President Aquino's passing, a reminder

Filipinos are natural lovers. We easily fall for people we admire, be it a friend, a lover, an admirer, an actor, a musician, or a politician. Furthermore, when we fall in love, we give it all, we attach ourselves too much so when our loved ones pass, we feel like passing out as well in disbelief.

This is very evident now with the late President Cory Aquino's death. Many have expressed their griefs for her death. I heard a man on the news saying he'd be better off hit by a bus rather than suffer the grief he experiences now. Thousands have lined up just to get a glimpse of her remains as the Philippines follow news updates on her wake and burial.

I understand. The late president had touched our lives. In one way or another, she had made us feel special. Her loss is being commemorated now because, one cannot deny, her contributions to our country are exceptional. She demonstrated how a woman could be.

She has uplifted the spirits of women in the world by choosing to serve her country, emerging as the first female President of the Philippines, bringing honor to Filipinos. She has loved the country so greatly as she had demonstrated and the country loves her in return. She has been the icon of the Philippines' historical peaceful revolution. She has been an instrument for our country's democracy.

A house-wife-turned-President-of-a-country, the people are also aware of how she was as a mother to her children, how she took care of them and raised them with great love and understanding. In addition, devout Christians look up to her exceptional religious piety.

With all of the person she is, President Aquino is indeed a national icon and can, without a doubt, be considered a national hero. But who is Cory Aquino? We all know that she is but a human being who is also very imperfect just like everyone else. Not everyone liked her. But we love Cory Aquino. Who hadn't been touched by her? Haters maybe. Just maybe. In fact, even her political enemies have been touched by her. Let's face it, every single Filipino has been strained by the event, whether heavily or not. It's all over the news. The country mourns for her death. But what is this really all about? We get it. The Filipinos are now mourning because we have lost one great Filipino soul: an ordinary human being turned great because she made a conscious effort. Surely, we have shown our condolences to her family and they are overwhelmed, thankful, now. But does that end there? I believe not.

I regard this happening as a very important reminder: A memorandum of the "essence" of the

People Power Revolution and the example that President Cory had lived. It is the very reason why broadcasters keep on flashing and exhibiting clips of the late president and the tumult. It is for us to reminisce the unity that our country once had in that moment on the streets.

The memories are being exclaimed so we could ponder on the outcome of that one peaceful fight and the life lived by that brave soul who stood among and for the people.

For once, we have proven how a people, united, can counter a condition that's unwanted. As a people, we were able to bring democracy back. Now, we enjoy the fruits of it all. We have been testimonies of how unity brought peace and how peace brought unity. It was a conscious effort from all those who stood there. A conscious effort. President Cory lead, but everyone did his/her part, took responsibility, shared him/herself, to realize the objective. This is what it took to get the country out of the cage. This is what it takes to get the country to where it wants to go: Having that conscious effort from each Filipino.

We are off to another election a few months from now. Will we vote? Will we choose the right leaders? Will we take part? By taking part, we are not just voting and choosing the right people. By taking part, we as people of the country, share each of our conscious efforts. By taking part, we are starting with ourselves, could be by altering every single unpleasant habit. Its our call.

I am hoping now that the L-hand-sign (Laban sign or whatever you may call it), made popular by the late president, would serve as a wake-up call in giving conscious efforts each and everyday in uplifting each of our lives. Whenever we see a yellow ribbon, may we, not pass out in sadness but instead, be reminded of the great love President Aquino had lived through and that our love for her would inspire us to be instruments of change and move us to comprehend how great of a nation we could be as we work for our dreams to be brought about by love, peace, unity, and prayers.

We must be grateful. ^_^