedly you have kept the faith,” Noynoy said.
“Here is the Cory Aquino who knows how love each and every one of us. There is the Cory Aquino who is ready to do what is right never mind the consequences. There is the Cory Aquino who has the absolute faith in the Church and God. One who would wholeheartedly do the best she could and let God take care of the rest,” he said.
“Are we going to back to the anxiety? When my father died, we lost a leader, he was a strategist, he was our moral booster, but suddenly we lost the center of our world. I did not expect it would have a part two. Maybe I just do not want to face the truth,” the senator said.
“Do we really have to be sad because we have lost hope?” Noynoy asked. “Does the nation still have hope especially now that the one who led and inspired them is no longer around to help us everyday?”
He said looking at elementary school students who told him they were thankful for his mother touched his heart.
“Maybe we just have to bring these children closer to those who are playing blind and even deaf (to the realities),” he said.
He said the life of his mother should remind everyone that the Filipinos still got hope.
“Let it not be forgot that once there was a Camelot,” Aquino III said.
The senator recalled that his mother never turned her back when she needed to lead the Edsa revolution and even up to 2006 when there was a standoff at Fort Bonifacio to avoid bloodshed.
He said there were times he did not understand her and almost rebelled but later realized she was always right and had depended on her wisdom.
To express how proud he was being her son, he quoted what former African leader Nelson Mandela told him during a visit to his mother before, “So you are the son. You knew how to choose your parents correctly. And I said, most definitely, your excellency.” 
The others who spoke in the necrological services were Bro. Armin Luistro of La Salle; Marge Juico who was her appointments secretary; Nonie Uy, her friend from Cebu; former Environment Secretary Fulgencio Factoran Jr,; Sister Remy; columnist Conrado de Quiros; brother Jose Cojuangco Jr.; Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay; and Dr. Rosalinda Hortaleza.
Full military honors
Full military honors will be accorded to Mrs. Aquino as she is laid to rest today next to her husband at the Manila Memorial Park.
Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said 1,000 officers and men will take part in the funeral rites.
The Philippine National Police will render departure honors for the late president at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.
The military honors will include a 21-gun salute – one salvo fired every minute for a 21-minute period – once the casket leaves the cathedral for the Rizal Park.
Another 21-gun salute awaits the former leader at the Rizal Park, and at Camp Aguinaldo, Fort Bonifacio, Villamor Air Base and Fort San Antonio Abad on Roxas Blvd.
An hour after the burial another round of 21-gun salutes will follow at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, the Northern Luzon Command in Tarlac City, the Southern Luzon Command in Lucena City, the Western Command in Puerto Princesa City, the Central Command in Cebu City, the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City and Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City.
Brawner said that only presidents, former presidents and heads of state are given the 21-gun salutes, the highest in the military.
He said the last time the AFP performed full military honors was in 1997 for President Diosdado Macapagal.
Police deployment
At least 720 policemen and civilian volunteers would be deployed along the routes leading to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
“(The) NCRPO (National Capital Regional Police Office), in its continuing security operation for the memorial services for the late President Cory Aquino, will provide area and route security as well as traffic management during the scheduled interment tomorrow, (Aug. 5),” Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said.
The funeral cortege, after leaving the Manila Cathedral, will proceed to Roxas Roxas Blvd. via the Anda Circle and turn left at Quirino Ave. and right at Osmena Ave. (formerly South Superhighway) to South Luzon Expressway.
The convoy will take the Sucat exit and turn left at the Manila Memorial Park.
Rosales said no road will be closed along the funeral route, but he advised motorists to expect heavy traffic.
But Skyway System operator, Skyway O&M Corp. said it will close the Southbound at-grade section between Magallanes/C-5 and Sucat and the southbound elevated section once the funeral convoy travels the tollway going to Sucat at around 11 am today.
All Southbound at-grade entry points at Magallanes, C-5 and and Bicutan will not allow vehicles that are not part of the entourage to come into the tollway until after the end of the funeral procession has reached Dr. A. Santos Ave. (Sucat Road) towards Manila Memorial park. At the same time, all southbound elevated on-ramp entry points at the Buendia, Arnaiz, and Magallanes areas will be closed to all vehicles.
Casket mirror of simplicity
Her family could have chosen one that’s more lavish and fit for a revered former head of state, but the casket in which Corazon Aquino’s remains are laid reflects her life of simplicity.
Made of hard imported Oakwood, Mrs. Aquino’s coffin, according to Heritage Park vice president for sales and marketing Raquel Mendoza, mirrors her simplicity and elegance.
She said the Aquino family has opted for a simple casket of lighter gold color called “Dignity” to reflect the late president’s aversion to extravagance.
“The color immediately reminds the family of Cory,” she told The STAR in an interview noting that light gold is the closest to golden yellow and that the rounded corners of the casket are considered lucky by the Chinese. Aquino, who belonged to the Cojuangco clan, was part Chinese.
Mendoza said it was the first time the Dignity casket was used for a prominent personality.
The late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, she said, was laid in a “La Pieta” casket and it was a “Winfield” cherry wood for Fernando Poe Jr.
She said the term “hardwood” refers to a casket design that requires no nail to build.
Mendoza said Mrs. Aquino’s Dignity casket is expected to last for 20 to 25 considering that the late president will be buried in a tomb above ground.
“When the family approached me and Heritage Park, we were quite honored to serve her,” she said as she recalled how she herself took part in the EDSA People Power 1.
She said she is proud of being a graduate of St. Scholastica’s College like Mrs. Aquino.
“It was like walking back to memory lane,” Mendoza said. – With Patricia Esteves, Non Alquitran, Mike Frialde, James Mananghaya, Michael Punongbayan - By Aurea Calica and Evelyn Macairan (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

