Nation must emulate Cory Aquino's virtues for
stronger democracy, says Palace
Malacañang has enjoined Filipinos to remember
former president Corazon Aquino through the virtues she is known for --
courage, humility, and compassion.
The country commemorated on Friday (August 1)
the fifth death anniversary of the former leader, who is regarded as an icon of
Philippine democracy.
The former president died of colon cancer on
August 1, 2009, after months of battling the disease.
"Five years after her death, we still see
clearly how her life proves that the Filipino is worth living for,"
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement released on Friday.
"As we look back on President Cory’s
celebrated life, let us remember the virtues for which she is best known and
which have endeared her to the public—the courage with which she adopted the
fight for democracy; the humility which she maintained throughout her
presidency; and the compassion with which she considered the needs of all
Filipinos," he added.
This is the legacy that she left the nation, a
legacy that marks not only the pages of the country's history but also the
Filipinos' collective memory, he noted.
"In gratitude for her contributions, let us
seek to emulate these virtues as we continue her work of establishing a
stronger, even more vibrant democracy," Lacierda said.
Former president Cory Aquino, mother of
President Benigno S. Aquino III, rose to political prominence after the
assassination of her husband, former senator Ninoy Aquino, on August 21, 1983.
Three years after her husband’s death, she was
swept to the presidency, ending the dictatorship of former president Ferdinand
Marcos.
In the years leading up to the 1986 EDSA
Revolution, President Cory Aquino embodied the country’s struggle for freedom.
Even after leaving the presidency, she remained
active in the country’s affairs by advancing democratic causes and supporting
various social projects, as well as charitable institutions. PND (as)
President Aquino, family mark Cory Aquino’s
fifth death anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III, together with
his siblings and some friends, commemorated the fifth death anniversary of
former President and democracy icon Corazon Aquino by attending a mass at the
Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque on Friday.
The mass was attended by President Aquino’s
sisters – Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Viel Aquino-Dee and Kris Aquino – as well as
several close family friends and members of the Cabinet, namely Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Rehabilitation
Secretary Panfilo Lacson, and Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. Senate President Franklin Drilon was also
present.
In his homily, Father Catalino Arevalo, who
officiated the mass, honored the sacrifices made by the late president for the
country.
He said Cory may have been gone for five years
now but she continues to be remembered through the love, hope and courage she
imparted to the Filipino people.
“Today, we have come here to remember Tita Cory
in prayer and to pay a tribute of the gratitude and love, which did not end
five years ago. In fact, for us, it has really grown deeper, stronger with the
years that have gone by,” he said.
He also said that Cory’s death should not bring
a sense of defeat but a sense of hope for the country.
“Did you notice that President Noy’s SONA last
Monday ended with a shining word of hope: hope in our people, hope that the
transformation he had begun would go forward, no matter what, because of them.
Go forward and we add the words of Tita Cory brought forward by a people
nurtured in faith that begets courage, a courage that is ablaze with hope,” he
said.
Father Arevalo also asked for “guidance, courage
and peace of heart” for President Aquino amid issues hounding the
administration.
After the mass, President Aquino and eldest
sister Ballsy lighted the two big yellow candles in front of Cory's tomb.
President Aquino did not give a message
following the mass.
Meanwhile, his sister, actress Kris Aquino, in a
short extemporaneous message, asked the people to stand by her brother. She
vowed to continue to support him, not only in good times, but especially in bad
times.
“Dear God, please guide Noy, give him strength,
tulungan mo siya. Bigyan ninyo siya ng inspirasyon, palakasin ninyo siya at
sana iyong mga naniniwala sa kanya, iparamdam sa kanya araw-araw na hindi siya
nag-iisa,” she said, recounting how she and her children pray for the President
regularly.
The mass ended with the singing of the patriotic
song, “Bayan Ko”.
The Aquino family is expected to be back at the
Manila Memorial Park on August 21 to commemorate the death of Aquino patriarch,
Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. PND (jb)
Presidential sister Kris Aquino asks for
continued support for brother
Presidential sister, television host and actress
Kris Aquino on Friday asked the public to continue supporting President Benigno
S. Aquino III and his administration.
President Aquino joined his family, friends,
supporters and members of the Cabinet in attending a mass at the Manila
Memorial Park to commemorate the fifth death anniversary of his mother, former
president Corazon “Cory” Aquino.
