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‘People Power People’ remembers Cory Aquino

By Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: July 31, 2010

MANILA, Philippines—To commemorate the first death anniversary of former President Corazon Aquino and to celebrate her
life, various activities are being held in Metro Manila.

Civil society groups will launch tomorrow a movement called “People Power People,” in hopes of bringing back the spirit of the
popular initiative that Aquino inspired in 1986, when a peaceful revolution ousted strongman Ferdinand Marcos and restored
democracy.

“Now that the spirit of volunteerism is very much alive, we’d like to harness our people’s talents and energy to make a
difference among the needy sectors of our society,” said Rafael Lopa, director of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation
(NCAF).

The movement seeks to encourage Filipinos to do their share in national reform and end an era of over-reliance on
government.

“We want the commemoration of President Cory’s first death anniversary to go beyond the tradition of babang luksa (end of
the mourning period)... She is our unique icon of democracy and integrity in governance,” said Lopa, Aquino’s nephew, in a
statement.

Aquino succumbed to colorectal cancer on Aug. 1 last year, followed by a national mourning that inspired a renewed
movement for change. The aftermath of her death saw the rise of her only son, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, to win the
presidency in the May elections.

Aquino’s legacy

“There is a lot of talk about President [Benigno Aquino III’s] ‘first 100 days,’ but we ordinary citizens should also be ready to
step up and declare what we are prepared to give or accomplish in our own ‘first 100 days,’” Lopa said.

The project hopes to carry on Aquino’s legacy by spreading her advocacy of inspiring Filipinos to get involved in civic affairs.

“As envisioned by President Cory, the ultimate manifestation of people power is an engaged and dynamic citizenry, willing to
take on their share of building the nation and strengthening our democracy,” he said.

“What she has bequeathed to us is the realization of the inherent power that dwells within us, coupled with the inspiration and
the confidence to wield that power to uplift the quality of life of our less fortunate countrymen,” Lopa added.

Nine organizations

Kick-starting the program are nine organizations engaged in community-level programs on education, shelter, health and
human rights. They are set to pledge their commitments during a memorial program, “Her Legacy, Our Promise” tomorrow at
La Salle Green Hills.

They include: community-building organization Gawad Kalinga, education advocates Dynamic Teen Co., 57-75, Aklat, Gabay,
Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) and the YES Pinoy Foundation, health groups Hapag-Asa Integrated
Nutrition Program and Sparks for Change, children’s rights group KIDS Foundation, and One Tama, a group that advocates
Everyman heroism.

Lopa said the activities of these “seed” organizations would be posted on the movement’s website, www.peoplepower.ph, for
monitoring.

“Other individuals and groups are invited to log in and support specific projects of these organizations or to start their own
initiatives with specific output commitments and timelines. This is people power in productive action,” he said.

Bike ride, Mass

NCAF also said there would be a commemorative bike ride called “Ride for Cory” led by cyclists from the Cancer Resource
and Wellness Community (Carewell). Bikers will go around the Ortigas-Boni Serrano-Edsa-Connecticut loop from 6:45 a.m. to
8:45 a.m. tomorrow.
 This would be followed by a memorial con-celebrated Mass led by Bishop Soc Villegas.

Neighbors plant trees

Meanwhile, yellow-flower-bearing trees were planted yesterday along Quezon Avenue and Times Street in Quezon City,
including one in front of the Aquino house.

“It’s a way to honor Tita Cory and the yellow flowers serve as a reminder of the values she stood for and imparted to us,’’
Chuchi Villar of the Yellow Ribbon Movement (YRM) said.

YRM and the West Triangle Neighbors Movement spearheaded the tree-planting event which was attended by Aquino’s
daughter, Pinky Aquino-Abellada; President Noynoy Aquino’s girlfriend, Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad; and
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes chair Margie Juico, who is one of the founders of YRM.

Abellada expressed her family’s gratitude for the continuous pouring of love and prayers for their mother.

“She is sorely missed and we know she is watching over us,’’ she said.

Practice 10 values

YRM and the neighbors’ movement were born to support the candidacy of Aquino’s only son, Noynoy, who ran for president
and won in the last election.

“[The tree-planting] will remind us of Tita Cory and what she has done for us,’’ said Frankie Dayrit, leader of the West Triangle
Movement.

Also launched at the commemorative activity was the “Kasama sa Pagbabago (Companion for change),’’ an advocacy of
practicing at least 10 values for change to support the “daang matuwid (straight path)” program of Noynoy.

Dubbed as “panata sa pagbabago (vow to change)’’ the two groups called on the public to be honest, practice lining up,
observe road courtesy, obey traffic rules, admit to one’s mistakes, stop making excuses, respect authorities, and be
considerate of the elderly and disabled.

Manila

In Manila, thousands are expected to gather tomorrow at the Aquino Park, located at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and
Padre Burgos Drive, where a monument to Aquino stands.

Considered the first memorial shrine dedicated to Aquino, who is simply “Cory” to the Filipino people, it stands beside the
statue of her husband, the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

The 15-foot bronze statue by Filipino artist Eduardo Castrillo, shows the country’s first woman president, with her right hand
raised, flashing the “Laban” (fight) sign, while her left hand holds the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Tomorrow’s ceremonies will start at 7:30 a.m. to be highlighted by the offering of flowers.

Mayor Alfredo Lim said concerned City Hall units were mobilized since last week to undertake the necessary refurbishing and
sprucing up of the site.

Invited to grace the occasion were members of the Aquino family as well as close friends and supporters. With a report from
Tina G. Santos

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