Humility and Pres. Cory

For the first time in close to 40 years of writing for various publications, nine of which (and counting) are with The Philippine STAR, I missed my deadline of 4 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009 for the Wednesday issue.

I sent a message to my editor of many years, Lito Tacujan, and Dante Navarro, and explained my deep involvement in the wake for President Cory and the preparations for her interment on Wednesday. I said it was physically (and emotionally) impossible for me to meet the usual deadline. I asked, as a special favor, if my column could instead come out on Friday (today) provided of course I meet the new deadline of Thursday, Aug. 6, between 4:30 p.m.-5 p.m. I did not need too many words to explain my predicament. Even fewer words were needed from Lito either. He understood and simply said “OK”. I thank Lito for his compassion. It made dealing with the grief much easier.

That’s what makes writing for The STAR such a joy. Wth the Belmontes totally supportive of the Aquinos, there was no need for lengthy explanations. In fact, The STAR was out in full force at Anda Circle to welcome the funeral procession as we inched our way for five hours from La Salle Green Hills to the Manila Cathedral. The STAR was privy to the intimate and personal stories from those who served President Cory faithfully for 23 years, even after those who professed loyalty to her had abandoned her and the ideals of EDSA I that propelled her to the Presidency. Many had left her after the political wind started blowing in a different direction.

The STAR’s Joanne Ramirez, who was with us in the guerilla group, called the Cory Aquino Media Bureau in 1985-86 during the snap Presidential election, rode with us in coaster number two that former Transportation Secretary Pete Prado commandeered and which was spitting distance from coaster one which bore the Aquino family. 

We tried to do our bit in helping the Aquinos greet the sea of humanity that met us at EDSA, Ayala Avenue, Gil Puyat (Buendia), SLEX, Quirino Ave, Roxas Boulevard, Bonifacio Drive, Aduana (A. Soriano Ave.), and finally, at the Manila Cathedral. If that five-hour journey was a challenge for those of us who had barely three hours of sleep daily from the time we received the phone call from an Aquino family member at 4 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 1, that “mommy is gone”, an even bigger physical and emotional challenge was the trip from the Cathedral to Manila Memorial Park.

That one took us eight hours, three hours shorter than the 11-hour journey from Sto. Domingo Church to Manila Memorial Park when we helped bring Ninoy, Pres. Cory’s husband, to rest on Aug. 21, 1983. This latest trip to Manila Memorial was, however, more arduous simply because we’re all 23 years older now!

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So how does one write a sports column when one is still grieving and stunned by the loss of a great lady who has profoundly influenced our lives? Again, not too many words are needed.

What I can simply say is that people from all walks of life came and waited their turn to say goodbye to someone who responded to the challenge of bringing back democracy to the country and ensuring it functions without creating a sense of drift. The challenge included guaranteeing honest elections that would bring into office her legitimately elected successor and presiding over a lawful transfer of power, a blessing denied Filipinos by Ferdinand Marcos for 13 years.

One of our tasks was to ensure that visitors and mourners could pay their respects without undue delay and as comfortably as possible. It was a king-sized job since no one could pinpoint when the Lord would claim President Cory. A lot of improvisations were resorted to. As I briefed my team in the Reception Committee on our tasks six hours after Pres. Cory’s death, I said that we have volunteered to perform this sensitive task for Pres. Cory and her family since they cannot do it alone.

I asked that, like most genuine sports men and women, we act as a team. That meant we were committed to the same objective and that each one had a unique role. I asked that we be patient with each other and especially with the public. Most of all, I asked that we throw out our individual egos as former high-ranking officials of the Aquino Cabinet out the window, at least temporarily until we lay Pres. Cory to rest, and that we all exercise humility.

Humility simply meant putting the interest of the whole, the team ahead of our own interest. That was how Pres. Cory did it in her lifetime. That is how she would have wanted us to do it.