My Post on the Cory Aquino Tribute website

Alex Ustaris 8/8/2009 1:28:36 AM
My wife and I brought along our 2 sons to bid Cory farewell last Wednesday. We decided to go directly where the action was: in the vicinity of Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque. We were initially worried that our eldest Kirby, who is already 14 years old but has autism, may have difficulty adjusting to the situation. He usually is unable to adjust to crowded places and noisy events.
We went ahead, deciding that the benefits would far outweigh any inconvenience for our family. My conscience was particularly pricked by the remark of an old woman who went to the wake earlier in the week. When asked what could have Cory done for her that she would go through a lot of trouble to queue up and wait at the wake, she said that no amount of inconvenience for her would be enough to repay Cory for giving her entire self and giving up family life for the sake of the country.

My wife and I had very serious and concrete purpose in going to Cory's burial. As a matter of fact, there were two. First and foremost, as the old woman in the wake articulated the same sentiments of a lot of people, we Filipinos of our free and democratic country have to at least thank Cory as she is brought to her final eternal rest. Secondly but equally important, I wanted my sons, especially 9-year old Matthew to feel being a part of a meaningful chapter in our nation's history.

As for the first purpose, I never knew that saying thank you and good bye to Cory could be so heart-rending. When we finally saw the truck bearing her coffin right in front of us, my mouth opened to utter words of gratitude and farewell but no sound came out. After what seemed like forever trying to scream in order to let my emotions out, I finally wept uncontrollably like a child who lost a parent or a grandparent. The last time I wept like that was when my grandmother died several years ago.

Out of that experience, what was most gratifying for me was seeing both my sons, including Kirby the autistic one, find delight and meaning in the frenzy and shared emotions by everyone in the crowd. Awestruck by all the people shouting "Cory! Cory!" and seeing so many including his parents shedding tears, Matthew stopped whining about having to wait all day. Kirby was smiling and swaying to the chants and the rustle of yellow ribbons and flags. He was smiling with thoughts of "bayang magiliw, perlas ng silangan...". Lupang Hinirang is his favorite song.

The nine-hour wait was all worth it. I myself do not think what I did was enough to return the favor that Cory did for me, my family and my country. So I will continue to find ways to offer myself as a wick so that the candle will forever burn with the shining light that Ninoy and Cory have passed on to us. Thank you Cory, for all that my family and I have, and are capable of achieving yet, we owe so much to you. Rest in peace, knowing that we will bear the torch that you have passed on to us.