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An orchid named Cory Aquino

MANILA - As a tribute to the late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, one of her former Cabinet secretaries developed a new breed of orchid and named it after her. The Blc Cory Aquino orchid (Brassolaeliocattleya Cory Aquino), bred by former Justice Secretary Hernando B. Perez, is a graceful but sturdy plant with yellow and green varieties that sport pink outer petals. "This was my way of expressing my admiration for [former] President Cory, and I thought it was just right because the plant was bred from [an orchid variety called] Benigno Aquino. And also because it is the color yellow," Perez told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak in a phone interview. The orchid hybrid took 5 years to grow, using cross-pollination methods. Its "mother and father" plants are a variety of yellow orchid named Dendrobium Ninoy Aquino and the greenish Malvarosa Jade orchid. The color yellow was widely associated with both Ninoy and Cory Aquino, since they used this color in clothes or campaign paraphernalia. Flowers were also one of former President Aquino's favorite painting subjects. Unlike most orchids that need to be propped up, Perez said the Blc Cory Aquino stands erect and proud, much like his idea of the late former president. "It symbolizes strength of character because it is a sturdy plant. Pirmeng naka-tindig yun eh. Pirmeng proud. It is also feminine-looking but with a strong-bearing. Its petals are pink which means it is long-lasting," he added. Before Aquino died, Perez said he was able to give her a pot of his best Blc Cory Aquino orchids and the plant's registry certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society, a London-based international group that registers orchid hybrids. He said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda" that this gesture made Aquino very happy. Prize-winning orchid Perez, who was named honorary chairman of the Philippine Orchid Society (POS) last year, has been an avid orchid breeder since 1974. He joined the POS in 1980 and registered the Blc Cory Aquino with the Royal Horticultural Society's orchid registry in 2004. The Blc Cory Aquino is priced at P1,500 for its large varieties and is available at Perez's farm, Malvarosa Orchids, in Batangas. It will also be featured in an orchid show organized by the Philippine Horticultural Society from August 27 to September 7 this year. Perez said the Blc Cory Aquino flower has always made him proud, since it has consistently garnered awards in numerous horticultural contests. "Every time I enter [the flower] in a contest, palaging panalo," he told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak. When it won the "Best Philippine Hybrid" award at the Flora Filipina Expo in 2007 - the highest award that a Philippine orchid breed can get - Perez said Aquino sent him a text message congratulating him for the "prize-winning orchid." He still keeps the text message on his phone to this day. In that same 2007 garden show, one of the entries in the Pink Category was a Cattleya hybrid variety named after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The "GMA President," with lilac outer petals and yellow inner petals, lost the competition. Perez said there are various orchids all over the world named that were named after prominent public figures. These include former ABS-CBN anchor Christine Bersola-Babao, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, Indian legend Mahatma Gandhi, and retired star golfer Annika Sorenstam. Report by Kristine Servando, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Horticultural Society.
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Thousands more pay last repects to Cory at Manila Cathedral

Thousands of people continued to line up at the Manila Cathedral to pay their last respects to the late former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino on Tuesday morning. A one-kilometer line, passing three streets leading to the cathedral, of supporters who woke up early to pay their last respects to the former president formed as soon as organizers reopened the public viewing of the Aquino's remains at 7 a.m. Police inspections were put up in Anda, Urdaneta and Real streets. Organizers estimate that more than 100,000 people have showed up at the cathedral since Mrs. Aquino was transferred there from the La Salle-Greenhills in San Juan City on Monday. Superintendent Pablo Balagtas of the Manila Police District said they expect more people to troop to the cathedral as Mrs. Aquino's interment nears. The former president will be put next to her husband, national hero Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, at the Manila Memoral Park in Parañaque City on Wednesday afternoon. Among the early supporters at the cathedral was former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., who flew straight from New York to pay his last respects to the former president. "Gratitude for the services she had rendered our country. She had a purity of heart, the sincerity of purpose... made perfect by her humility and deep spirituality," Davide said. "In life she was with us. In death she should be more with us." Davide was one of the 50 members of the Constitutional Commission formed by Mrs. Aquino. The late president also appointed Davide as chairman of the Commission on Elections in 1989 and was also appointed head of a presidential fact-finding body to investigate the December 1989 coup. Not a picky eater Rorina Navales, Mrs. Aquino's cook for 8 years, told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda that she cannot imagine cooking for any other employer. She said Mrs. Aquino was the kindest employer she had. "Wala po akong masasabi. Mabuti po siyang amo. Mabait po talaga si ma'am," Navales said as she tries to keep back her tears during the morning news program. She said whenever a household helper commits a mistake, Mrs. Aquino would just say, "Ay ikaw talaga." She said Mrs. Aquino's kitchen masterpiece was chicken liver pâté, which is also the late president's favorite. She said Mrs. Aquino would cook it during family get-togethers, as a gift to friends and for her own consumption. Navales said Mrs. Aquino starts her day with coffee and pandesal, and chicken liver pâté, if available. After breakfast, she said the former president returns to her bedroom to read newspaper and pray the Rosary before preparing to go to work. She said Mrs. Aquino is not a picky eater and did not ask for her to cook a specific dish in the last 8 years. With a report from Apples Jalandoni, ABS-CBN News
For more news on Cory, log on to: http://coryaquino.abs-cbnnews.com

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Senator wants EDSA renamed to 'Cory Aquino Avenue'

