Bantay Kurapsyon: Cory and Democracy

She was known throughout the world as an icon of democracy as she led the Filipinos in the greatest uprising that eventually led to the ouster of the late dictator Marcos. But more than that, she was a woman, a mother, a Filipino.

Bantay Kurapsyon: An award-winning anti-corruption campaign

Filipino society had been plagued with macho culture where women had been denied participation in politics and governance for the past two centuries, the vestiges of such biased perspective towards women even continued to this date. But Cory Aquino had pushed women further into leading roles not only of politics per se but in social movements. Like Gabriela Silang, Cory Aquino used to be a simple housewife who took care of households chores, watching the needs of their children, etc. Then, in a twist of fate, both their husbands died in two historically parallel events. Diego Silang, Gabriela’s husband died while leading the armed revolution against the Spanish government. Ninoy, on the other hand, was assasinated upon his return to the Philippines  from his exile in the United States to challenge the Marcos dictatorship.

Gabriela hesitantly but heartily continued the unfinished cause of Diego Silang and was able to bring several victories to the Katipunan. Cory Aquino, likewise, opted to challenge Marcos in the election that followed a year after Ninoy’s death. Marred with massive cheating, fraud and violence  witnessed by the international community, the election triggered the outrage of Filipinos against Marcos.  And comes Edsa 1, and Cory took heavy pains in leading the restoration of democracy.

Despite obvious shortcomings, Cory survived a number of bloody coup attempts and amidst imminent pressure by the military clique within her administration, she fulfilled her promise to release hundreds of political prisoners,including the foremost CPP founder Joma Sison. She ensured the passage of the 1987 Constitution which barred continued US military presence in the country. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP initially gave the farmers a fighting stance against landowners though miserably failed to address the even worsening polarity between the landowners and the peasant farmers. CARP was not able to uplift rural poverty. Nevertheless, Cory was still able to create a stir among the the ruling class including her own kins.

Much to the contradiction to Arroyo’s lifestyle and records of fraud, corruption and human rights violations,   Cory tried her best to set an example among public officials. By the time she had to relinquish her position, she undoubtedly did it without any sense of hesitation. Her humility in holding the highest position of the land remained the very virtue that opposed those shown by Erap and Ramos and especially GMA.  The greed for power never came into her mind.

Even in her last remaining hours the welfare of her family and the entire nation   were in her thoughts.    She was indeed a mother who would never stop loving her children. And though her death would remain a great loss to the Filipino nation, it would unite the entire nation once more.

Like her husband’s death, hers was attended and witnessed by millions of people worlwide. And the cry for change, of thanks echoed louder and louder as she went closer to her final resting place.

Now that she was gone, Cory would remain in the hearts and minds of every Filipino. And the memory of Cory may sooner or later translate into a unified expression of disgust against the present administration, against charter-change which she totally condemned.

Should that time come, Cory’s love for country would teach Arroyo one more virtue GMA might have never  learned at school- being a Filipino.

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