Death and funeral of Corazon Aquino
Encyclopedia
The 11th President of the Philippines
, Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino
, died on August 1, 2009 at the Makati Medical Center
in Makati City
, after having suffered from colorectal cancer
for over a year. Her official cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest. Aquino was first diagnosed to have cancer in March 2008, and was hospitalized from June 2009 until her death.
The Aquino family declined an invitation by the government for a state funeral
. Her funeral was held on August 5, 2009, and her body was buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City
. She is the first female lay person
to have her wake
at the Manila Cathedral
and is the second president after Carlos P. Garcia
to have their body lay at state there.
2007 and New Year
2008, Aquino experienced periodic fluctuations of blood pressure
, difficulty in breathing, loss of appetite and remarkable loss of weight. Some days after, her doctor confirmed that she had colorectal cancer
to the Aquino family. In the middle of March 2008, she confided the nature of her disease to a close friend, priest Catalino Arevalo.
On March 24, 2008, her youngest daughter, Kris Aquino–Yap
, a famous TV personality, disclosed the issue that her mother had cancer. In a public announcement on television, she said that her mother began to experience cancer symptoms before 2008, difficulty in breathing, persistent cough and loss of appetite. Her brother, then Philippine senator
Noynoy Aquino was at her side as she made the announcement. Kris also said that the March 19 result of her mother's biopsy
said that the disease was primarily due to adenocarcinoma
, where the cancer started on colon
glands. Her spokesperson Deedee Sytangco said that her colon cancer is at stage four
prior to discovery.
Following the announcement, Malacañang Palace
was saddened and felt sorrowful about the disclosure. Philippine senators Francis Escudero
and Nene Pimentel also showed deepest sympathies.
The public was shocked because some days before the announcement, Aquino was publicly visible protesting against the Arroyo
government. She was known before her confinement to be an avid supporter of NBN-ZTE scandal star witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, Jr. She was always actively attending public masses and rallies for Lozada like the nine-part "Mass for Truth and Accountability" prayer since the former surfacing in February 2008. The said mass was done February 25, exactly 22 years after People Power Revolution that successfully installed Aquino to presidential power. (For more information, see Philippine National Broadband Network controversy
.) Aquino was known to be the primary organizer of the "Mass for Truth and Accountability" novena. On March 23, 2008, sixth of the "Mass for Truth and Accountability" novena
and the day before Kris' announcement, she was seen attending Easter
mass in St. Joseph's College
, Quezon City
where she thanked Lozada for "his courage and sacrifices for the campaign of truth."
Around 6 p.m. the same day, March 25, Aquino was confined to Makati Medical Center
to undergo procedures before for chemotherapy
. Her son, Senator Noynoy Aquino said that his mother would undergo such unspecified set of procedures before taking chemotheraphy. Some sources at the hospital said that the former president would undergo colectomy
, cardiopulmonary clearance and blood transfusion
as a prerequisite for chemotheraphy.
By July 2009, Aquino was reported to be in a very serious condition and confined to Makati Medical Center
due to loss of appetite and chronic baldness. It was announced that Aquino and her family had decided to cease chemotherapy and other medical interventions.
Aquino died of cardiorespiratory arrest after complications of colorectal cancer
at the age of 76 on August 1, 2009 at 3:18 a.m., at the Makati Medical Center
. Her death was announced to the press by her son, Sen. Benigno Aquino III at 5 a.m..
On March 24, 2008, the Aquino family announced that the former President had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer
. While she had initially been informed by her doctors that she had only three months to live, Aquino pursued chemotherapy
. The treatment caused both heavy hair loss, loss of appetite and immunological problems. In public remarks made on May 13, 2008, she announced that blood tests indicated that she was responding positively to the medical treatment.
due to loss of appetite and chronic baldness. It was announced that Aquino and her family had decided to cease chemotherapy and other medical interventions.
Aquino died of cardiorespiratory arrest after complications of colorectal cancer
at the age of 76 on August 1, 2009, 3:18 a.m., at the Makati Medical Center
.
The Aquino family declined an invitation by the government for a state funeral
.
in Mandaluyong City
up to August 3, before being transferred to the Manila Cathedral
. She was the second member of the laity after former president Carlos P. Garcia
and the first woman to lie-in-state at the cathedral, as this honour was reserved only for deceased archbishops of Manila. A crowd estimated at 120,000 witnessed the transfer of her remains from La Salle Green Hills to the Manila Cathedral. Most of the crowd was concentrated at the Benigno Aquino, Jr.
memorial statue in Ayala Avenue
, Makati City
, where the funeral cortege paused briefly while the crowds sang "Bayan Ko
.
In a surprising gesture of civility, Bongbong
and Imee
, the children of Aquino's bitter political rival Ferdinand Marcos
, paid their last respects to Aquino on August 4. The funeral mass and interment was scheduled on August 5, which was declared as a special nonworking holiday by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
. Aquino is buried in Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque
. President of Timor-Leste José Ramos Horta
showed up at the funeral and paid his last respects to Aquino.