A senator on Friday proposed renaming the Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to Cory Aquino Avenue in memory of the late former president who is revered as a democracy icon.
In a statement, Senator Manuel Roxas II said he will file on Monday a bill seeking to rename portions of the country’s longest avenue to remind Filipinos of the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and catapulted Corazon Aquino to the presidency.
“Sa tuwing mababanggit ang EDSA, iisa ang naiisip nating mga Pilipino: ang People Power ni Tita Cory. Nararapat lamang na i-alay natin sa kanyang alaala ang daang nagpakilala sa kanya sa buong mundo (Whenever we hear of EDSA, one thing always comes to the mind of Filipinos: the People Power led by President Cory. It is but fitting to offer in her memory the road that had made her famous all over the world)," said Roxas, president of the Liberal Party whose members back then included Mrs. Aquino's husband, the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
Mrs. Aquino's only son - Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III - is also an LP member.
When it was first constructed during the presidency of Manuel L.Quezon in the late 1930s, the avenue was named Junio 19 (June 19), after the birthday of national hero José Rizal. It was later renamed Highway 54, and later renamed EDSA in 1959 after Epifanio de los Santos, a noted Filipino patriot and academician during the Spanish era.
"Truly, her legacy to our country and all the generations of Filipinos cannot be overstated…Former President Cory Aquino has demonstrated in the clearest terms that steep moral values and strength of character are what our nation need in times of unabated corruption and political and social decay," Roxas said.
The senator said congressmen from the LP are also set to file on Monday a counter-part measure in the House of Representatives.
Mrs. Aquino, who passed away last August 1 after a year-long battle with colon cancer, was laid to rest beside her husband's tomb on Wednesday. As in the 1986 EDSA Revolutions, thousands of Filipinos took to the streets to show their support for the democracy icon. [See: Cory Aquino gets wish to be laid to rest beside Ninoy]
Lawmakers from LP have earlier taken the lead in proposing that January 25, Mrs. Aquino's birthday, be declared "Cory Aquino Day." A joint resolution containing the proposal is pending in both chambers of Congress.
There are also pending resolutions seeking to declare Mrs. Aquino a national hero. The proposals have gained support in both the House and the Senate. [See: House wants to name Cory a 'national hero'] - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV

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Two climbers dead in Philippines volcano accident

MANILA (AFP) - – Two people, including a foreigner, were killed and two others remained missing after a climbing accident on the Mount Pinatubo volcano northwest of Manila, a Philippines air force spokesman said Friday.
The team's Filipino guide and one unidentified foreign climber were found dead while two others were still unaccounted for, said Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Zamudio.
Philippine air force helicopters responding to a distress call rescued five Canadians and three South Koreans, Zamudio told AFP.
The group was apparently climbing the volcano, located about 100 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of Manila, when they were caught in fast-moving mudslides formed when heavy rains mixed with the volcanic ash, the spokesman said.
The search for the two other climbers, whose nationalities were not immediately known, was ongoing, Zamudio said.
The 1,475-metre (4,867-foot) volcano erupted with devastating force in 1991, killing more than 800 people and sending a plume of ash 30 miles into the sky.

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Roxas Boulevard turns into 'a sea of litter'

MANILA, Philippines - Due to heavy rains and strong winds brought by typhoon “Kiko,” Roxas Boulevard turned into “a sea of litter,” a Manila City government official said yesterday.
City public services department chief Carlos Baltazar said wind, rain and high tide combined to cause the waters of Manila Bay to rise beyond the seawall and deposit garbage onto the sidewalk and the road itself.
“The stretch of Roxas Boulevard, particularly that of from Padre Faura to the United States embassy, virtually became a sea of litter, making it nearly impassable for motorists,” Baltazar said.
He said Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered him to mobilize a team to clear the area of trash. According to Baltazar, the mounds of garbage were too much for the sweepers to handle and he had to utilize a payloader to clear the streets.
Baltazar said discarded slippers comprised a significant portion of the collected garbage, which mostly came from Cavite and Parañaque.
Meanwhile, traffic slowed to crawl from the Manila City Hall up to the Welcome Rotonda yesterday as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) laid hot asphalt in the Lagusnilad passage.
DPWH workers and equipment occupied almost the entire span of the Lagusnilad, leaving only one lane for vehicles to pass through. Commuters complained that a trip from España Boulevard to the Manila City Hall took at least an hour.
They questioned why the DPWH did asphalting work in broad daylight during a heavy downpour, when it can be done at night.
QC, Marikina ready for flooding
The governments of Quezon City and Marikina City have started to prepare in case the southwest monsoon dumps more rains and cause flooding due to the overflowing of the La Mesa Dam and the Marikina River, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said yesterday.
In a bulletin, the NDCC said the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety has been alerted to continuously monitor the areas that are likely to be affected if the La Mesa Dam overflows. The NDCC named the affected areas as North Fairview, Gulod, San Bartolome and Silangan.
As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, the water level at the La Mesa Dam reached 80.22 meters, compared to its spilling level of 80.15 meters. The Marikina River also overflowed by half a meter after it exceeded its spilling level of 16 meters.
The heavy rains for the past few days have already affected 317 families or 1,578 persons in four villages in Pasig and Marikina, the agency said. They are now being sheltered in evacuation centers.
According to the NDCC operations center, typhoon “Kiko” continues to move towards North Taiwan. As of 10 a.m. yesterday, it was located 620 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained wings of 130 kilometers near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kilometers per hour. – With Nestor Etolle, James Mananghaya - By Sandy Araneta (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com
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British Queen saddened with death of RP's 'true queen'

MANILA - The reigning Queen of the British monarch joined people in the Philippines and all over the world in mourning the death of former President Corazon Aquino.
In a message, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II said, "I am saddened to hear of the death of Corazon 'Cory' Aquino the former President of the Republic of the Philippines."
She added, "I send my sincere condolences to her family and to the people of the Philippines."
President Aquino has been called the "icon of democracy" for leading a bloodless people power revolution in 1986 to topple former President Marcos, a dictator. She died last August 1.
In the funeral mass before she was laid to rest on Wednesday, a priest referred to President Aquino as "the only true queen our people ever had." Fr. Catalino Arevalo said in his homily that President Aquino was a great leader because of her selflessness, faith and courage."
President Aquino's term in office lasted only for 6 years--up to 1992.
On the other hand, Queen Elizabeth II is a true-blooded royalty. Her 57-year reign makes her the longest reigning British monarch.
Her message of condolence was conveyed to President Gloria Arroyo by British Ambassador to Manila, Peter Beckingham in an August 4 letter. It was coursed through Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.
The brief message was signed "Elizabeth R."
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Filipinos bid farewell to democracy icon Aquino

MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine President Corazon "Cory" Aquino was laid to rest Wednesday next to her assassinated husband after a funeral procession joined by hundreds of thousands of supporters who hailed her as an exemplar of moral leadership.
About 600 priests and nuns linked arms around the Aquino mausoleum at the Manila Memorial Park to keep back the crowd who followed the flatbed truck with her flag-draped coffin on its final, nine-hour journey through the rain-soaked streets of the capital.
The procession went from the Manila Cathedral on a 14-mile (22-kilometer) route jammed with Filipinos dressed in yellow _ the signature color of the 1986 prodemocracy uprising led by Aquino that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Many in the crowds flashed the "L" sign for "laban," or fight, in Filipino _ an anti-dictatorship slogan _ and chanted "Cory."
Aquino was buried Wednesday evening inside a simple white-painted tomb next to her husband, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., the opposition leader whose mantle she reluctantly took on after his 1983 assassination when he returned from exile in the U.S. to run against Marcos.
Despite a patchy record during her six years in office as the 11th president of the Philippines, she remained a beloved figure. She died on Saturday after a yearlong battle with colon cancer. Her passing prompted an immense outpouring of grief.
"Nobody can replace her," said real estate agent Jessa Roche, 31, who recalled how as a child her parents had taken her to the "people power" demonstrations that transformed the Philippine politics after two decades of authoritarian rule.
"She taught us to pray and fight for our democracy. If a tyrant will return, there will be millions of Corys who will stand up. She left a good example and the next generation should continue that legacy," she said.
Former presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, the latter deposed in a second popular uprising in 2001 on corruption allegations, attended Wednesday's requiem Mass. They were joined by East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta.
"I think the greatest tribute that Filipinos can pay to Corazon Aquino and so many others who gave their lives for democracy is ... there should be no more dictatorships again," said Ramos-Horta. Aquino inspired East Timor's struggle for independence from Indonesia a decade ago, he said.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was at odds with Aquino after she called for Arroyo to resign because of vote-rigging allegations, paid a quick visit to the wake Wednesday morning upon her return from an official trip to the U.S. and left before the church ceremonies and procession.
The Aquino family rejected offers by Arroyo for a state funeral, but the armed forces gave full military honors.
At the burial, weeping family members, including Aquino's grandchildren and sons-in-law, lined up to kiss the former president's remains in the open casket.
Senior officers then carried the casket and placed it inside the tomb while honor guards fired a 21-gun salute before playing "Taps."
Relatives, friends, supporters and military commanders placed yellow roses inside the tomb before it was sealed. The crowd sang the patriotic song "Bayan Ko (My Country)," which was popular during the anti-Marcos struggle.
Earlier, in a tearful message of thanks to the multitudes of mourners, Aquino's youngest daughter Kris said, "You have given our family honor beyond anything we could ever have hoped to receive."
"No matter how great the sacrifices of my parents, I can honestly say to all of you that for my family, the Filipinos are worth it."
During her time in office, Aquino faced down seven coup attempts, mostly by officers who had pushed for Marcos' ouster and felt they had not been given their share of power.
While she brought political change, Aquino struggled to meet high public expectations. Her land redistribution program fell short of ending economic domination by the landed elite, including her family. Her leadership, especially in social and economic reform, was often indecisive, leaving many of her closest allies disillusioned by the end of her term.
Aquino stepped down in 1992, refusing to seek another term and reminding people that her mission _ the restoration of democracy _ had been completed.
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Philippines lays to rest democracy icon Aquino

MANILA (AFP) - – About 200,000 people took to the rain-soaked streets of Manila on Wednesday to bid farewell to former president Corazon Aquino, whose "People Power" democracy movement ended decades of dictatorship.
Aquino, who died aged 76 after a long battle with cancer, was buried in a private ceremony after a long funeral procession skirting the Philippine capital's gleaming business towers and teeming shantytowns.
With a national holiday called as part of 10 days of official mourning, thousands of people surrounded her flag-draped coffin as it left Manila Cathedral following a mass just before noon.
Eight police officers in full dress uniform served as pallbearers, carrying the casket to a flat-bed truck festooned with yellow and white flowers.
Police had estimated the crowd in central Manila alone to have reached 150,000 by mid-afternoon, but as the procession continued on its 18-kilometre (11-mile) route thousands more braved the rain to join in.
At Manila Memorial Park and the stretch of highway leading to it up to 50,000 more people were estimated to be in attendance, officials said.
It took about eight hours for the slow-moving convoy to arrive at the cemetery.
Aquino was given a 21-gun salute by the honour guard after which her remains were transferred to a caisson that carried her to a mausoleum.
She was laid to rest beside her husband, the late opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, who was gunned down by forces loyal to former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Manila airport in 1983 upon returning from exile in the US.
Millions, including from the 8.7-million-strong overseas Filipino community, monitored the slow progress of the cortege on television and Internet sites with streaming video.
"Thank you very much to the Filipino people," said an emotional Rapa Lopa, an Aquino nephew. "It is really very heart-warming and very overwhelming."
"She made me proud again to be a Filipino," said Father Catalino Arevalo, recalling Aquino's bloodless triumph against the 20-year dictatorship of Marcos in 1986.
East Timor President and Nobel Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta, who flew to Manila to attend the funeral, described Aquino as "one of the greatest people of the 20th century," likening her to India's independence hero Mahatma Gandhi.
Men and women standing at least 10-deep on both sides of the road openly wept as the truck crawled through the swelling crowd, while military helicopters circled overhead, showering them with yellow confetti.
People in buildings lining Manila's streets opened their windows, hung yellow banners and dropped confetti onto the sea of mourners below.
A crowd of nuns, their blue habits wet from the rain, released white doves and yellow balloons -- yellow was Aquino's signature colour.
Ships docked along Manila Bay sounded mournful horns.
President Gloria Arroyo, whom Aquino had turned against over accusations of corruption in the Arroyo administration, made a brief pre-dawn visit to the cathedral to pay her last respects.
She shook hands with the former leader's son, Senator Benigno Aquino, and prayed briefly over the casket.
Arroyo cut short a visit to the United States following the former leader's death on Saturday.
But she was pointedly excluded from the invitation-only mass that was attended by two past presidents, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, and foreign diplomats.
The family had rejected Arroyo's offer to hold a state funeral, reflecting the icy relationship between the only two women to have led the fractious and impoverished Southeast Asian nation of 90 million people.

