August 3 - 10, 2009: Making History

Monday started on the wrong foot as our helper of more three years almost slipped out of the house when everyone left. She asked for a day off the previous day and did not return. She would come back in the morning when everyone was gone. My other helper would text that she was getting her stuff and would slip. My other helper also asked permission to go to her sister for something important. I had to asked my neighbor to help my boy helper to secure the place and bar my helper from leaving until we get home.

Even as I deal with domestic matters, I managed to slip out of the office to view Cory's funeral cortege at Ayala Ave. I met up with my friend here and we walked the entire stretch of Makati Avenue to Paseo de Roxas. The truck bearing Cory's casket was already gone when we reached Paseo de Roxas. Some people were going back to their offices. We still went through the barricaded streets and saw the remainder of the party....


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It is to the credit of the government that Wednesday was declared a non-working holiday. It would give Pinoys a chance to pay respect to President Cory as she is laid to rest with Ninoy at Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Paranaque.

We were able to find an immediate replacement for my helper the following day. By midweek, things were back to normal at home. This would be short-lived as revealed by later events. Even then, that made me happy as my and my kids' plan to attend Cory's funeral wouldn't be spoiled.

Early Wednesday morning, MD, MS and I prepared to go to Cory's funeral. A nephew and her girlfriend would join us. Based on previous experience, bringing a car to such major people-drawing events would be catastrophic to a driver, that would be me. I decided to leave our car at my cousin's place in a village near Sucat. She asked her driver to bring us to Sucat Road. As soon as we arrived, an air of warm and pleasant feeling enveloped me. Everyone must be tired from standing but there was joy in the air......much like the EDSAs of yore. People were pleasantly nice considering the length of time they had been there. We inched our way through the crowd unsure what to expect. My nephew who was bent on getting inside Manila Memorial Park went his way leaving his girlfriend with us.

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ED who went to see the funeral cortege with her classmate through raging rains later told us that the flow was pretty much fast through Roxas Boulevard. The funeral cortege just made its way through South Superhighway after going through tumultuous Quirino Avenue when we left my cousin's place. Everyone was trying to get updates but we were getting conflicting accounts.

We walked towards the direction of the Manila Memorial Park. I was trying to sift through the crowds careful about the safety of the two ladies and a young man in my care. At some points, some men would ogle and heckle calling the attention of the two ladies. I thought it best to ignore the jeering but stayed close to the kids. Nearing the memorial park, MD would not want to continue. I left them in a spot where they are safe and went on alone. At the entrance of the park, marshals controlled the crowds using a thick rope leaving just enough space for passing vehicles. I freely roamed the area and took pictures of people and things that are to leave permanent imprints in our history.

I went back to where the kids are. I was planning to call MD but discovered to my dismay that my celfone was not in my bag. When I got to them, I told them we might be able to enter the park. We walked towards the entrance but nearing it, MD would feel uneasy about being in the middle of a potential 'stampede'. We were trying to call my nephew who managed to get inside the cemetery but can't get through. We decided to go back after some pondering.

We walked back and settled on a spot where there were not a lot of people waiting. We saw a good spot on top of an island where few people were settled. A fence-like structure about four feet tall was set atop the island. People stayed on both edges of the island separated by thick shrubs. MS was the first to go up. MD was next, followed by my nephew's girlfriend. I was the last one to go up. It was difficult but I managed to go up. First, we were seated but after sometime cramps and fatigue would set in. MD and my nephew's girlfriend went down. I didn't want to get down and shifted position to ease the strain on my thighs. MS, then, tried to stand up. He was able to do it. I also managed to stand. Then, MD and my nephew's girlfriend got up the island and followed our lead. Although, we were standing, it was a much better ordeal. We stayed in that spot for about two hours trying to get updates from several sources. At some points, people close by would give their updates. Tired and hungry, MS was acting up and would sometime get on my nerves. I asked him if he would like to be fetched but would not want that either.

It was geeting dark when we heard that the cortege reached the Sucat interchange. Sagging spirits were once again lifted as we all geared up for our chance to pay our
last respects to a beloved lady. The minutes seemed like hours waiting for those last minutes until the sirens heralded our most awaited moment. Several motorcycles and a few more vehicles would pass. With the mass of people amidst the darkened skies as a backdrop, we could see the silhouette of the flatbed truck bearing the casket of President Aquino emerging from the other side of the road heading towards our direction. Soon, we were face-to-face with her casket surrounded by four honor guards who stood their grounds. Walking alongside the truck were people who wanted to be with her one last time. The girls and MS threw the ball of yellow flowers we brought especially for her. The flowers fell on the ground but I saw someone picked it up and tried to get the flowers into the truck.

We remained even if the truck was out of site looking at the rest of the vehicles bearing President Cory's family while flashing the 'L' sign every now and then. We saw James Yap on the first vehicle. Some more buses followed with familiar faces of the rich and famous. In a while, people got off the island joining the masses walking back to the junction. We got off too and started walking. Reaching the junction, it came as no surprise that traffic was knotty and public transportation was unavailable. We walked along with the others to get inside the village. MS was grumpy. The two girls were silent. I asked MD to call hubby to fetch us somewhere inside the village. Soon, we reached the village center but still had no luck getting a tricycle to get back to my cousin's place.

To soothe frayed nerves and fill empty stomach, we sought refuge at Conti's. The kids ordered food and it seemed to work wonders. My nephew was still inside the memorial park and was talking to his girlfriend. I told her to tell him to meet up at our place. We were not quite done with dinner when hubby texted that he was outside. We squeezed in dessert and ordered the famously yummy Mango Bravo and asked for our bill. After settling the bill, we went out to meet hubby. He brought me to my car. MD and my nephew's girlfriend rode with me. In time, we reached our place and my nephew was waiting for his girlfriend. They bade us goodbye and went their way.

In the weekend, I would go back to doing chores. I tidied up the bedrooms. I inspected the service area at the back which has been a major cause of disappointment for me. Under supervision, I instructed the new helper to give the area a good clean up. Helped by our boy helper, I bathe and groomed our dogs.

By Sunday, I had to let go of the replacement for the other helper. She is actually my boy helper's current girlfriend. Judging from the few days she stayed with us and the complications of having two persons enamored with each other working in the same household, I deemed it best to let her go to avoid further complications.

Peace has been restored in our household, albeit having more chores to do with one helper gone.

Cory is laid to rest. So what is in store for our fragile democracy? Who will fill in the void left by this great and gentle lady?

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