With fervor burning
Intimate portrait and memories of Cory Aquino
Intimate portrait and memories of Cory Aquino
Cory freely and openly led the street demonstrations, rallying thousands of supporters. When asked if she was not concerned about her
safety, her brave response was: “Oh, I have no fear. When Ninoy died, I already died with him. What you see is Ninoy’s spirit inside this
yellow dress. Not to worry, the good Lord will protect me.”
Flashing back three years to 1981, we will never forget the time when Ninoy had to be flown to Dallas for his triple-bypass heart surgery
at Baylor, accompanied by Cory and later by their children. After his surgery, we would visit them at a small apartment in north Dallas, where
astonishingly, they would leave the back windows open, in clear view of the dark parking lot where a sinister assassin could easily position
himself. “What should I be scared of?” said Ninoy. “I have had everything I wanted in life, and after seven and 1/2 years in solitary
confinement, I feel like every day after my successful heart surgery is bonus! I will live it to the fullest, and when my time comes, so be it!”
Ninoy and Cory gladly accepted our invitations to have dinner with us at our house in Plano, Texas with a houseful of community leaders. The
first time was Ninoy’s first public appearance in the U.S. after seven and 1/2 years in military prison. Until past midnight, he regaled the
Dallas Pinoys with his brilliance and wit, his photographic memory and his stories about his confinement and every topic under the sun, it
seemed. His clairvoyance and his genius were also something to behold. That was 26 years ago, and he predicted the coming of cell phones
and GPS, at least conceptually, to the delight of everyone raptly listening. He told the ladies: “The day will come when you can track the exact
whereabouts of your husbands, maybe even see them from above via satellite.”
And where was Cory all this time? In our kitchen, quietly trying to help Ethel prepare drinks, egg rolls and sandwiches. She was the
simple and quiet, doting housewife. “Pabayaan mo nga iyang si Ninoy, sabik na sabik talaga sa audience.” When I mixed a White Russian
with mostly Kahlua and ice, and offered it to Ninoy, he quickly obliged and gulped it down like water. “This packs a hell of a wallop, Gus,
what’s in it?” After a short while, his face grew very red, he became flustered and his tenor changed drastically. He got very serious and
started lambasting Marcos and his minions. When reminded of his pact with the Supreme Court not to attack the regime, he angrily
responded with his now famous phrase: “A pact with the devil is no pact at all!” I became worried and Cory was also visibly concerned. So
I asked his physician Dr. Roly Solis, who had reassuring words for everyone in the party: “That was likely his first alcoholic drink for almost
eight years, but he will be fine.”
All the community leaders present had a wonderful time with Ninoy and Cory, and for those who could not make it to the reception, he
quickly dictated on a portable recorder: “To all the good kababayans in Dallas-Fort Worth under the leadership of Gus Mercado, I extend my
best wishes and my deepest gratitude for all your kind thoughts and prayers. Cory and I congratulate you for your personal successes in this,
your adopted land, and the encomiums that you have earned as a community. I feel that soon enough, sooner than later, all the mist of
controversy in our beloved homeland will lift, and be melted by the rising sun, and our country will emerge once again as the great beacon of
freedom in that part of the world, which is our greatest legacy to Asia. Therefore, it is with deep regret that I leave without seeing you and
meeting you personally, shaking your hands and thanking you for your warm sympathy. But I assure you that you will always be in my
prayers, as I hope I will be in yours. With our sincerest thanks and warm wishes … Ninoy and Cory.”
The Aquinos' brief stay in Dallas, prior to settling in Boston, seemed mostly quiet and uneventful, like an ordinary family enjoying their
new-found freedom and togetherness. This was in spite of the hordes of reporters and government officials that tried to hound them. While
Ninoy would face the media and the curious government officials tirelessly, Cory would spend time with her children and friends shopping at
Target or Kmart. They lived simple and unpretentious lives with no earthly idea of what was to come and what destiny history had in store for
them.
