For Cory

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1

“Unity is a rare thing in our country; we have it now; and adding to the feelings of grief is the wistful realization that it took the passing of Cory to reunite a divided nation.”
- Inquirer editorial, August 2, 2009

“Our existence deforms the universe, that’s responsibility.”
-Delirium of the Endless

I got the news of Cory’s death from Manu. I was having my lunch last Saturday in KFC. I worked in ABS CBN, a network that pretty much owes its existence to her, but I didn’t get the news from any of my colleagues. Maybe they thought everyone should’ve known by then– including me, who didn’t have a TV or radio at our flat. The world changed, and I got the news late.

For all my opinions about how she was as an administrator, God put Cory Aquino in power. A housewife, a mother, a widow, she changed the political landscape of our country. She was a remarkable woman.

As I watch the TV coverage of the cortege of Cory traveling down EDSA, of the outpouring of emotion and love from the people out there on the streets, I just have to say this:

I love my country. I love being a Filipino everyday (which is not the same as being proud to be one every day). I often despair about the state of our politics, government, and society. I often wonder what it would be like if we all work together for the good of our country, to sacrifice, to have a vision for the Philippines, to have hope for our country and our people. Will we find out in this lifetime? I hope that it would happen nonetheless, someday, in the near future.

For now, thank you, Lord, for the life of Cory Aquino.