Last night, Corazon Aquino (Cory to most), former President and icon of Philippine democracy, was laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park at the Aquino family mausoleum, finally reunited with her husband Ninoy who was slain more than 30 years ago on August 21, 1983. It was a touching event, with hundreds of thousands of people undaunted by the rain lining the route of the funeral procession. It was a fitting tribute capped by the full military honors accorded to their former commander-in-chief. A chapter of Philippine history has come to a close, and another uncertain one begins.
Truth to tell, for all the adoration and praises heaped upon her now, the presidency of Cory was anything but perfect. One of my most glaring memories about her presidency were the day-long blackouts that characterized the early part of my college years (this was around 1992, towards the end of Cory's term, which gives you an idea of my age). Nevertheless, where there was fault, I would not attribute it to any lack of character on her part, but rather to her inability to control her subordinates. Looking back, I guess this shouldn't have been surprising as Cory was going against the inertia of hundreds of years of oligarchic rule, and refusing to play their game was a sure way to get less than ideal levels of cooperation from them (which could explain the string of coup attempts that plagued the Cory administration).
For me, the fact that Cory was able to finish her presidency untainted tells a lot about her strength of character and integrity. I would even say it was downright miraculous that she came out of Malacanang as the same person she was when she first stepped in. Many psychics have commented on the very dark and negative energies permeating Malacanang Palace, and by the Law of Contagion anyone who spends any length of time there will likely get contaminated. Observe all the other Philippine presidents who may have started out well, but either came out with tarnished images or met sorry ends. This is why I say that Cory remaining untainted after 6 years in power is downright miraculous, though the fact that she never lived in Malacanang itself (at first staying at their house in Times Street, then moving to the Malacanang guest house across the Palace grounds for practical reasons) undoubtedly played a role.
This also brings home the point that a saintly leader is not nearly enough. A constant pressure of morality and integrity is needed in order to overcome the systemic darkness propagated by hundreds of years of oppression and mismanagement. Unfortunately, that one brief flash in the sky ended when Cory stepped down, but she may have done more in death than she ever did in life.
The outpouring of love and sympathy from people on the streets, in the homes and all over the world show that the spark and potentiality is still there. Even President Arroyo, in a rare display of propriety and statesmanship, granted full military honors and basically gave the people leeway in showing their support for Cory. Though I'm sure President Arroyo and her cronies still had moments of discomfiture as they saw just how much public support and sympathy Cory had. President Arroyo is being labeled the antithesis of Cory, and Cory's death has only highlighted the stark contrast between the two.
It is perhaps fitting then that Cory was buried on August 5, a day of the full moon. Magical energies are stronger during the full moon and the outpouring of love from the whole nation only added to this energy. It was the perfect time to pray for the healing of the Philippines and all Filipinos. I trust that it is enough, not only to change the lives of the ordinary people, but also that of the incumbent leaders, so that they may also take off into the sky with the same brilliance that Cory gave to the people in the darkest days before martial law was to come to an end.