All Roman Catholic dioceses had started requiem
masses for Aquino, after they held "healing masses". Meanwhile, the government declared a week of mourning for her death.
As much as 7,000 mourners waited in line at the Manila Cathedral on August 4.
to pay her last respects to Aquino in the early hours of Wednesday, August 5. Arroyo spoke to Noynoy Aquino for about seven minutes.
Jose Mari Chan
sang the poem Ninoy made for Cory, "I Have Fallen In Love," as Aquino's casket was carried outside the cathedral. Other songs performed in tribute were "Sa 'Yo Lamang" (For You Alone) by Piolo Pascual
; "The Lord's Prayer" by Erik Santos
; "The Impossible Dream
" by Jed Madela
; and "Pangako" (Promise) by Ogie Alcasid
. Martin Nievera
and Regine Velasquez
performed a duet of "The Prayer", while Sarah Geronimo
sang the People Power Revolution anthem "Magkaisa" ("Unite"); "Your Heart Today" by Dulce
; "Hindi Kita Malilimutan" ("I Will Never Forget You") by Zsa Zsa Padilla
; and "Bayan Ko
" ("My Country") by Lea Salonga
. The artists later joined the Apo Hiking Society
in singing another People Power song "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo
" ("Filipinos' Offering to the World"). The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
played the background music.
The funeral procession lasted for almost eight hours, with mourners flashing the "Laban" ("fight"; holding the thumb and forefinger at right angles, like an "L") sign lining the route from the cathedral to the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque. When the cortege reached the cemetery, Aquino was given full military honors, with a two-star general acting as military host and eight, one-star generals as pallbearer
s carrying the coffin. The crowd that lined the funeral route (passing through the cities of Manila
, Makati City
, Pasay City
, and Parañaque City
) was estimated to be between 300,000 to 400,000 people. Before interring Aquino, Presidential guards placed her coffin near the mausoleum where her husband Ninoy is interred.
Those permitted to attend the burial were originally restricted to Aquino's family and close friends, but the crowd broke through the security barricades after the last of the convoy's 13 buses entered the cemetery. Although the crowd was inside the premises, they kept a respectful distance from the burial site.
Bishop Socrates Villegas
and Rev. Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, gave the final blessing, and per the Aquino family's request, the coffin was opened one last time. The glass cover was removed, and after Bishop Villegas, Fr. Arevalo, and Aquino's children sprinkled it with holy water, most members of Aquino's family gave a final kiss to the deceased leader's remains. The casket was sealed one last time, the Philippine flag
was removed from the coffin, given a final military salute, and folded before being presented to then-Senator
Noynoy Aquino
. The military pallbearers ushered the coffin into the tomb, then her family, supporters, and allies deposited yellow flowers inside. As the tomb was being sealed, the nuns, priests, seminarians, and laypeople, along with the congregation sang Bayan Ko and several religious hymns. Aquino's grave marker was a simple design, identical to that of her husband.
, who was on a state visit in Washington, D.C.
when she was informed about the President Aquino's death, called Aquino a "national treasure". She ended her trip ahead of schedule and returned to Manila to visit Aquino's wake. Arroyo announced a 10-day mourning period for the former President, and issued Administrative Order No. 269 to "official acts and observances” to help in the funeral of the former President.
Former President Estrada
said that they lost a "mother" and a "guiding voice of the people." Estrada also described Aquino as "Philippines' most loved woman". Aquino supported Estrada's removal from office in 2001, but the two supported each other to oppose amendments in the constitution since last year. The Senate has also expressed its grieving with Aquino's death; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile
, who along with Fidel Ramos launched the People Power Revolution, asked the public to pray for her. Minority leader Aquilino Pimentel, who previously served as interior and local government secretary
during her administration, had "mixed feelings" with Aquino's passing, saying "We shall be forever indebted to Cory for rallying the nation behind the campaign to topple dictatorial rule and restore democracy."
A growing opinion among some Roman Catholic circles in the country is to push for Aquino's declaration as a saint
of the Roman Catholic Church
.
in a telegram to President of the Philippines
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
stated, “The name of Corazon Aquino is associated with a period of profound reforms and the democratic transformation of Filipino society.” Medvedev also noted that Corazon Aquino showed great interest and sympathy to Russia and prioritised the development of Russian-Filipino relations
. International figures expressed their grief, with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noting that Aquino was "admired by the world for her extraordinary courage". White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
said that "Her courage, determination, and moral leadership serve as an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation." Other ambassadors also sent their messages of condolence following her passing. Pope Benedict XVI
recalled Aquino as a "courageous commitment to the freedom of the Filipino people, her firm rejection of violence and intolerance," according to Manila Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales. President of South Africa
Jacob Zuma
called Aquino "a great leader who set a shining example of peaceful transition to democracy in her country." Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
said, "I am saddened to hear of the death of Corazon 'Cory' Aquino the former President of the Republic of the Philippines."