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MANILA – For the five children left behind by former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino, it would take a lifetime for them to become okay. In her eulogy Wednesday, Cory’s youngest daughter, actress and television host Kris, tearfully said how their lives will change now that their mother is gone. From now on, Kris said eldest sister Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino will no longer have her mom to go with her everytime she left the office. Aurora Corazon “Pinky” Abelleda lost a prayer partner while Victoria Eliza “Viel” Dee will no longer have someone to marvel at the simplicity of her family. Her brother, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, lost a campaigner who helped him during the four times that he ran for public office, Kris said. For her part, Kris said: “Wala ng magte-text sa akin tuwing magla-launch [ako] ng bagong programa ko ng ‘good luck.’ At pagkatapos, as soon as mag-end ang show, nagco-congratulate agad to say, ‘I’m proud of you.’” “I’m sorry mom, I lied to you. Nagsinungaling ako when I told you na we would be okay. I did this because we wanted you to be free from all your pain at para hindi ka na mag-alala tungkol sa amin. Pero, mom, it would take a lifetime for us to be okay because we will forever miss you,” she said. Kris’ eulogy sent her three female siblings crying while Noynoy was visibly holding back tears. Cory, 76, died last August 1 after more than a year-long battle with colon cancer. The former president is credited with restoring democracy after the1986 EDSA Revolution that removed President Ferdinand Marcos from power and catapulted her to the presidency. Her husband, former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was Marcos’ staunch critic. His assassination in 1983 triggered a series of protest rallies against the Marcos regime that eventually led to the 1986 people uprising. “The last words mom expressed to each of us [was] take care of each other. I know that those words weren’t meant just for our family but for all of us as a nation,” she said. “Kagaya po ng pangako na iniwan ng dad at mom sa ating bayan, ‘Noy ikaw at ako, ang nasa posisyon para ipagpatuloy ang lahat ng kanilang nasimulan. You know that, in our last conversation, nangako ako sa kanya [na] whatever support you need, I would be there for you,” she added. ‘Thank you’ The actress revealed her late mom's last request to her before her death--to thank the Filipino people for the love and honor they extended the Aquino family. "What words can I use to convey to all of you that debt of our gratitude for the respect, appreciation and love you've showered upon our mother? How do we say thank you to all of you for the expressions of sympathy and support for our family during our time of bereavement? Come to think of it, from March of 2008, you are one with us in constantly praying for our mother's healing," she said at the requiem Mass at the Manila Cathedral. "Paano po ba kami makapagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat sa effort niyong pumila sa gitna ng matinding init at malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan para masulyapan ang mommy namin? Magbigay respeto at maipagdasal siya sa huling pagkakataon?" "Isa po sa huling binilin ng Mom sa akin ay ang magpasalamat po ako sa inyong lahat. You have given our family honor beyond anything we could ever have hoped to receive, that no matter how great the sacrifices of my parents, I can honestly say to all of you that for my family, the Filipinos are worth it," she said. Kris said she and her family are also forever indebted to Fr. Catalino Arevalo and Balanga, Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas who were there for them. Goodbye Kris said it was hard to say goodbye to her mother, knowing that in her heart the time they spent together was not enough. “But maybe that’s what love really is all about. It means sacrificing your personal happiness and interest for the good of the one you love. It’s forcing yourself to let go so that your mom would be free from pain,” she said. She said she and her siblings are also comforted by the thought that their mother is now reunited with her “one and only love” – their father. She said that although her mom “went through the most for me” she also believed that she was able to give her “the most joy.” She also thanked her for “the privilege of being your child.” “I will remind myself that my greatest gift to you will be living a life that will make you proud that I am your daughter… I love you, mom. Goodbye, mom. Maraming salamat at paalam,” she said. For more news, log on to: http://coryaquino.abs-cbnnews.com

The outpouring of public support for the late former President Corazon Aquino is a warning sign for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies not to ram Charter change down Filipinos' throats, United Opposition (Uno) president and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay said Wednesday.
But a Palace official saw it differently, saying Mrs. Aquino's death as a call for national unity and that the administration is willing to reconcile with its political foes.
Binay, a close friend and ally of Mrs. Aquino, said the show of people power at Mrs. Aquino's "people's funeral" signifies that the people are capable of staging a political upheaval if Mrs. Arroyo insists on clinging to power beyond 2010.
"Cory’s death has awakened the people. She has bridged the generation that took part in EDSA 1 with the younger generation who are now aware that the freedom they enjoy was earned through struggle against a dictatorship," he said in an article posted on the Makati City Web portal.
"I am certain that if Mrs. Arroyo pushes through with her selfish agenda, the spirit of Cory Aquino will rally the people," he added.
Binay said that during the Marcos regime in 1986, Mrs. Aquino stood up against the martial law regime, fought for clean and honest elections.
After EDSA-1 toppled the dictatorship, Mrs. Aquino stood for morality and transparency in government when she became president, he added.
In 2005, Mrs. Aquino openly called for the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo over the “Hello Garci" scandal involving alleged fraud in the 2004 presidential elections. She also led protest actions against the declaration of a state of emergency in January 2006 and the NBN-ZTE scandal in early 2008.
"The younger generation got a crash course in contemporary history. In a span of four days, they learned how difficult life was under a dictatorship, and how our freedom was earned with the sacrifice of so many lives, among them Cory’s husband Ninoy Aquino," Binay said.
"By her example, Cory showed the people the importance of standing up against an oppressive, corrupt and power hungry regime. She showed us that even as a private citizen, we can and should stand up for what is right," he added.
Call for unity
In Malacañang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the death of Mrs. Aquino should be a signal for all Filipinos to unite and set aside political agenda.
A Palace statement said Remonde called for unity, which he said could ease the political tension especially considering that the 2010 elections is just around the corner.
Less political tension according to him would allow Mrs. Arroyo to finish her programs in energy, education and environment before her term ends next year, he added.
He described the predawn visit of Mrs. Arroyo to the wake of Mrs. Aquino as "a triumph of goodwill against ill-will."
The Aquino family has turned down the Arroyo administration’s offer to give Mrs. Aquino a state funeral, saying they were more comfortable with a private funeral.
Nonetheless, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) accorded the former president all the necessary honors as mandated by law. - GMANews.TV

