Philippine Political Opinions

I think it is good to share the wonderful homily of Fr. Catalino Arevalo, S.J. at the funeral mass of the late former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino. INTRODUCTION If I may first ask pardon for what might be an unseemly introduction. In the last days of President Cory’s illness, when it seemed inevitable that the end would come, the assignment to give this homily was given to me. By Ms Kris Aquino, in fact. She reminded me that many times and publicly, her mother had said she was asking me to preach at her funeral Mass. Always I told her I was years older, and would go ahead of her, but she would just smile at this. Those who knew Tita Cory knew that when she had made up her mind, she had made up her mind. What then is my task this morning? I know for certain that if liturgical rules were not what they are, she would have asked Congressman Ted Locsin to be here in my place. No one has it in him to speak as fittingly of Cory Aquino in the manner and measure of tribute she uniquely de...

This is taken from the blog of Mr. Ernesto Baconga Neri . A very good example of what you call a "student leader" which when I asked him about his credentials, he just said that he's just a "humble servant in the vineyard of the Lord". This morning as I was watching the live telecast of the funeral of President Corazon, I already prepared a reflection for this occasion, but after seeing the people and tears and hearing the messages, the eulogies of the closest people to President Cory, I realized that my written article never came close to fathom the great and gracious heart this woman had. Listening to Fr. Arevalo in his voice clearly drawing back tears while he recounts and fond memories with Pres. Cory , also listening to Cris crying over the loss of her very loving mother, or listening to Mel, Pres. Cory’s security detail share the generosity and the humility this woman possessed, always giving importance even to the lowly of people, with the hinidi kita mal...

The video below shows a relative story of my last post . Lumaki ba ang ulo ni Willie? Hindi ba niya ginalang ang libing ni Tita Cory? Ano ang nasa loob mo bilang isang pinoy? UPDATE: Willie Revillame is on leave “indefinitely” in the wake of the controversy generated by his order to cut the simultaneous live broadcast of the procession of President Corazon Aquino's remains from his noontime show last August 3. “Yes, naka-leave [siya]. From his (Revillame) own text [message] to me, indefinitely. Indefinitely, can be two days or three days,” Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN's corporate communications, told abs-cbnNEWS.com in a phone interview.

Another political opinion, did Willie Revillame violated the Code of Ethics of the KBP (Kaspisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas) and MTRCB's (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) Section 3 of PD 1986 as what MTRCB chair Consoliza Laguardia said? How did it started? This video starts with a lady contestant dancing. Then host of Wowowee, Willie Revillame at 0:40 said that: “Hay nako. Pangit. Hindi maganda ho sa atin nagsasalita pinapakita yung kabaong ni Tita Cory. Di ba? Paano kami magkakapagsaya nahihirapan kami? I'm sorry ho ah pero ako totoo ako eh. ‘Wag niyo akong papagalitan ... Pagkatapos ng show pakita niyo ‘yung gusto niyong ipalabas. Kasi itong Wowowee gusto ko at alam din ni Tita Cory ‘yan kasi napasaya din siya ng show na ito na laging masaya dito. Okay?" As you can see, the inset video of Former President Cory Aquino's funeral was removed moments later after he asked to take it out. “Sa sitwasyon na ito, kung may nasaktan ako, I'm sorry. S...

Millions of Filipinos witnessed yesterday, Aug. 5, 2009, about nine hours of procession from the Manila Cathedral after the last Mass for her was held to the Manila Memorial Park where the democracy icon, a good mother and wife, a lady who's self-acclaimed to be just a "simple housewife", former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino laid to rest. Even during the mass, a heavy rainfall didn't stop her supporters who waited outside the Manila Cathedral to show their respect and love for their Tita Cory. Not just in the Manila Cathedral her supporters waited amidst the rainfall, but also in the streets (where and estimated of 300,000 people waited and watched) her flag-draped coffin at the top of a flatbed truck decorated with white and yellow flowers passed. The people eventually followed the truck until they reached Manila Memorial Park. Mrs. Aquino's remains reached the Manila Memorial Park about 8 o'clock in the evening where about 600 priests, nuns and s...

In an interview on showbiz talk show The Buzz on Sunday, Kris said an emissary from Malacañang approached their family and offered a state funeral for the former president. "I said, 'I'm speaking on behalf of everybody. Malacañang doesn't have to say [na] bigyan ng honor ang Mom ko, dahil iyong honor nanggagaling sa bayan natin,'" Kris said. "Now she's dead, you want to give her honor, but when she was still alive, you want her powerless." she also added "It's not that we did not allow. We said: ‘don't offer na lang, para walang gulo.’ Ayaw namin ng gulo," she later added. In my opinion, the palace is in a dilemma right now, to add, Kris said that the emissary said that Malcañang is in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation wherein any move they make in offering a state funeral to Aquino could be misinterpreted. Maybe President Arroyo has a real intention in giving respect to the late former president ...

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo apologizes on Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco-Aquino's family about the said security detail pullout before their mom's death saying it's just a "bureaucratic slip-up". Press Secretary Cerge Remonde apologized to the Aquino family for their anguish over the incident and said the move was not intentional and even they (including the president) were shocked about the news. He also added that the President ordered the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to extend all assistance to the Aquino family for the wake and burial of the country's first woman president. Asked if Mrs. Arroyo will still attend Aquino's wake, he said: "The President will do what she needs to do." He also appealed to the people in Manila not to put any political color to her action. Where Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, earlier said he is not keen on seeing Mrs. Arroyo at his mother's wake or funeral. He added, how...

Malacañang declared this Aug. 5 as a special non-working holiday for the Filipino to witness the late former President Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco-Aquino before she will laid to rest, beside her late husband, former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. A mass will be held at 9 a.m. at the Manila Cathedral before the burial. Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo earlier announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has cut short her United States trip in order to make it to Aquino’s funeral service on Wednesday. President Arroyo declared a 10-day period of national mourning (Aug. 1 to Aug. 10) over the death of Aquino through Proclamation No. 1850. Aquino, 76, succumbed to colon cancer on Saturday at 3:18 a.m. In my opinion, Mrs. Arroyo would like to show us that she respects the late former president but the Arroyo's action towards her contradicts everything. Not even with former Presidenr Aquino but also to her late husband. “Through the years, Mrs. Ar...