Cory Aquino, The Wife and the Mom

In my other blog, I thanked Cory Aquino for being the mother to an orphaned country that was thrust headfirst into the hurly burly of a new democracy. We ran like headless chickens with the gift that was snatched and kept from us for 20 years and ran it to the ground. We didn’t know what to do with it then and we were foolish. But hey at least we were being fools on our own terms, growing pains as moms would say.

cory and ninoy, october 11, 1954

Much has been said about Tita Cory’s contribution to democracy but the folks over at weddingsatwork posted two articles that made me realize that hey Tita Cory was a wife and a mom too. She was also human.  She got married to Ninoy (in a Pitoy Moreno gown no less) whom she described as very “interesting and I felt I would never be bored”

Tita Cory could definitely school a lot of us moms on how to handle a firecracker of a daughter (or son) sensibly; how to prepare ourselves when we know that our husband will soon be gone forever; and most importantly on how to surrender and to  trust in the power of prayer. She was a simple and prayerful person and I admire her because has she remained true to her principles. Some may not agree with her but everyone respected her.

Another article posted by weddingsatwork was the poem Ninoy wrote to Cory when he was detained in Fort Bonifacio. The poem “I Have Fallen in Love with the Same Woman Thrice” was written for their 19th wedding anniversary. The poem spoke of Cory’s endurance and her strength during their family’s most trying times. Reading the poem, I felt Ninoy’s gratitude for Cory and for her faithfulness even if his loyalties were for his country. It was clear that Ninoy’s politics have become the life of his family and Cory became the anchor that held them all together.

So it was in those eighteen years and a day
‘Til I was detained; forced in prison to stay

Suddenly she’s our sole support
Source of comfort
Our wellspring of hope
On her shoulders felt the burden of life

I fell in love again
With the same woman the third time
Looming from the battle
Her courage will never fade

My only escape is to cling to the woman of my dreams
Who gave me a life full of love, a love full of life,
She is my urge to live, my sole motivation to survive,
She taught me not only to dream, but to make dreams alive.

The poem was set to music in 1987 by Jose Mari Chan. I haven’t heard of it yet partly because I cannot think of Jose Mari Chan and not have Beautiful Girl stuck in my head for days.

For more of the articles go to www.weddingsatwork.com or go to these links:

I Have Fallen in  Love with the Same Woman Thrice

Weddings at Work Ties a Yellow Ribbon for Cory

Cory Aquino’s Prayers and Condolences Page

get your own ribbon here

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