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'Aquino siblings to take a lifetime to be OK'

MANILA – For the five children left behind by former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino, it would take a lifetime for them to become okay.  In her eulogy Wednesday, Cory’s youngest daughter, actress and television host Kris, tearfully said how their lives will change now that their mother is gone. From now on, Kris said eldest sister Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino will no longer have her mom to go with her everytime she left the office. Aurora Corazon “Pinky” Abelleda lost a prayer partner while Victoria Eliza “Viel” Dee will no longer have someone to marvel at the simplicity of her family. Her brother, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, lost a campaigner who helped him during the four times that he ran for public office, Kris said. For her part, Kris said: “Wala ng magte-text sa akin tuwing magla-launch [ako] ng bagong programa ko ng ‘good luck.’ At pagkatapos, as soon as mag-end ang show, nagco-congratulate agad to say, ‘I’m proud of you.’” “I’m sorry mom, I lied to you. Nagsinungaling ako when I told you na we would be okay. I did this because we wanted you to be free from all your pain at para hindi ka na mag-alala tungkol sa amin. Pero, mom, it would take a lifetime for us to be okay because we will forever miss you,” she said. Kris’ eulogy sent her three female siblings crying while Noynoy was visibly holding back tears. Cory, 76, died last August 1 after more than a year-long battle with colon cancer. The former president is credited with restoring democracy after the1986 EDSA Revolution that removed President Ferdinand Marcos from power and catapulted her to the presidency. Her husband, former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was Marcos’ staunch critic. His assassination in 1983 triggered a series of protest rallies against the Marcos regime that eventually led to the 1986 people uprising. “The last words mom expressed to each of us [was] take care of each other. I know that those words weren’t meant just for our family but for all of us as a nation,” she said. “Kagaya po ng pangako na iniwan ng dad at mom sa ating bayan, ‘Noy  ikaw at ako, ang nasa posisyon para ipagpatuloy ang lahat ng kanilang nasimulan. You know that, in our last conversation, nangako ako sa kanya [na] whatever support you need, I would be there for you,” she added.   ‘Thank you’ The actress revealed her late mom's last request to her before her death--to thank the Filipino people for the love and honor they extended the Aquino family. "What words can I use to convey to all of you that debt of our gratitude for the respect, appreciation and love you've showered upon our mother? How do we say thank you to all of you for the expressions of sympathy and support for our family during our time of bereavement? Come to think of it, from March of 2008, you are one with us in constantly praying for our mother's healing," she said at the requiem Mass at the Manila Cathedral. "Paano po ba kami makapagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat sa effort niyong pumila sa gitna ng matinding init at malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan para masulyapan ang mommy namin? Magbigay respeto at maipagdasal siya sa huling pagkakataon?" "Isa po sa huling binilin ng Mom sa akin ay ang magpasalamat po ako sa inyong lahat. You have given our family honor beyond anything we could ever have hoped to receive, that no matter how great the sacrifices of my parents, I can honestly say to all of you that for my family, the Filipinos are worth it," she said. Kris said she and her family are also forever indebted to Fr. Catalino Arevalo and Balanga, Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas who were there for them.  Goodbye Kris said it was hard to say goodbye to her mother, knowing that in her heart the time they spent together was not enough. “But maybe that’s what love really is all about. It means sacrificing your personal happiness and interest for the good of the one you love. It’s forcing yourself to let go so that your mom would be free from pain,” she said. She said she and her siblings are also comforted by the thought that their mother is now reunited with her “one and only love” – their father.  She said that although her mom “went through the most for me” she also believed that she was able to give her “the most joy.” She also thanked her for “the privilege of being your child.” “I will remind myself that my greatest gift to you will be living a life that will make you proud that I am your daughter… I love you, mom. Goodbye, mom. Maraming salamat at paalam,” she said. For more news, log on to: http://coryaquino.abs-cbnnews.com
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Ramos-Horta pays homage to Cory, Filipino people

MANILA, Philippines -- East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta said today (Aug.5) he admires the Filipinos' resiliency in the face of adversity.

"Filipinos have always smiled and hoped. They are very resilient," said Ramos-Horta when he arrived this afternoon at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City to pay his last respects to former President Corazon Aquino.

Ramos-Horta also underscored the importance of the Edsa People Power Revolution, which ousted the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. The peaceful uprising was spearheaded by the church, civil society groups, the then political opposition headed by Mrs. Aquino and ordinary citizens.

"This was the first democratic movement in Southeast Asia," he said, noting that many Filipino priests and nuns are working as missionaries in East Timor, which has also experienced several political upheavals in the past.

Ramos-Horta said he wants to pay homage to Mrs. Aquino whom he last met in August 2008 for her contributions to empowering the Filipino people and for her role an "icon of democracy."

