The Last Month of Cory Aquino, Part 1: Kris relates what she and her family went through

Glen P. Sibonga
Monday, August 03, 2009 @ 09:58PM  |  44 views

 

Kris Aquino was told by her mom's doctor that Cory had only weeks to live. "And tinanong niya [Dr. Francis] ako, 'At what point are you at?' And I said, if I'm talking about my family, kaming apat na babae nandun kami sa letting go. Pero si Noy, wala pa doon. He [Francis] said na, 'importanteng mag-usap kayo.' Kasi sa maraming pamilya raw when difficult decisions have to be made, nag-aaway-away, nagkakagulo. That night nag-usap-usap yung mga kapatid ko. But I chose to stay with mom."

Photo By: Noel Orsal & Paul Mata













"So, nung Thursday, July 2, we were moved already permanently to a room at the 9th floor of Makati Med. Yung nutrional feeding kinontinue. 'Tapos, siguro dahil dun sa comment ko about needing money, my mom said, 'Tawagan mo si Ate, ha. Make sure na lahat ng tao sa Times [Street sa Quezon City, kung saan located ang bahay ni Tita Cory] nasuwelduhan. And make sure na yung mga allowance ng mga guard niya nabigay.

"That's what kind of person my mom is. Everybody who has worked for our family, years ang tinagal. May 47 years. Her driver, Noli, was there since I was four. So, that's 34 years. Her two closest bodyguards, si Mel in particular, was with her sa Malacañang. So, parang sinisigurado pa niya na make sure kumpleto yung allowance na nakuha nila."

JULY 3. Binisita si Tita Cory ng kanyang mga kapatid.

"July 3, Friday, was the birthday ng Lolo Pepe [Don Jose Chichioco Cojuangco, Cory's father] ko. So, pumunta ang Auntie Passy [Maria Paz Cojuangco-Teopaco], pumunta si Auntie Jo [Josephine Cojuangco-Reyes] at si Uncle Joe [former Cong. Jose S. Cojuangco, Jr.]. Mom was trying to tell them na, 'Uy, I'm better, tingnan n'yo yung fluid sa tiyan ko kumokonti.'

"I left with them, but the nurse told Ate, when I left with my aunts and my uncle, mom turned and started crying. She never wanted anyone of us to see her cry, Boy. And at that point, I knew na she wanted her siblings to still see na matapang siya, na kinakaya niya."

JULY 4. Ito raw ang isa sa masasayang araw nina Kris with Tita Cory. Kahit nasa ospital ito ay hindi siya nakakalimot sa kanyang mga mahal na apo. Patunay nga ito ng pagiging mabuting lola ni Tita Cory.

"Noong July 4, Saturday, this was one of our happy memories. The kids were with me the whole day. And sinabi ng mom, 'Si Josh, marunong nang mag-behave, pero yung maliit ang ingay talaga.' Kasi si Baby James, kept trying to wake her up, 'Lola, lola!' So, yun talaga yung innocence of childhood talaga.

"I remember then na when we first found out that she was sick, she said na, 'I want to be around for the first birthday of Baby James,'" wika ni Kris habang unti-unti nang nagka-crack ang kanyang boses. "And if people remember, it was during that celebration that she was able to thank everybody because that was about one month before we revealed she has cancer. And then, pinilit niya talaga na she was okay for the second birthday.

"But for Josh's 14th birthday, nagka-dengue yung mga anak. And because they were sick, they couldn't be with mom. But for our last time together, she made sure na may cake si Josh na mabo-blow nung dalawa. We would hear mass kasi sa Meralco. It was near Green Meadows. And it was a belated birthday celebration for Josh. And... yung parang sabi ng mom na mag-order ng food carts na favorite ni Josh. That's what kind of lola she was. And then she was so concerned about my nephew Miguel, who was a fresh graduate, getting a good job. She was so proud of Jiggy nung na-promote sa Nestlé."

JULY 5. Nang unang magsalita si Kris sa The Buzz tungkol sa totoong kalagayan ni Tita Cory. Sa araw ring ito naging masaya si Tita Cory para sa bagong endorsement ni Kris.

"July 5, Sunday, that was when nabahagi ko sa lahat what we were going through. I told everybody how grateful we were. But I said, sana maintindihan n'yo kung hindi muna kami magkuwento ng lahat.

"After that, I went home, I took a shower, nag-pictorial ako for Eight O'Clock. The next day nag-shoot ako ng commercial. And super happy ang mom, kasi like sabi niya na every new commercial daw, she would feel na parang... alam mo naman sa bayan natin, Boy, pag may endorsement ka, you're a big deal. So, parang sinasabi ng mom na pag nalalaman niya na may bago akong endorsement, nase-secure siya for me. So, July 6, I shot the commercial."

JULY 7. Nang makapag-set na ng schedule si Kris at ang kanyang mga kapatid  para sa pagbabantay at pag-aalaga kay Tita Cory sa ospital.

"July 7, I went to the supermarket, I went to SnR, namili ako ng gamit para hindi na ako ever kailangang magpabili ng kape. Nagdala na ako ng coffee maker sa loob ng kuwarto niya.

"And our schedule was set, nag-ayusan kami na Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday night, dun ako natutulog. Thursday umuuwi ako, si Noy ang nagte-take over. Friday hanggang Buzz [Sunday], hindi na naman ako umaalis. And then my sisters would take turns during daytime. We had mass, July 7."

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