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Goodbye, Cory: Filipinos Mourn Former President Aquino

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Representatives of the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police stand guard during the funeral procession for former Philippine President Corazon Aquino. (Bubuy Balangue/Asia Society Philippines)
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Representatives of the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police stand guard during the funeral procession for former Philippine President Corazon Aquino. (Bubuy Balangue/Asia Society Philippines)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, August 5, 2009 - Over 150,000 mourners lined the streets of the Philippine capital of Manila for the funeral procession of former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, considered by many as the 'Mother of Philippine Democracy.'

Aquino, 76, died early Saturday, August 1, in a Manila hospital after a yearlong battle with colon cancer.

Thousands trooped to a suburban Manila university stadium where Aquino's coffin, teeming with yellow roses and orchids, was displayed on a platform. Some mourners openly wept and waved yellow ribbons—the color that symbolized her democratic advocacy—as they watched the truck carrying the coffin slowly make its way through the streets of Manila on the way to the cemetery.

Millions also watched on TV and via Internet live streams as the nation said farewell to the woman who was reluctantly catapulted to prominence after her husband's assassination in 1983.

She went on to lead peaceful protests in 1986 against notorious dictator Ferdinand Marcos, forcing him into exile, before serving as president until 1992.


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All slideshow photos: Bubuy Balangue/Asia Society Philippines Center.

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