The body of the late President Corazon Aquino was transferred to the Manila Cathedral last August 3, 2009 after a five-hour funeral motorcade. Cory is touted as the first member of the laity to have been permitted to lie in state in the
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Intramuros.
Uploaded: August 05, 2009
The Manila Cathedral was the venue for President Cory Aquino's necrological service.
The flatbed 10-wheeler truck carrying Mrs. Aquino's flag-draped coffin had a funeral convoy from La Salle Greenhills to the main thoroughfare Edsa and passed by Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The convoy stopped briefly in front of the
monument of Mrs. Aquino's late husband, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., on the intersection of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas.
Dozens of people carrying banners and streamers had messages such as this as an expression of support for the former President.
The area around the cathedral would later be filled with supporters and a military entourage.
Noynoy Aquino, the only son (among five children) of Benigno and Cory Aquino, personally shook hands and thanked supporters for their patience and long-suffering under the afternoon heat. He was earlier informed that people had waited at the Manila Cathedral as early as 9:00 a.m. in the morning.
Before the mass, Ninoy and Cory's nephew Bam Aquino was seen answering a call. Bam, who bears a striking resemblance to the slain political leader, portrayed his uncle in the docu-drama The Last Journey of Ninoy, which chronicled the last few days of the Senator.
A platoon of military officers in three columns (with female officers on the leftmost side) announced the arrival of the truck bearing the casket of Cory with a snappy march.
The children of Mrs. Aquino waited patiently for the arrival of their mother's casket. (From left) Aurora Corazon "Pinky'' Aquino-Abellada, Senator Benigno Simeon
"Noynoy'' Aquino III, Elena "Ballsy'' Aquino-Cruz and TV host-actress Kristina Bernadette Aquino-Yap.
In an earlier interview, Kris revealed that she promised her mother that she and James Yap will have a church wedding. It will be recalled that the couple got married through a civil wedding in July 2005.
Cory's flower-adorned casket was filled with yellow confetti thrown by admirers located around Intramuros. Around 5,000 people gathered around the Manila Cathedral to await the arrival of the funeral convoy.
The outpouring of love and support for President Aquino was reminiscent of the time when Cory's slain husband, Ninoy Aquino, was brought to his resting place 26 years ago.
The Aquino family thanked the Archdiocese of Manila for allowing Cory's wake to be held at the
Manila Cathedral. Only deceased archbishops are allowed to have their wake at the Manila Cathedral but because the former President was a
staunch supporter of the Catholic Church, public viewing for Cory was conducted here until the burial on August 5, 2009.
On August 4, a necrological service was also conducted and among those who sang were Christian Bautista, Kuh Ledesma, Rachelle Ann Go, Ivy Violan and Jamie Rivera.
The pallbearers slowly and carefully laid down the casket in its place near the altar.
The body of Mrs. Aquino will be laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City, beside the tomb of her husband, Ninoy Aquino.
A company of nuns slowly and quietly grouped and encircled the casket—their own way of bidding a last goodbye to the president who so believed in the power of prayer.
As the mass neared its end, people who had been waiting for hours eagerly awaited the signal for them to be led inside the church where they could get a last view of their president.
People from all walks of life began to line up to catch a glimpse of the late President as early as 9:00 a.m. Though they had to wait under the blistering heat and occasional rain, they stayed on patiently, and when the mass ended at about 4:30 p.m., they were finally allowed pay their respects inside the church.