The rest, as they say, is history. First came the fateful day of Ninoy’s assassination in 1983 which cut short Cory’s and their children’s
joyful new lives in the U.S. Then, the massive demonstrations and finally, the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986. We vividly remember
hearing on the radios the blow-by-blow account of the EDSA revolution while demonstrating and chanting in front of the White House in
snowy Washington, D.C. along with other members of the Ninoy Aquino Movement. With our loud protestations, we were strongly sending
then President Ronald Reagan the message that he should let Marcos go. Which, of course, he did within that same fateful week.
Our last truly memorable moment in time with Cory was when she invited our Texas-based NAM group to Malacanang, only a few weeks
after she assumed the presidency. We were among the first U.S. groups to visit her after the EDSA revolution toppled the dictatorship and
sent the tyrants into exile. Like the new President, everybody was wearing yellow dresses or sporting yellow ribbons on their barongs. The
Malacanang Palace was still in shambles, but the new leader was resplendant in her new role as the nation’s “messiah,” who freed the
Filipino people from bondage. Her transformation was incredible; from the simple, doting mother and housewife to an astute politician and
stateswoman whose legacy as a world leader that changed a nation would be admired and cherished the world over.
Thankfully and characteristically, even as a leader of 80 million Filipinos, Cory Aquino’s sense of humanity, simplicity and humility never
changed. When Ethel hugged and addressed her as “Madame President” in Malacanang, she responded: “Ikaw naman, Tita Cory na lang!”
Corazon “Tita Cory” Aquino – the lowly housewife and mother turned leader, the icon of Philippine democracy, the widow of a modern-day
national hero and martyr, the matriarch of a grieving nation – now belongs to the ages.
Reactions to this article may be sent to: gusmercado@verizon.net.
safety, her brave response was: “Oh, I have no fear. When Ninoy died, I already died with him. What you see is Ninoy’s spirit inside this
yellow dress. Not to worry, the good Lord will protect me.”
Flashing back three years to 1981, we will never forget the time when Ninoy had to be flown to Dallas for his triple-bypass heart surgery
at Baylor, accompanied by Cory and later by their children. After his surgery, we would visit them at a small apartment in north Dallas, where
astonishingly, they would leave the back windows open, in clear view of the dark parking lot where a sinister assassin could easily position
himself. “What should I be scared of?” said Ninoy. “I have had everything I wanted in life, and after seven and 1/2 years in solitary
confinement, I feel like every day after my successful heart surgery is bonus! I will live it to the fullest, and when my time comes, so be it!”
Ninoy and Cory gladly accepted our invitations to have dinner with us at our house in Plano, Texas with a houseful of community leaders. The
first time was Ninoy’s first public appearance in the U.S. after seven and 1/2 years in military prison. Until past midnight, he regaled the
Dallas Pinoys with his brilliance and wit, his photographic memory and his stories about his confinement and every topic under the sun, it
seemed. His clairvoyance and his genius were also something to behold. That was 26 years ago, and he predicted the coming of cell phones
and GPS, at least conceptually, to the delight of everyone raptly listening. He told the ladies: “The day will come when you can track the exact
whereabouts of your husbands, maybe even see them from above via satellite.”
And where was Cory all this time? In our kitchen, quietly trying to help Ethel prepare drinks, egg rolls and sandwiches. She was the
simple and quiet, doting housewife. “Pabayaan mo nga iyang si Ninoy, sabik na sabik talaga sa audience.” When I mixed a White Russian
with mostly Kahlua and ice, and offered it to Ninoy, he quickly obliged and gulped it down like water. “This packs a hell of a wallop, Gus,
what’s in it?” After a short while, his face grew very red, he became flustered and his tenor changed drastically. He got very serious and
started lambasting Marcos and his minions. When reminded of his pact with the Supreme Court not to attack the regime, he angrily
responded with his now famous phrase: “A pact with the devil is no pact at all!” I became worried and Cory was also visibly concerned. So
I asked his physician Dr. Roly Solis, who had reassuring words for everyone in the party: “That was likely his first alcoholic drink for almost
eight years, but he will be fine.”