Diplomats from South Africa
, Brazil
, Turkey
, United Kingdom
, Iran
, Cuba
, Sri Lanka
, Vietnam
, Sweden
, Thailand
, Iraq
, Japan
, Saudi Arabia
, Venezuela
, Libya
, Mexico
, France
, and Pakistan
, among others, and the representative of the International Organization for Migration
(IOM) attended the wake of the Former President.
Brazil
: Brazilian Ambassador Alcides G.R. Prates offered his country’s condolences to Aquino family and the Filipino people.
Canada
: Canadian Ambassador Robert Desjardins said Aquino has been recognized internationally for her contributions to human rights and political freedoms, values that Canada strongly shares with the Philippines, adding that she will be sincerely missed by the international community, and people everywhere, including the 300,000 Canadians of Filipino origin.
Chile
: Chile’s Ambassador to the Philippines Ovid Harasich was also at the wake and hailed Aquino for her important role in bringing democracy back in the country. He said the people of Chile were saddened by Aquino’s demise.
People's Republic of China
: The Embassy of the People's Republic of China has issued the following statement:
East Timor
: East Timor President
José Ramos-Horta, a long-time friend of Aquino, broke protocol when he came to Manila to attend the funeral. Diplomats looked down on the gesture for heads of state given the fact that it was not a state funeral. Ramos-Horta braved a downpour and arrived on Wednesday morning in time for the funeral mass at Manila Cathedral
. However, he had to proceed to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City
ahead of the mourners because he could not sit for long hours due to the wound he sustained from an attempt on his life in East Timor in 2008.
European Union
: Ambassador Alistair MacDonald of the delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines led the European Union in expressing grief over the death of Aquino.
Finland
: Finnish Ambassador Heikki Hannikainen said that Cory’s leadership led to a new era of hope and promise to Filipinos.
Hong Kong
: A representative of the territory’s Chief Executive
Donald Tsang
went to the Philippine Consulate to write in the book of condolences.
Indonesia
: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
of the Philippines' nearest neighbour Indonesia said in a statement he was saddened by the news and offered his heartfelt condolences.
Japan
: Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso
hailed Aquino's contribution to friendly ties between the two countries:
Malaysia: The wife of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim
, Wan Azizah, arrived in Manila on the Sunday of the funeral to pay tribute to former Philippine president Corazon Aquino:
Russia
: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
in a telegram to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
stated:
Singapore
: Singapore, in a statement from the Foreign Ministry, lauded her as "a remarkable woman" who worked tirelessly for the betterment of the Philippines.
South Korea
: Former South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung recounted to the Philippine Embassy how the 1986 People Power Revolution that catapulted Aquino to power inspired similar democratic movements worldwide, including his country’s own venture into democracy in 1987 following massive rallies.
Switzerland
: Swiss Ambassador Peter Sutter said that Mrs. Aquino conquered the hearts of the Swiss people when she visited Switzerland in June 1988.
Thailand
: Thailand has sent condolences on the death of former president Aquino who died Saturday after a yearlong battle with colon cancer. In his message to Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, Prime Minister
Abhisit Vejjajiva
said his government and the people of Thailand have learned with “deep sadness and join the Republic of the Philippines in mourning of the demise of Her Excellency Corazon Aquino."
United Kingdom
: The British Government has extended its condolences to the family of the late President through Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis.
Former Foreign Office Minister, Lord Malloch-Brown, who worked closely with Mrs Aquino during her election campaign added:
United Nations
: United Nations World Food Program Country Director Stephen Anderson said that:
United States
: According to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
, President Barack Obama
was deeply saddened by the death of President Aquino.
Vatican City
: According to the Cardinal Secretary of State
, Tarcisio Bertone, Pope Benedict XVI
recalled Corazon Aquino's "courageous commitment to the freedom of the Filipino people." He remembered her "as a woman of deep and unwavering faith".
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
, Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
, died on August 1, 2009 at the Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center is a 717-bed tertiary hospital in the Philippines. The hospital began operation on . Since its start in 1969, the Makati Medical Center has been the birthplace for many dramatic firsts in medical history in the Philippines, in Asia, and the world...
in Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
, after having suffered from colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
for over a year. Her official cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest. Aquino was first diagnosed to have cancer in March 2008, and was hospitalized from June 2009 until her death.
The Aquino family declined an invitation by the government for a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
. Her funeral was held on August 5, 2009, and her body was buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City
Parañaque City
The City of Parañaque , or simply Parañaque , is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines....
. She is the first female lay person
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
to have her wake
Wake (ceremony)
A wake is a ceremony associated with death. Traditionally, a wake takes place in the house of the deceased, with the body present; however, modern wakes are often performed at a funeral home. In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing...
at the Manila Cathedral
Manila Cathedral
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is also known as Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception or Basilica Minore dela Inmaculada Concepcion or Basilica Minore dela Nuestra Señora de Inmaculada Concepcion A Roman Catholic church having a higher status of "Minor Basilica" with...
and is the second president after Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
to have their body lay at state there.
