August 1, 2009 made it's mark in the Philippine History.
Today, the whole filipino community is mourning a great loss, the passing of a mother, Mrs. Corazon Aquino. An icon of a democratic and prayer-full filipino. She led a peaceful revolution in the 80's that brought together thousands of filipinos holding hands while praying the rosary in Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue, now more commonly known as EDSA. She, while looking after her real family, also took into care many a thousand filipinos fighting for a free and democratic Philippines. While she became the father and the mother of her kids... she became the mother that the filipinos needed at that time. Caring to a fault, peaceful and yet firm, just like any other moms.
I have had my first chance of encountering Mrs. Aquino through my teachers in History during my elementary years. I didn't gave her much attention at that time, I guess, I didn't give her enough credit. I just know that she was the first Female Philippine President, and that she was a big factor in the EDSA revolution. I didn't gave much fuss about her. I had my youthful eyes on Emilio Aguinaldo, in Andres Bonifacio and of course Dr. Jose Rizal among other heros in our history. Mrs. Corazon Aquino didn't matter to me that much.
But as I breeze away in my journey as a filipino, enjoying my highschool years, cramming myself in project deadlines in college, spending late nights in gimiks up unitl the time that I work in the graveyard shift, or the time when a teacher in front of a classroom would put an indellible ink on my thumb after filling out a form with several names that I look up to, Cory Aquino was a permanent fixture in the far corner of my head. I hardly even notice her but she was always there...
After her six-year term as a president, she decided to go on with her life, as a mother, as a grandmother and as a filipina. She was helping others as much as she can. She was pre-occupied with helping people, empowering them. She was always there, ready to share her opinions... ready to make a stand!
I've never given her much thought really, not until these last few months, not until this final battle of hers that I was able to really know her, really get to see her in a different light and how she affected our lives right now. How she made a huge impact on the lives of many filipinos. I understand now how she played a major role in the society that we have now, how she forever changed my future. One may not see it directly, but whether one admits it or not, she really became a mother to us all... a mother who was there when we needed her the most.
And just like a real mother, she'll be greatly missed and forever loved...