All the community leaders present had a wonderful time with Ninoy and Cory, and for those who could not make it to the reception, he
quickly dictated on a portable recorder: “To all the good kababayans in Dallas-Fort Worth under the leadership of Gus Mercado, I extend my
best wishes and my deepest gratitude for all your kind thoughts and prayers. Cory and I congratulate you for your personal successes in this,
your adopted land, and the encomiums that you have earned as a community. I feel that soon enough, sooner than later, all the mist of
controversy in our beloved homeland will lift, and be melted by the rising sun, and our country will emerge once again as the great beacon of
freedom in that part of the world, which is our greatest legacy to Asia. Therefore, it is with deep regret that I leave without seeing you and
meeting you personally, shaking your hands and thanking you for your warm sympathy. But I assure you that you will always be in my
prayers, as I hope I will be in yours. With our sincerest thanks and warm wishes … Ninoy and Cory.”
The Aquinos' brief stay in Dallas, prior to settling in Boston, seemed mostly quiet and uneventful, like an ordinary family enjoying their
new-found freedom and togetherness. This was in spite of the hordes of reporters and government officials that tried to hound them. While
Ninoy would face the media and the curious government officials tirelessly, Cory would spend time with her children and friends shopping at
Target or Kmart. They lived simple and unpretentious lives with no earthly idea of what was to come and what destiny history had in store for
them.
The rest, as they say, is history. First came the fateful day of Ninoy’s assassination in 1983 which cut short Cory’s and their children’s
joyful new lives in the U.S. Then, the massive demonstrations and finally, the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986. We vividly remember
hearing on the radios the blow-by-blow account of the EDSA revolution while demonstrating and chanting in front of the White House in
snowy Washington, D.C. along with other members of the Ninoy Aquino Movement. With our loud protestations, we were strongly sending
then President Ronald Reagan the message that he should let Marcos go. Which, of course, he did within that same fateful week.
Our last truly memorable moment in time with Cory was when she invited our Texas-based NAM group to Malacanang, only a few weeks
after she assumed the presidency. We were among the first U.S. groups to visit her after the EDSA revolution toppled the dictatorship and
sent the tyrants into exile. Like the new President, everybody was wearing yellow dresses or sporting yellow ribbons on their barongs. The
Malacanang Palace was still in shambles, but the new leader was resplendant in her new role as the nation’s “messiah,” who freed the
Filipino people from bondage. Her transformation was incredible; from the simple, doting mother and housewife to an astute politician and
stateswoman whose legacy as a world leader that changed a nation would be admired and cherished the world over.
Thankfully and characteristically, even as a leader of 80 million Filipinos, Cory Aquino’s sense of humanity, simplicity and humility never
changed. When Ethel hugged and addressed her as “Madame President” in Malacanang, she responded: “Ikaw naman, Tita Cory na lang!”
Corazon “Tita Cory” Aquino – the lowly housewife and mother turned leader, the icon of Philippine democracy, the widow of a modern-day
national hero and martyr, the matriarch of a grieving nation – now belongs to the ages.
Reactions to this article may be sent to: gusmercado@verizon.net.
Gus Mercado
Soon after taking office, President
Cory Aquino welcoming author Gus
Mercado and his group at
Malacañang Palace.
Cory Aquino welcoming author Gus
Mercado and his group at
Malacañang Palace.
By Gus Mercado
It is not easy to add anything new to the thousands of eloquent lines already written in honor of
someone deeply beloved by a grateful people. The skies cried on the day thousands of mourners joined the
eight-hour procession to Cory Aquino’s final resting place next to her beloved husband Ninoy. Drenched by
pouring rain, the entire nation grieved. Along with the rain shower, thousands of heartfelt sentiments,
prayers and tears of sadness poured out like petals from the skies. The scene was reminiscent of two
related historic events – the funeral of her husband Ninoy in 1983 and the anti-dictatorship rallies in the
business centers of Makati when showers of yellow confetti welcomed them.
Friends and supporters from all over the world have paid tribute to the lowly housewife who took on, albeit
reluctantly, the spirit of Ninoy, a man convinced that the Filipino people were worth dying for, and who
rallied all of us to fight for freedom against a homegrown tyrant. President Aquino, who was “Tita Cory” to
all her friends, has been described as the Filipino Joan of Arc; the yellow Icon of Philippine democracy; the
mother of the nation; the widow of the modern-day Jose Rizal who also died for his people; a spiritual
leader and caring mother. They were all correct, of course. Few former heads of state who passed away
have received such glowing adulation and warm love from a grieving nation; not since Ramon Magsaysay’
s untimely death.