Health
Diagnosis
Between ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
2007 and New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
2008, Aquino experienced periodic fluctuations of blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
, difficulty in breathing, loss of appetite and remarkable loss of weight. Some days after, her doctor confirmed that she had colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
to the Aquino family. In the middle of March 2008, she confided the nature of her disease to a close friend, priest Catalino Arevalo.
On March 24, 2008, her youngest daughter, Kris Aquino–Yap
Kris Aquino
Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino , commonly known as Kris Aquino, is a Filipino television and movie personality who gained prominence from her talk shows, game shows, and numerous endorsements. Known as the Queen of All Media and Philippines' Queen of Talk, she is the youngest daughter of...
, a famous TV personality, disclosed the issue that her mother had cancer. In a public announcement on television, she said that her mother began to experience cancer symptoms before 2008, difficulty in breathing, persistent cough and loss of appetite. Her brother, then Philippine senator
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
Noynoy Aquino was at her side as she made the announcement. Kris also said that the March 19 result of her mother's biopsy
Biopsy
A biopsy is a medical test involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically...
said that the disease was primarily due to adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is a cancer of an epithelium that originates in glandular tissue. Epithelial tissue includes, but is not limited to, the surface layer of skin, glands and a variety of other tissue that lines the cavities and organs of the body. Epithelium can be derived embryologically from...
, where the cancer started on colon
Colon (anatomy)
The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...
glands. Her spokesperson Deedee Sytangco said that her colon cancer is at stage four
Cancer staging
The stage of a cancer is a description of the extent the cancer has spread. The stage often takes into account the size of a tumor, how deeply it has penetrated, whether it has invaded adjacent organs, how many lymph nodes it has metastasized to , and whether it has spread to distant organs...
prior to discovery.
Following the announcement, Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
was saddened and felt sorrowful about the disclosure. Philippine senators Francis Escudero
Francis Escudero
Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero is a Filipino politician who has been a member of the Philippine Senate since 2007...
and Nene Pimentel also showed deepest sympathies.
The public was shocked because some days before the announcement, Aquino was publicly visible protesting against the Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
government. She was known before her confinement to be an avid supporter of NBN-ZTE scandal star witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, Jr. She was always actively attending public masses and rallies for Lozada like the nine-part "Mass for Truth and Accountability" prayer since the former surfacing in February 2008. The said mass was done February 25, exactly 22 years after People Power Revolution that successfully installed Aquino to presidential power. (For more information, see Philippine National Broadband Network controversy
Philippine National Broadband Network controversy
The Philippine National Broadband Network controversy involved allegations of corruption in the awarding of a US$329 million construction contract to Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE for the proposed government-managed National Broadband Network .The contract with ZTE was signed on April 20,...
.) Aquino was known to be the primary organizer of the "Mass for Truth and Accountability" novena. On March 23, 2008, sixth of the "Mass for Truth and Accountability" novena
Novena
In the Catholic Church, a novena is a devotion consisting of a prayer repeated on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces. The prayers may come from prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the Rosary , or of short prayers through the day...
and the day before Kris' announcement, she was seen attending Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
mass in St. Joseph's College
Saint Joseph's College of Quezon City
St. Joseph's College of Quezon City is a Catholic and private school administered by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception...
, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
where she thanked Lozada for "his courage and sacrifices for the campaign of truth."
Around 6 p.m. the same day, March 25, Aquino was confined to Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center is a 717-bed tertiary hospital in the Philippines. The hospital began operation on . Since its start in 1969, the Makati Medical Center has been the birthplace for many dramatic firsts in medical history in the Philippines, in Asia, and the world...
to undergo procedures before for chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
. Her son, Senator Noynoy Aquino said that his mother would undergo such unspecified set of procedures before taking chemotheraphy. Some sources at the hospital said that the former president would undergo colectomy
Colectomy
Colectomy consists of the surgical resection of any extent of the large intestine .-History:Sir William Arbuthnot-Lane was one of the early proponents of the usefulness of total colectomies, although his overuse of the procedure called the wisdom of the surgery into question.-Indications:Some of...
, cardiopulmonary clearance and blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
as a prerequisite for chemotheraphy.
By July 2009, Aquino was reported to be in a very serious condition and confined to Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center is a 717-bed tertiary hospital in the Philippines. The hospital began operation on . Since its start in 1969, the Makati Medical Center has been the birthplace for many dramatic firsts in medical history in the Philippines, in Asia, and the world...
due to loss of appetite and chronic baldness. It was announced that Aquino and her family had decided to cease chemotherapy and other medical interventions.