Though not a state funeral, today's farewell for Mrs. Aquino was well attended by tens of thousands of mourners who braved the rains and traffic. Ramos-Horta said he made the decision to attend the last rites for Mrs. Aquino since he was a journalist in East Timor before he became the head of state.

He also disclosed that there is no scheduled meeting with President Arroyo after the burial for Mrs. Aquino.

Ramos-Horta and his entourage arrived in Manila at around 4 a.m. today. He will fly back to East Timor tomorrow (Aug.6). - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
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Should Kris run in 2010?

If elections were to be held today and Kris Aquino would run for President, I’m very sure — 100 percent sure! — that she would win by a landslide.
You see, if she could move the whole world to tears and win everybody’s heart with the emotion-laden farewell/thank-you speech she delivered yesterday morning at the requiem Mass for her mother, former Pres. Cory Aquino, at the Manila Cathedral, I’m sure that she could, without really trying, sway the people into giving her a resounding vote of confidence.
And besides, didn’t Tita Cory once tell her that Kris reminded her of her late husband, calling Kris “the female Ninoy Aquino?” No wonder Kris said that she’s Tita Cory’s favorite daughter even as she admitted having given her mom the most “headaches” which were outweighed by “the most joys” that Kris gave her.
Everybody (those who were at the Manila Cathedral and those at home watching the proceedings on TV) was titillated by the possibility of Kris’ running in the elections — the earliest being 2010 — when, toward the end of her speech, Kris, addressing her brother, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, said that it was the two of them on whose shoulders has fallen the task of continuing the legacy of their parents, later promising Noynoy to give him all the support he ever needed if he decided to run again.
But somewhere in her speech, Kris also mentioned that when somebody broached the idea of her running for a public office, Tita Cory cautioned her, “Kapag naging simple ka na” (Only if you become simple) — that is, like Tita Cory who shunned branded clothes and high living even if she could easily afford them.
Kris’ reply? “Mom, matagal pang mangyari ‘yon. It would take time bago ako maging simple.” Said in all candor. Very Kris Aquino.
Would it take a lifetime, the same time frame Kris said it would take her and her siblings “to be okay” after their mom’s death?
She had a confession to make, addressing Tita Cory: “I lied to you, Mom,” recalling that a few days before Tita Cory died at the Makati Med where she was confined for more than a month and died of the colon cancer she bravely fought for more than a year, Kris assured her that she and the rest of the family were okay.
“I lied. No, we’re not okay. It would take a lifetime for us to be okay.”
Saying she couldn’t imagine life without her mom, Kris would surely miss the little things that mean a lot.
“Wala nang magti-text sa akin ng ‘Congratulations!’ when my movies make money o kaya ‘I’m proud of you!’ everytime she watched my shows.”
Like most families, Kris and her siblings would also miss Tita Cory most during happy occasions. That’s when they would intensely feel Tita Cory’s not being there.
Now, could it be true that Tita Cory also, among other habilin, reminded Kris and her husband James Yap not to separate?
What actually happened was that Kris and James had a spat last Holy Week and Tita Cory, as usual, helped patch things up between them.
“My mom told James, ‘Be more patient with Kris.’ And she told me, ‘Be more humble’.”
“I lost my No. 1 supporter,” said James of his mom-in-law who would pray the Rosary for good luck before James’ every game.
James is leaving today for Tianjin, China, to join the Power 8 Team Pilipinas in the Asian Qualifier for the World Championship games. “Mom always reminded me na kapag naglaro ako, dapat ibigay ko ang lahat para sa bayan.”
The issue is not Caparas?
Here’s a reaction to Funfare’s item on Carlo J. Caparas, newly-named National Artists for Visual Arts and Film, the other day, from STAR contributor and Ateneo professor Jonathan Chua:
Dear Ricky,
I simply could not resist reacting to your column on Carlo J. Caparas. 

Caparas will have his supporters and critics, but the issue is not whether he deserves to be named National Artist. It is rather that the Palace effectively derailed the procedure in selecting National Artists, by declaring them winners who did not make it to the short list or who were not even nominated for the award and striking off others who were nominated and who were selected by the jurors after rigorous deliberation. Previous presidents have added a name or two to the list of winners, but no president has ever omitted somebody unanimously voted by the selection committee for the prize and added four other names. (There are, in fact, more Malacañang-appointed winners than juror-selected winners this time.)
Whether Caparas (or the other Malacañang appointees) ought to be declared National Artist is a matter that is open to debate (are “massacre movies” a marked advance in Philippine filmmaking?) and which perhaps should be debated upon (are our categories of art too limited?). Regardless of one’s position, however, the integrity of the National Artist award, the highest recognition a Filipino artist can aspire for, must be protected. And that means respecting the process by which the winners are selected. After all, an award is valid not because government officials, no matter their position, legitimate it, but only because the processes behind it are valid.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Jonathan chua
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Corys funeral, Aug 5, a special non-working holiday

MANILA – Malacañang has declared Wednesday, Aug. 5, as a special non-working holiday in commemoration of the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino. The private funeral of Aquino will be held on Wednesday. She will be buried beside her late husband, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park. According to deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, the declaration of Wednesday as a special non-working holiday will allow the nation to witness the moments before Aquino is brought to her final resting place, radio dzMM reported. A mass will be held at 9 a.m. at the Manila Cathedral before the burial. Fajardo earlier announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has cut short her United States trip in order to make it to Aquino’s funeral service on Wednesday. Arroyo will leave New York for Manila on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines). The chief executive declared a 10-day period of national mourning (Aug. 1 to Aug. 10) over the death of Aquino through Proclamation No. 1850. Aquino, 76, succumbed to colon cancer on Saturday at 3:18 a.m. Her wake is at the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) gymnasium in Mandaluyong City. The public viewing at LSGH began at 5 p.m. of Saturday and will continue until Monday. The daily viewing schedule will be until 4 a.m., and will resume at 7 a.m.