President Barack Obama, deeply saddened by news of Aquino’s death, said Aquino “played a crucial
role in Philippine history. Her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration to us all and
exemplify the best in the Filipino nation.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed Aquino as an inspiration to her and her husband, former
President Bill Clinton. “I extend my deepest condolences to the Aquino family and all the people of the
Philippines on the death of this great leader,” Clinton said in a statement.
The lady in yellow will be most remembered for leading all freedom-loving Filipinos in crossing the
Rubicon of democracy; a democracy that had been missing in the country during two decades of a one-man
rule that brought our country from the ranks of the most promising economy in the region to becoming a
basket case in Asia. When in our moments of hopelessness and despair during Marcos’ martial-law
regime, we all thought the darkness would never end. Cory surprised the whole world not with arms or
power or cunning but with sincerity and integrity and prayer. Thus, the now famous bloodless People
Power Revolution of 1986 came to be, led by this simple and unassuming lady in yellow, who became an
inspiration for many “people power” uprisings that ensued in Eastern Europe, Russia, South America and
even China.
Like gold that’s tested by fire, a person’s character is tested by tribulation. All the trials that came her
way, Cory passed with flying colors. She faced Ninoy’s imprisonment and brutal slaying with dignified
courage. She challenged a seemingly invincible dictatorship and restored freedom and democracy. The
Cory-led Filipinos showed the world that a revolution can be non-violent. We taught the world how a
revolution can be won without bloodshed and the world stopped, applauded and took notice of this small
country in Southeast Asia. That would be Tita Cory’s greatest legacy.
Private Moments in Time with “Tita Cory”
My wife Ethel and I also have our indelible moments in time with Tita Cory. I first met Cory at De La
Salle University at the height of the parliaments of the streets, with students and people from all walks of
life massively demonstrating against Ferdinand Marcos. We were members of “Ninoy Aquino’s Youth
Brigade” at De La Salle with Philip “Popoy” Juico and other student activists. Cory would usually
It is not easy to add anything new to the thousands of eloquent lines already written in honor of
someone deeply beloved by a grateful people. The skies cried on the day thousands of mourners joined the
eight-hour procession to Cory Aquino’s final resting place next to her beloved husband Ninoy. Drenched by
pouring rain, the entire nation grieved. Along with the rain shower, thousands of heartfelt sentiments,
prayers and tears of sadness poured out like petals from the skies. The scene was reminiscent of two
related historic events – the funeral of her husband Ninoy in 1983 and the anti-dictatorship rallies in the
business centers of Makati when showers of yellow confetti welcomed them.
Friends and supporters from all over the world have paid tribute to the lowly housewife who took on, albeit
reluctantly, the spirit of Ninoy, a man convinced that the Filipino people were worth dying for, and who
rallied all of us to fight for freedom against a homegrown tyrant. President Aquino, who was “Tita Cory” to
all her friends, has been described as the Filipino Joan of Arc; the yellow Icon of Philippine democracy; the
mother of the nation; the widow of the modern-day Jose Rizal who also died for his people; a spiritual
leader and caring mother. They were all correct, of course. Few former heads of state who passed away
have received such glowing adulation and warm love from a grieving nation; not since Ramon Magsaysay’
s untimely death.
President Barack Obama, deeply saddened by news of Aquino’s death, said Aquino “played a crucial
role in Philippine history. Her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration to us all and
exemplify the best in the Filipino nation.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed Aquino as an inspiration to her and her husband, former
President Bill Clinton. “I extend my deepest condolences to the Aquino family and all the people of the
Philippines on the death of this great leader,” Clinton said in a statement.