Aquino died of cardiorespiratory arrest after complications of colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
at the age of 76 on August 1, 2009 at 3:18 a.m., at the Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center is a 717-bed tertiary hospital in the Philippines. The hospital began operation on . Since its start in 1969, the Makati Medical Center has been the birthplace for many dramatic firsts in medical history in the Philippines, in Asia, and the world...
. Her death was announced to the press by her son, Sen. Benigno Aquino III at 5 a.m..
On March 24, 2008, the Aquino family announced that the former President had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
. While she had initially been informed by her doctors that she had only three months to live, Aquino pursued chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
. The treatment caused both heavy hair loss, loss of appetite and immunological problems. In public remarks made on May 13, 2008, she announced that blood tests indicated that she was responding positively to the medical treatment.
Death
By July 2009, Aquino was reported to be in a very serious condition and confined to Makati Medical CenterMakati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center is a 717-bed tertiary hospital in the Philippines. The hospital began operation on . Since its start in 1969, the Makati Medical Center has been the birthplace for many dramatic firsts in medical history in the Philippines, in Asia, and the world...
due to loss of appetite and chronic baldness. It was announced that Aquino and her family had decided to cease chemotherapy and other medical interventions.
Aquino died of cardiorespiratory arrest after complications of colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
at the age of 76 on August 1, 2009, 3:18 a.m., at the Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center
Makati Medical Center is a 717-bed tertiary hospital in the Philippines. The hospital began operation on . Since its start in 1969, the Makati Medical Center has been the birthplace for many dramatic firsts in medical history in the Philippines, in Asia, and the world...
.
The Aquino family declined an invitation by the government for a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
.
Lying-in-state
Aquino's body lay in state at a public wake at the St. Benilde Gymnasium of La Salle Green HillsLa Salle Green Hills
La Salle Green Hills is a private Catholic school exclusively for boys located on Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is run by the Roman Catholic Brothers of the Christian Schools- Philippine District. It was established in 1959 by the De La Salle Brothers led by the...
in Mandaluyong City
Mandaluyong City
The City of Mandaluyong is one of the cities and municipalities that comprise Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the west by the country's capital, Manila, to the north by San Juan City, to the east by Quezon City and Pasig City, and by Makati City to the south...
up to August 3, before being transferred to the Manila Cathedral
Manila Cathedral
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is also known as Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception or Basilica Minore dela Inmaculada Concepcion or Basilica Minore dela Nuestra Señora de Inmaculada Concepcion A Roman Catholic church having a higher status of "Minor Basilica" with...
. She was the second member of the laity after former president Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
and the first woman to lie-in-state at the cathedral, as this honour was reserved only for deceased archbishops of Manila. A crowd estimated at 120,000 witnessed the transfer of her remains from La Salle Green Hills to the Manila Cathedral. Most of the crowd was concentrated at the Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
memorial statue in Ayala Avenue
Ayala Avenue
Ayala Avenue is an avenue in Makati City in the Philippines. It is one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila, crossing through the heart of Makati's central business district. Because of the many businesses located on the avenue, Ayala Avenue is aptly nicknamed the Wall Street of the...
, Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
, where the funeral cortege paused briefly while the crowds sang "Bayan Ko
Bayan Ko
"Bayan Ko" is one of the most recognizable patriotic songs in the Philippines that, because of its popularity, is sometimes assumed to be a folk song and the unofficial national anthem of the Philippines...
.
In a surprising gesture of civility, Bongbong
Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. , also known as Bongbong Marcos is a Filipino politician and a senator to the 15th Congress. He is the only son of Ferdinand E. Marcos, the former president of the Philippines , and former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos...
and Imee
Imee Marcos
Maria Imelda Josefa Romualdez Marcos , most widely known as Imee Marcos, is a Filipino politician who has been Governor of Ilocos Norte since 2010. She served three terms as Representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte in the Philippine House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007...
, the children of Aquino's bitter political rival Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
, paid their last respects to Aquino on August 4. The funeral mass and interment was scheduled on August 5, which was declared as a special nonworking holiday by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
. Aquino is buried in Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque
Parañaque City
The City of Parañaque , or simply Parañaque , is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines....
. President of Timor-Leste José Ramos Horta
José Ramos Horta
José Manuel Ramos-Horta , GCL is the President of East Timor, the second since independence from Indonesia, taking office on 20 May 2007...
showed up at the funeral and paid his last respects to Aquino.
All Roman Catholic dioceses had started requiem
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
masses for Aquino, after they held "healing masses". Meanwhile, the government declared a week of mourning for her death.
As much as 7,000 mourners waited in line at the Manila Cathedral on August 4.
Requiem Mass and burial
Then President Arroyo cut short her trip from the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to pay her last respects to Aquino in the early hours of Wednesday, August 5. Arroyo spoke to Noynoy Aquino for about seven minutes.
