President Aquino’s Legacy Lives On
On the morning of August 1, 2009, the Philippines mourned the loss of one of its most honored presidents, who passed away after a year-long battle with colon cancer. As President of the Republic of the Philippines for six years, Maria Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino presided over the difficult transition from dictatorship to democracy of a country oppressed by a tyrant for nearly two decades. As a world-renowned advocate of democracy, peace, women’s empowerment and religious piety, she has touched countless lives with her kind acts and just ways. Her death is certainly a great loss which the country will mourn for in more ways than one.
Still, President Cory’s legacy lives on – in her works, in the people she has helped, in the fruits of her labors during and after her term as president. This legacy is recorded in two important books that document the life and works of a person whose existence had a huge impact not only in the Philippines but in the whole world.
The first book, In the Name of Democracy, is a collection of speeches written by the Mrs. Aquino herself during her presidency. These speeches record her thoughts, feelings and beliefs, together with her experiences and hopes for a country she ruled and loved. Her words were a reflection of who she was – an advocate of truth, who does not merely deliver lines to impress her constituents, but carry her words with a sincerity and conviction that few other leaders are capable of.
Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. writes the Foreword to this prized collection. He acclaims Mrs. Aquino for holding “words in the utmost respect, as conveyors of truth and expressions of commitment,” in contrast to other leaders “who think speechmaking is a filling of the air with hopefully elegant sounds, a mere passing of the time.” Her humbleness and elegance are evident in the speeches featured, which covers the challenges of the Constitution, freedom and human rights in the Philippines, and the memory of her late husband, Senator Ninoy Aquino, among other things.
An example of this can be found in her speech “Honor and Pain, Courage and Faith,” where Mrs. Aquino shows deep respect and affection for her husband by naming him “the symbol… for (the Filipino) people in their hour of trial and darkness.” She also exudes strong devotion in the Lord by claiming that her honor and courage are founded on deep faith: “I like to think of courage as a spiritual staying power which enables a person to die for the one he or she loves. It is a quality which transcends fear… a spirit which bears things, with resignation, yes, but above all with blazing and serene hope. And for me this blazing and serene hope is founded on Faith, faith in One who died for love and rose again and who has always been part of my life.” She also displays humility and love for the Filipinos by accepting the honor bestowed upon her with pride, claiming that this honor was “nurtured in a Faith that begets courage blazing with hope among a people so often tested by tribulation.”
The second title is a biographical account of who Cory Aquino really was. Cory: An Intimate Portrait is a labor of love, spearheaded by Margarita “Margie” Penson-Juico, the Appointments Secretary to Mrs. Aquino during her term as president. Together with a group of contributors handpicked because of their relationship with the former head of state, Margie Juico created a collection about Mrs. Aquino in various facets of her life: President Aquino on formal occasions; President Cory to those who prefer to be informal, at the same time wishing to show respect for both her and the office she held and continues to represent; Auntie Cory to biological relatives and Tita Cory to those simply fond of, and deferential to, her; Lola Cory to her grandchildren; and simply Cory to old friends.
The book, written to serve as a tribute for Mrs. Aquino’s first birthday after she was diagnosed of cancer last year, gives readers a peek into the personal life, relationships and character of the former president. In the Foreword, Philip E. Juico states that “the book’s strength and charm lie in its very form: firsthand stories by friends of President Cory’s for many years, by men and women who served in government, and by others whose lives she touched in countless ways.” The book reveals Cory Aquino to be a humble person, a loving wife and mother, a devout Catholic, a good and loyal friend and a role model for her integrity, honesty, calm, and courage in the face of trials. It is a fitting tribute to the extraordinary woman who has shaped Philippine history.
Bishop Socrates Villegas, in “Three heroes among us,” calls President Cory the icon of the virtue of katapatan, which he defines as “truthfulness, transparency – crystal-clear living with no ulterior motives, no hidden agendas, no game plans.” Former Senator Rene Saguisag recalls snippets of events that transpired during the days after EDSA I in “Guesthouse memories,” where Mrs. Aquino personally asked him and a few others for help to lead the country after the dark days of the Marcos regime. In “Five fateful years,” Former Air Force Commander Loven Abadia shares the president’s belief in the importance of service and dedication in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, placing merit above seniority in military promotions. These and other essays from prominent figures in the political and journalistic fields all point out to the traits that singles out Mrs. Aquino from a line of presidents that have served the Philippines since the early days of the Constitution.
Published by Anvil Publishing, In the Name of Democracy and Cory – An Intimate Portrait are testimonies to who President Cory Aquino was, and what her name has, and will continue to, stand for. As Philip Juico appropriately states in the Foreword of the second book, both collections “(go) beyond history, and as such informs history in a rare and special way.”
