Historical

"Mama, makasaysayan na pala ako, kasi sumama ako sa burol ni President Cory."

(Si Rio, habang pinapanuod na sa TV ang mga huling kaganapan sa Manila Memorial.)

Tama naman, dahil tayo din ang gumagawa ng kasaysayan. Sana makabuluhan ang ating iwan gaya ni Tita Cory.

Salamat, Tita Cory.

This small yellow banner was tied to my head. Rommel wore a Cory shirt, Rio had a yellow balloon, and I some yellow beaded bracelets. Yellow was the new black, as in mourning. But yellow has also become the new green, a symbol of hope for the Philippines.

Only selected guests were allowed inside the Manila Cathedral for the final funeral mass. It did not matter. Crowds of people still went to pay respect. Some on top of the adjacent buildings, others in front of the church. We chose to stay connected through a big screen in the parking lot just outside. Rain was heavily pouring and typhoon Kiko's angry wind was pounding on our umbrellas. The rain-gears were quite useless, and we would end up drenched in tears anyway. Walang kaso.

When Lea Salonga sung Bayan Ko, we were singing just as loud.

It was a sad yet heartwarming day. Some friends from Canada, US and Malaysia were texting me -- they were watching from TFC or CNN. One asked me to sign on the message wall on his behalf. Indeed, even in death Tita Cory united the Filipinos around the world.

May this national awakening be a reminder to us all to guard our freedom and exercise our responsibilities. May it drive those who abuse power to humble themselves in repentance and seek real transformation. A long shot, but nothing is impossible.

1993 to 2009 -- a life well-lived. Thank God for you, Tita Cory.