Jose Mari Chan
José Mari Chan
Jose Mari Chan is a Chinese Filipino singer, songwriter and businessman in the sugar industry. He was born in Iloilo City on March 11, 1945. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1967...
sang the poem Ninoy made for Cory, "I Have Fallen In Love," as Aquino's casket was carried outside the cathedral. Other songs performed in tribute were "Sa 'Yo Lamang" (For You Alone) by Piolo Pascual
Piolo Pascual
Piolo Jose Pascual is a Filipino film and television actor, musician, model, and producer.-Biography:...
; "The Lord's Prayer" by Erik Santos
Erik Santos
Rhoderick Ramos Santos , more commonly known as simply Erik Santos, is a Filipino singer, actor, TV host, commercial model, and the winner of the ABS-CBN program Star In A Million Season 1 in January 2004.-Early life:...
; "The Impossible Dream
The Impossible Dream (The Quest)
"The Impossible Dream " is a popular song composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. It was written for the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha...
" by Jed Madela
Jed Madela
John Edward Tajanlangit , better known by his stage name, Jed Madela, is a Filipino recording artist and TV host. His hit songs as a solo artist include How Can I Fall, The Past, The Search is Over, and Love Always Finds a Way....
; and "Pangako" (Promise) by Ogie Alcasid
Ogie Alcasid
Herminio Jhay Alcasid, Jr., more popularly known as Ogie "Eric Ordoñez" Alcasid , is a Filipino singer, songwriter, composer, television presenter, comedian, parodist, actor, and entrepreneur.-Recording career:...
. Martin Nievera
Martin Nievera
Martin Ramon Razon Nievera is a singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the main hosts of musical variety show ASAP on ABS-CBN-Early life:...
and Regine Velasquez
Regine Velasquez
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez , better known as Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, is a Filipino singer, actress, record producer and TV host...
performed a duet of "The Prayer", while Sarah Geronimo
Sarah Gerónimo
Sarah Asher Tua Geronimo is a Filipino recording artist, actress and dancer. Geronimo started her career appearing in children's variety shows such as Pen-pen de Sarapen, Ang TV and NEXT...
sang the People Power Revolution anthem "Magkaisa" ("Unite"); "Your Heart Today" by Dulce
Dulce
The term Dulce may refer to:-Places:*Dulce Base, a supposed American secret military facility*Dulce, New Mexico*Dulce River *Dulce River, a river in Guatemala-People:* Dulce, a Mexican singer...
; "Hindi Kita Malilimutan" ("I Will Never Forget You") by Zsa Zsa Padilla
Zsa Zsa Padilla
Zsa Zsa Padilla is a Filipina singer and actress. She is currently part of ABS-CBN contract actresses.-Biography:Padilla was born as Esperanza Padilla in 1964, the daughter of actor and sportsman Carlos “Sonny” Padilla, Jr. who served as the referee in the Ali-Frazier world heavyweight boxing...
; and "Bayan Ko
Bayan Ko
"Bayan Ko" is one of the most recognizable patriotic songs in the Philippines that, because of its popularity, is sometimes assumed to be a folk song and the unofficial national anthem of the Philippines...
" ("My Country") by Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga-Chien is a mezzo-soprano singer and actress from the Philippines well known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards.She was the first Asian to play the roles of Éponine and...
. The artists later joined the Apo Hiking Society
APO Hiking Society
The Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, later popularly known as Apo Hiking Society or, simply, Apo, was a Filipino musical group. The group had its fledgling beginnings in 1969 at the Ateneo de Manila high school, with thirteen members: Lito de Joya, Sonny Santiago, Gus Cosio, Renato Garcia, Chito...
in singing another People Power song "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo
Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo
"Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo" is a 1986 song recorded in Filipino by a supergroup composed of 15 Filipino artists. The song became the anthem of the bloodless People Power Revolution...
" ("Filipinos' Offering to the World"). The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra is the nation's leading symphony orchestra and a resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines , located on Manila's shoreline...
played the background music.
The funeral procession lasted for almost eight hours, with mourners flashing the "Laban" ("fight"; holding the thumb and forefinger at right angles, like an "L") sign lining the route from the cathedral to the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque. When the cortege reached the cemetery, Aquino was given full military honors, with a two-star general acting as military host and eight, one-star generals as pallbearer
Pallbearer
A pall-bearer is one of several funeral participants who helps carry the casket of a deceased person from a religious or memorial service or viewing either directly to a cemetery or mausoleum, or to and from the hearse which carries the coffin....
s carrying the coffin. The crowd that lined the funeral route (passing through the cities of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
, Pasay City
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
, and Parañaque City
Parañaque City
The City of Parañaque , or simply Parañaque , is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines....
) was estimated to be between 300,000 to 400,000 people. Before interring Aquino, Presidential guards placed her coffin near the mausoleum where her husband Ninoy is interred.
Those permitted to attend the burial were originally restricted to Aquino's family and close friends, but the crowd broke through the security barricades after the last of the convoy's 13 buses entered the cemetery. Although the crowd was inside the premises, they kept a respectful distance from the burial site.