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Afghan attacks kill five Western soldiers

Insurgent attacks across Afghanistan have killed three US and two NATO soldiers as well as seven Afghan policemen and soldiers, authorities said Sunday, in a bloody start to election month.

The deaths of the five troops in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force comes after four others were killed on Saturday in attacks already announced by ISAF, as violence surges ahead of the August 20 polls.

The three US soldiers were part of a patrol struck by a homemade bomb and then ambushed with gunfire in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, ISAF said.

"The patrol responded to the attack but three service members died in the engagement," its statement said.

ISAF, made up of around 64,500 troops from 42 nations, does not release the nationalities of its casualties but the US military in Kabul said the three were from its ranks.

Two more ISAF troops were killed when two bomb blasts struck their patrol in the south on Saturday, the alliance announced separately. They were not US nationals, the US military said, without being able to identify them.

"Yesterday was a very tough day for ISAF as we lost more brave soldiers who were striving to provide security to the Afghan population," the force said.

Seventy-five international troops were killed last month, most of them in attacks, according to the independent www.icasualties.org website, making July the deadliest month for troops since the US-led invasion in 2001.

There are more than 100,000 international troops in Afghanistan deployed under NATO and a separate US-led coalition trying to tackle mounting violence from the Taliban-led insurgency.

The troops have intensified operations against insurgent strongholds in preparation for the war-scarred nation's second-ever presidential elections.

Also on Saturday, a dozen rebels were killed in a gunfight with police in the southwestern province of Nimroz, the interior ministry said.

The battle broke out when insurgents attacked a police post, it said, adding police suffered no casualties.

On the same day, four Afghan soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb planted by "terrorists" in the southern province of Helmand, the defence ministry said.

And three policemen including a senior officer were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the northern province of Baghlan, the ministry said separately.

President Hamid Karzai, leading a field of 41 candidates for the top job, visited the province Saturday for his first campaign rally outside Kabul.

The unrest has raised concerns that the rebels might attack the election, especially in southern and eastern Afghanistan where the insurgency is its most intense.

The Taliban, the main insurgent group behind the Al-Qaeda-supported insurgency, has called on Afghans to boycott the presidential vote and vowed to block all roads a day before polling stations open.

The growing unrest nearly eight years after the Taliban were driven out of government has prompted Afghanistan's main military allies, the US and Britain, to review their efforts here.

An influential committee of British lawmakers charged Sunday that the international military mission in Afghanistan had delivered "much less than it promised" due to the lack of a realistic strategy.

In a report, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said without a clear strategy stabilising Afghanistan had become "considerably more difficult than might otherwise have been the case."

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Former Philippine leader Aquino dies

MANILA (AFP) – Former Philippines president Corazon Aquino, whose "People Power" revolution toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy to the nation, died on Saturday after a battle with colon cancer.

"Cory" Aquino was propelled into the political spotlight in 1986, leading millions of Filipinos in protests against the corrupt regime of Marcos, who jailed thousands of dissidents during his brutal 20-year regime.

As people across the Catholic nation woke to the news, President Gloria Arroyo declared a 10-day period of mourning for Aquino, whom she praised as a "national treasure."

Aquino's family announced her death early on Saturday.

"Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 am, August 1, 2009 of cardio-respiratory arrest," Senator Benigno Aquino Jr, said in a statement outside the Makati Medical Centre in Manila, where his mother had been hospitalised.

"She would have wanted us to thank each and every one of you for all the prayers and the continuous love and support," he said.

"It was her wish for all of us to pray for one another and for the country," Aquino said.

Arroyo, in the United States on an official visit, said: "Aquino led a revolution that restored democracy and the rule of law to our nation at a time of great peril."

Former aide and press secretary Teodoro Locsin, who is also a close family friend, openly wept on television.

"The purity, the nobility, never failed. She never asked for anything," in return, Locsin said.

He said more than anything else, Aquino removed the "centre of corruption in government, because she would not be corrupt."

US President Barack Obama "was deeply saddened" by Aquino's death, read a statement from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

"Her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation," the statement said.

Aquino's five children have opted to bury their mother in a private ceremony next week, and said they have not talked with any representatives from Arroyo's office.

People lined the streets Saturday as the hearse bearing her body made its way to a Catholic school where the public will be able to pay their last respects later in the day.

Military honour guards welcomed her remains, with the top brass pledging to defend democracy "that she has fiercely fought to regain."

She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino at a private cemetery on Wednesday next week, the family said.

In Manila's Makati financial district, huge posters of Aquino were displayed while neighbours left flowers at the family home. Requiem masses were held in Catholic churches nationwide.

A former housewife who reluctantly became president, the soft-spoken Aquino rewrote the country's constitution, freed all political dissidents jailed by Marcos, and initiated peace talks with insurgent groups.

Problems in her coalition would later emerge, and Aquino survived a series of bloody coup attempts by the same forces that went against Marcos.

"I realised that I could have made things easier for myself if I had done the popular things rather than the painful but better ones in the long run. After all, in the long run, I wouldn't be around to be blamed," Aquino once said while reflecting on her presidency.

Until March last year, when she withdrew from public life after being diagnosed with colon cancer, she had been active in street protests denouncing corruption in the government.

She had also repeatedly demanded that Arroyo, a former protege whose nine-year presidency has been marred by scandals, step down.

A humble moral crusader, Aquino once famously rejected an offer of a presidential limousine to travel to the inauguration of her successor, Fidel Ramos.

Aquino later joined the Church in rallying the public in a military-backed peaceful revolt that ousted president Joseph Estrada, a self-proclaimed womaniser and former action movie star whose regime was also rife with corruption.

Prior to her death, Aquino was reconciled with Estrada and allowed him to visit her bedside last week.

"She was a woman of both strength and graciousness," an emotional Estrada said on Saturday. "Today, our country has lost a mother."

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