The lady in yellow will be most remembered for leading all freedom-loving Filipinos in crossing the
Rubicon of democracy; a democracy that had been missing in the country during two decades of a one-man
rule that brought our country from the ranks of the most promising economy in the region to becoming a
basket case in Asia. When in our moments of hopelessness and despair during Marcos’ martial-law
regime, we all thought the darkness would never end. Cory surprised the whole world not with arms or
power or cunning but with sincerity and integrity and prayer. Thus, the now famous bloodless People
Power Revolution of 1986 came to be, led by this simple and unassuming lady in yellow, who became an
inspiration for many “people power” uprisings that ensued in Eastern Europe, Russia, South America and
even China.
Like gold that’s tested by fire, a person’s character is tested by tribulation. All the trials that came her
way, Cory passed with flying colors. She faced Ninoy’s imprisonment and brutal slaying with dignified
courage. She challenged a seemingly invincible dictatorship and restored freedom and democracy. The
Cory-led Filipinos showed the world that a revolution can be non-violent. We taught the world how a
revolution can be won without bloodshed and the world stopped, applauded and took notice of this small
country in Southeast Asia. That would be Tita Cory’s greatest legacy.
Private Moments in Time with “Tita Cory”
My wife Ethel and I also have our indelible moments in time with Tita Cory. I first met Cory at De La
Salle University at the height of the parliaments of the streets, with students and people from all walks of
life massively demonstrating against Ferdinand Marcos. We were members of “Ninoy Aquino’s Youth
Brigade” at De La Salle with Philip “Popoy” Juico and other student activists. Cory would usually
| Ninoy Aquino (middle) after his heart surgery at Baylor in Dallas, shown with his physician Roly Solis (left) and community leader Gus Mercado (right) at the latter’s residence in Plano, Texas. |
accompany Ninoy to his meetings with us, and she regaled us with her simplicity
and charm. The De La Salle campus has since been one of Cory’s favorite venues
– a place where she found comfort, solace and support – up to the very end when
the family decided to have the first public viewing of her on that same campus.
I came to the U.S. in late August of 1972 on the advice of Ninoy, who knew exactly
how and when the dictatorship would stage martial law in the country. We left a
few weeks before martial law was declared, with a one-year-old daughter in tow
and $500 in our pocket. We then immediately joined up with the anti-Marcos
groups of Senator Raul Manglapus (the Movement for a Free Philippines) in New
York and later the Ninoy Aquino Movement under Senator Heherson “Sonny”
Alvarez. My father died in 1974 and I could not go home, which was especially
painful being an only son. I had been warned by a friend in the Philippine embassy
that my name was on the dreaded “black list” of the cruel regime, with orders to
be picked up at the airport once we set foot on Philippine soil.
My wife did not have the same problems and she would meet with Cory at the
Ayala Museum during the Makati anti-Marcos rallies that followed the dictator’s
sham elections. Ethel served as emissary and letter carrier for Cory when she
had letters to be hand-delivered to her sister-in-law in the U.S., Lupita Aquino-
Kashiwahara and other leaders of our so-called “steak commandos” in the U.S.
She also videotaped Cory’s messages to show to the exiled freedom fighters.
and charm. The De La Salle campus has since been one of Cory’s favorite venues
– a place where she found comfort, solace and support – up to the very end when
the family decided to have the first public viewing of her on that same campus.
I came to the U.S. in late August of 1972 on the advice of Ninoy, who knew exactly
how and when the dictatorship would stage martial law in the country. We left a
few weeks before martial law was declared, with a one-year-old daughter in tow
and $500 in our pocket. We then immediately joined up with the anti-Marcos
groups of Senator Raul Manglapus (the Movement for a Free Philippines) in New
York and later the Ninoy Aquino Movement under Senator Heherson “Sonny”
Alvarez. My father died in 1974 and I could not go home, which was especially
painful being an only son. I had been warned by a friend in the Philippine embassy
that my name was on the dreaded “black list” of the cruel regime, with orders to
be picked up at the airport once we set foot on Philippine soil.
My wife did not have the same problems and she would meet with Cory at the
Ayala Museum during the Makati anti-Marcos rallies that followed the dictator’s
sham elections. Ethel served as emissary and letter carrier for Cory when she
had letters to be hand-delivered to her sister-in-law in the U.S., Lupita Aquino-
Kashiwahara and other leaders of our so-called “steak commandos” in the U.S.
She also videotaped Cory’s messages to show to the exiled freedom fighters.