Bishop Socrates Villegas
Socrates B. Villegas
Socrates Buenaventura Villegas,D.D. , born in Manila, September 28, 1960, is a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. He is the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan, Philippines. He was also elected Vice President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines ...
and Rev. Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, gave the final blessing, and per the Aquino family's request, the coffin was opened one last time. The glass cover was removed, and after Bishop Villegas, Fr. Arevalo, and Aquino's children sprinkled it with holy water, most members of Aquino's family gave a final kiss to the deceased leader's remains. The casket was sealed one last time, the Philippine flag
Flag of the Philippines
The national flag of the Philippines is a horizontal flag bicolor with equal bands of royal blue and scarlet red, and with a white equilateral triangle at the hoist; in the center of the triangle is a golden yellow sun with eight primary rays, each containing three individual rays, which represent...
was removed from the coffin, given a final military salute, and folded before being presented to then-Senator
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
Noynoy Aquino
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
. The military pallbearers ushered the coffin into the tomb, then her family, supporters, and allies deposited yellow flowers inside. As the tomb was being sealed, the nuns, priests, seminarians, and laypeople, along with the congregation sang Bayan Ko and several religious hymns. Aquino's grave marker was a simple design, identical to that of her husband.
Local reaction
President Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
, who was on a state visit in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
when she was informed about the President Aquino's death, called Aquino a "national treasure". She ended her trip ahead of schedule and returned to Manila to visit Aquino's wake. Arroyo announced a 10-day mourning period for the former President, and issued Administrative Order No. 269 to "official acts and observances” to help in the funeral of the former President.
Former President Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
said that they lost a "mother" and a "guiding voice of the people." Estrada also described Aquino as "Philippines' most loved woman". Aquino supported Estrada's removal from office in 2001, but the two supported each other to oppose amendments in the constitution since last year. The Senate has also expressed its grieving with Aquino's death; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile
Juan Ponce Enrile
Juan Ponce Enrile is a Filipino politician. As a protege of President Ferdinand Marcos, he served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Secretary under the Marcos regime. He later became one of the leaders of the 1986 People Power Movement that drove Marcos from power...
, who along with Fidel Ramos launched the People Power Revolution, asked the public to pray for her. Minority leader Aquilino Pimentel, who previously served as interior and local government secretary
Department of the Interior and Local Government (Philippines)
The Philippines' Department of the Interior and Local Government is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public safety, and strengthening the capabilities of local government units...
during her administration, had "mixed feelings" with Aquino's passing, saying "We shall be forever indebted to Cory for rallying the nation behind the campaign to topple dictatorial rule and restore democracy."
A growing opinion among some Roman Catholic circles in the country is to push for Aquino's declaration as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
International reaction
President of Russia Dmitry MedvedevDmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
in a telegram to President of the Philippines
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
stated, “The name of Corazon Aquino is associated with a period of profound reforms and the democratic transformation of Filipino society.” Medvedev also noted that Corazon Aquino showed great interest and sympathy to Russia and prioritised the development of Russian-Filipino relations
Philippines–Russia relations
Philippines–Russia relations is the bilateral relationship between Russia and the Philippines.Philippine ambassador to Moscow, Russia Ernesto V...
. International figures expressed their grief, with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noting that Aquino was "admired by the world for her extraordinary courage". White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
Robert Gibbs
Robert Lane Gibbs was the 28th White House Press Secretary. Gibbs was the communications director for then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama and Obama's 2008 presidential campaign...
said that "Her courage, determination, and moral leadership serve as an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation." Other ambassadors also sent their messages of condolence following her passing. Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
recalled Aquino as a "courageous commitment to the freedom of the Filipino people, her firm rejection of violence and intolerance," according to Manila Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales. President of South Africa
President of South Africa
The President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President....
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
called Aquino "a great leader who set a shining example of peaceful transition to democracy in her country." Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
said, "I am saddened to hear of the death of Corazon 'Cory' Aquino the former President of the Republic of the Philippines."
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, among others, and the representative of the International Organization for Migration
International Organization for Migration
The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization. It was initially established in 1951 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration to help resettle people displaced by World War II....
(IOM) attended the wake of the Former President.
BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
: Brazilian Ambassador Alcides G.R. Prates offered his country’s condolences to Aquino family and the Filipino people.
CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
: Canadian Ambassador Robert Desjardins said Aquino has been recognized internationally for her contributions to human rights and political freedoms, values that Canada strongly shares with the Philippines, adding that she will be sincerely missed by the international community, and people everywhere, including the 300,000 Canadians of Filipino origin.
ChileChile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
: Chile’s Ambassador to the Philippines Ovid Harasich was also at the wake and hailed Aquino for her important role in bringing democracy back in the country. He said the people of Chile were saddened by Aquino’s demise.
People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
: The Embassy of the People's Republic of China has issued the following statement:
- Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao also recalled his meeting with Cory in 1988, when the Liu was serving as a junior diplomat under China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
East TimorEast Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
: East Timor President
President of East Timor
The President of East Timor is the Head of state of the East Timorese republic, elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The role is largely symbolic, though he is able to veto some legislation. Following elections, the president appoints as the prime minister, the leader of the majority party...