In her message after the mass, Kris asked
President Aquino’s supporters to continue to stand by him.
“He can't do it on his own. We need to stand by
him and give him strength. And please pray with us also that he stays alive,”
she said. “Gusto namin talaga good health, wisdom, strength, courage and he has
the fortitude to last.”
The television host said that their mother,
Cory, would have been proud of his brother.
“Mom, I know you are so proud of your son and in
the same way, all of us here right now, we are so proud talaga of everything he
is and you know na—we know na, we are what we are because of our parents,” she
said.
Kris also thanked those who joined them at
Friday’s event, as well as the supporters of the Aquino administration.
“To everybody here right now, thank you for
making time to be here with us,” she said.
Also present during the mass were President
Aquino’s sisters Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz, and Victoria Elisa “Viel”
Aquino-Dee.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Health
Secretary Enrique Ona, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma, Jr., and Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and
Recovery Panfilo Lacson were also in attendance.
Democracy icon and former President Cory Aquino
died on August 1, 2009 due to colon cancer. The former leader was buried beside
her husband, the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. PND (co)
President Aquino welcomes submission of
‘Yolanda’ Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed the
submission of the ‘Yolanda’ Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan
(CRRP) by Secretary Panfilo Lacson, Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said on Friday.
The President received the eight-volume report
from Lacson after the memorial mass in honor of the late President Corazon
Aquino.
According to Coloma, the CRRP includes the LGU
Recovery and Rehabilitation Plans (LRRPs) of Cebu, Western Samar, Leyte,
Eastern Samar, Iloilo and Tacloban City.
This covers 104 out of the 171
‘Yolanda’-affected municipalities, he said, adding that with the President’s
approval, some P96 billion may be released by the Budget Department for various
rehabilitation projects.
The CRRP is a complete master plan that covers
infrastructure, livelihood, resettlement, social services, and support.
The Office of the Presidential Assistant for
Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR), headed by Secretary Lacson, serves as the
chief coordinator of the programs, activities and projects being undertaken by
all Cabinet departments, national government agencies and local government
units.
The total cost for the CRRP is estimated at P171
billion, which will cover rehabilitation and reconstruction projects, as well
as social services and livelihood.
The rehabilitation plan will also involve the
relocation of 200,000 families displaced by Typhoon Yolanda to resettle them in
safer zones.
It will also address such concerns as climate
change adaptation, gender-sensitive needs and equality. PND (as)
Lacson submits P170.9 billion rehabilitation
plan for typhoon-hit areas to President Aquino
Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and
Recovery Secretary Panfilo Lacson submitted the P170.9 billion ‘Yolanda’
Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan to President Benigno S. Aquino
III on Friday.
Secretary Lacson submitted the rehabilitation
plan to the President after the mass to commemorate the fifth death anniversary
of former president Corazon Aquino at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque
City.
During an interview, Lacson said the plan
highlights four basic sectors that have to be addressed -- livelihood,
resettlement, social services, and infrastructure -- in areas devastated by
Typhoon Yolanda last year.
The plan, he said, will also address such issues
as disaster preparedness, climate change adaptation, and environmental
concerns, among others.
He said the Budget Department could provide P137
billion of the total P170.9 billion this year, while the balance could be
included in the 2015 or 2016 budget.
"Inaasahan natin na bago bumaba sa pwesto
ang Pangulong Aquino, ang target natin ay at least 80 or 85 percent ang
ma-accomplish," Lacson said.
"Kasi may short term na kasama dito, may
medium term at saka iyong long term. Iyong long term, ito iyong sususog doon sa
Philippine Development Plan 2011 to 2016," he added.
The government should now carry out a massive
infusion of resources, Lacson said, adding that he will also recommend to the
President to allow capable municipalities to start their reconstruction
initiatives.
He further said that the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH) will field more than 50 engineers and 100 cadet
engineers to help municipalities that do not have the capability to carry out
reconstruction efforts.
The recruitment of the engineers will be funded
by the United Nations and the USAID, according to Lacson.
Secretary Lacson clarified that the P137 billion
will not come from foreign or private donors but from government funds,
including from a supplemental budget approved by Congress through a joint
resolution, he said.
He noted that even before the first six Local
Government Units submitted their respective rehabilitation plans, the
Department of Interior and Local Government had approved the release of funds
to repair partially damaged municipal halls, public markets and civic centers.
PND (as)
