Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, icon of people power in the Philippines and around the world, passed away at 3:18 a.m. Saturday, her son, Senator Benigno Aquino III, said. The official cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest.
The 76-year-old Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer in March of last year and was treated with chemotherapy. Last May, she underwent surgery to remove parts of her colon and was brought to the Makati Medical Center (MMC) in June due to loss of appetite. She never left the hospital, as her declining condition sparked a wave of emotion in the country and prompted the widespread appearance of yellow ribbons - on trees, car antennas, and even the Web.
He added that they chose a private funeral arrangement for the late president rather than avail of a state funeral in Malacañang.
After being confined for barely two months at the MMC, Mrs. Aquino passed away early Saturday morning surrounded by her children.
Dressed in her signature yellow, Mrs. Aquino rallied the middle class in a series of protests culminating in the 1986 people power revolt that toppled the 20-year regime of strongman Ferdinand Marcos and swept her to the presidency.
She blamed the Marcos government for the assassination of her husband, opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who was gunned down at the Manila airport upon returning from exile in 1983.
The former housewife reluctantly took over as Marcos’ main challenger, becoming an international icon of democracy after her victory sparked a wave of pro-democracy movements around the world. Time Magazine named Mrs. Aquino its Woman of the Year in 1986.
After her presidency, Mrs. Aquino retired to private life. She took an active interest in painting, with flowers and women as subjects, and joined various art exhibits to raise funds for her advocacies: the Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation, PinoyMe, ASA Foundation, and People Power People.
But she remained an influential figure in Philippine politics, lending her presence to political causes that needed her iconic stature.
Amid an overcast sky and a light downpour, Aquino’s remains arrived at the La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City to a shower of yellow confetti.
Aquino is dressed in a yellow Paul Cabral dress embellished with Swarovzki crystal beads. Although visibly thinner, the former President looked serene.
In Aquino's hand is a rosary with pink beads and gold chain. Spokesperson for the Aquino family Lourdes "Deedee" Siytangco clarified that the rosary was not the one given by Sister Lucia, one of the three shepherd children who supposedly saw the Virgin Mary at Fatima in Portugal.
"That one is blue," Siytangco said, referring to Lucia's rosary.
The two-day viewing will be closed for three hours from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Sunday and Monday to give way to maintenance work.
From La Salle, Mrs. Aquino’s remains will be brought to the Manila Cathedral where overnight vigils and requiem masses are scheduled. A necrological Mass will be held Tuesday night.
After a 9 a.m. Mass Wednesday, Mrs. Aquino’s body will be brought to the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque for interment. No details have been disclosed yet to media about the funeral procession route.
Senator Aquino said that his mother will be buried beside the remains of his father, the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., assassinated upon his arrival in Manila from the United States on August 21, 1983.
The Aquino family has also set up a memorial site at the historic EDSA Shrine called "The Dedication Garden for Tita Cory," where supporters can leave their flowers and notes for the former head of state.
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