The Cory Magic

What is it that Corazon Aquino had? That in the advent of her Death, things happened to this country that I have never seen before. I have never seen this much love and support for a person. Why all the fuzz? Was it Magic?

As a young man born before the Martial law and EDSA revolution days, I am not as passionate as the one who have walked beside Cory and lost their loved ones at that time. so I did myself a favor to be informed about our national history, thus I was set for a journey to th past, today known as Internet research (those who get bored with facts can skip the next 2 to 3 paragrahs).

What made her different from the other past leaders from our country that she is so loved. The leaders of her time was the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, her successor Fidel Ramos and the current president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. If compared to each other, at Marcos's time, it was said that the economy was strong and Peso-Dollar ratio went to 1:1. Ramos sought to solve the energy crises, which was very prevalent at that time, and tried to strengthen the economy. Arroyo further did efforts to strengthen our economy as the Philippines weathered the global economic crises.

Cory enacted the CARP law which helped the farmers but is overshadowed by the problems she had to encounter. Her presidency didn't turn out to be much of a peaceful one due to her opposing parties and fate.

During here presidency there were 7 coup attempts by some of the members of the Armed forces of the Philippines(AFP). Loyal soldiers to Ferdinand Marcos were said to have been involved. Collectively this caused many causalities and more wounded Aquino's son, Now senator NoyNoy. this also caused a sense of political instability which hurt the Philippines economy most as 1 billion worth of investments got withdrawn from the Philippines(considering the Money value at that time).

The worst was the natural disasters that her administration had to encounter. The 1990 Luzon earthquake, which claimed 1600 fatalities. In 1991 the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo which was considered as the second largest eruption of the 20th century killing 550 people in the eruption and aftermath. Also destroying 100,000 hectares of agricultural lands, leaving more than 650,000 people without livelihood. In the same year the worst happened when tropical storm Thelma hit Ormoc City causing massive flooding that killed 6,000. which was considered the deadliest typhoon in Philippine history. Also during Aquino's term, the passenger ship MV Doña Paz sank, killing 1,700. and was considered at that time the worlds worst peace-time maritime disaster of the 20th century.

We were breaking records their! That seemed to be the worst a president (having no political experience, who was elected into power to look for justice of her assassinated husband and housewife) could take. Yet, with her we prevailed and remain resilient.

The people's love and support for the late president was very evident on her wake and when she was paraded on Ayala Avenue as the hearse stopped for awhile in front of Ninoy Aquino's memorial statue. Also in the same way people is full of conviction and support in wanting our current president in stepping down from office.

From the beginning of her political career to the end of her life, I found that one thing was common in all the things she has done, Unity. She had the power to Unite all us Filipinos, not through force but trough peace, even in her death.

When she addressed her countrymen, she said “mga mahal kong kababayan”.
Maybe thats was what made her different from the others. She loved her country like a mother to her home and her countrymen as her children.

She was a housewife turned leader of the people, maybe thats what her 'magic' is, instead of being a leader to us all, she became our mother.

She gave us peace, hope and freedom and now I am sure that she is at peace and free from the burdens of the world, leaving her hope to us who will continue her cause.

--- by Dennis L. Taylor, a 4th Mass Communications student, who before didn't care but now felt the magic.