José Ramos-Horta, a long-time friend of Aquino, broke protocol when he came to Manila to attend the funeral. Diplomats looked down on the gesture for heads of state given the fact that it was not a state funeral. Ramos-Horta braved a downpour and arrived on Wednesday morning in time for the funeral mass at Manila Cathedral
Manila Cathedral
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is also known as Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception or Basilica Minore dela Inmaculada Concepcion or Basilica Minore dela Nuestra Señora de Inmaculada Concepcion A Roman Catholic church having a higher status of "Minor Basilica" with...
. However, he had to proceed to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City
Parañaque City
The City of Parañaque , or simply Parañaque , is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines....
ahead of the mourners because he could not sit for long hours due to the wound he sustained from an attempt on his life in East Timor in 2008.
European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
: Ambassador Alistair MacDonald of the delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines led the European Union in expressing grief over the death of Aquino.
FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
: Finnish Ambassador Heikki Hannikainen said that Cory’s leadership led to a new era of hope and promise to Filipinos.
Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
: A representative of the territory’s Chief Executive
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
Donald Tsang
Donald Tsang
Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, GBM, KBE is the current Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong....
went to the Philippine Consulate to write in the book of condolences.
IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....
of the Philippines' nearest neighbour Indonesia said in a statement he was saddened by the news and offered his heartfelt condolences.
JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
: Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso
Taro Aso
was the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan serving from September 2008 to September 2009, and was defeated in the August 2009 election.He has served in the House of Representatives since 1979. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, and was Secretary-General of the LDP briefly in 2007 and...
hailed Aquino's contribution to friendly ties between the two countries:
Malaysia: The wife of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar IbrahimAnwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
, Wan Azizah, arrived in Manila on the Sunday of the funeral to pay tribute to former Philippine president Corazon Aquino:
RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
in a telegram to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
stated:
- Medvedev also noted that Corazon Aquino showed great interest and sympathy to Russia and prioritised the development of Russian-Filipino relationsPhilippines–Russia relationsPhilippines–Russia relations is the bilateral relationship between Russia and the Philippines.Philippine ambassador to Moscow, Russia Ernesto V...
.
SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
: Singapore, in a statement from the Foreign Ministry, lauded her as "a remarkable woman" who worked tirelessly for the betterment of the Philippines.
South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
: Former South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung recounted to the Philippine Embassy how the 1986 People Power Revolution that catapulted Aquino to power inspired similar democratic movements worldwide, including his country’s own venture into democracy in 1987 following massive rallies.
SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
: Swiss Ambassador Peter Sutter said that Mrs. Aquino conquered the hearts of the Swiss people when she visited Switzerland in June 1988.
ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
: Thailand has sent condolences on the death of former president Aquino who died Saturday after a yearlong battle with colon cancer. In his message to Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Thailand
The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy....
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
said his government and the people of Thailand have learned with “deep sadness and join the Republic of the Philippines in mourning of the demise of Her Excellency Corazon Aquino."
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
: The British Government has extended its condolences to the family of the late President through Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis.
Former Foreign Office Minister, Lord Malloch-Brown, who worked closely with Mrs Aquino during her election campaign added:
- British Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Beckingham also said:
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II also mourns Cory's death and said:
United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
: United Nations World Food Program Country Director Stephen Anderson said that:
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-MoonBan Ki-moonBan Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
voiced his deep sadness over the passing of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino. Ban paid tribute to the former president for her "exceptional courage and pivotal role in the restoration and consolidation of democracy in the Philippines," which she governed from 1986 to 1992.
United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
: According to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
Robert Gibbs
Robert Lane Gibbs was the 28th White House Press Secretary. Gibbs was the communications director for then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama and Obama's 2008 presidential campaign...
, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
was deeply saddened by the death of President Aquino.
- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Former U.S. President Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
expressed their condolences and said that they were "inspired by her quiet strength and her unshakable commitment to justice and freedom". - U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney said in a statement:
Vatican CityVatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
: According to the Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
, Tarcisio Bertone, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
recalled Corazon Aquino's "courageous commitment to the freedom of the Filipino people." He remembered her "as a woman of deep and unwavering faith".
Internet
- On the day of Aquino's funeral, FriendsterFriendsterFriendster is a social gaming site that is based in Malaysia, KL. The company now operates mainly from the three Asian countries namely in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore....
created a special profile page that will allow users to become a fan of the former president. - On the week of Aquino's death, she became a "trending topicTrending topicA trending topic is a word, phrase or topic that is posted multiple times on the social networking and microblogging service Twitter. Trending topics become popular either through a concerted effort by users or because of an event that prompts people to talk about one specific topic...
" on the social networking site, TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
. People also got to put yellow ribbons in their pictures to symbolize Aquino.