She is and always will be an important symbol–a symbol that helped topple a dictator and give people hope. But even many of her supporters will admit she was less than competent as a politician. What did she accomplish while in office? Land reform? Let’s not forget the brouhaha when she, herself, refused to give up any of her family’s land “to the people” as she was demanding to be done by other land owners.

If Cory Aquino really is one of the best *presidents* the Philippines has ever had, then I truly grieve for the country. There really is no hope.

The country lost a great *symbol*, but not a great president.

Perhaps this event is God’s way of bringing us together as one people under one world and reminding us what Peace really means in our lives and in the world we live in.

For Tita Cory, I may not be an avid fan before, but with what I saw, with the support that the world has given you mean so much to us. You have inspired a lot of people in your most simplest ways and that will make a mark on all of us!

Thank you for sharing your life to us!

I am proud to be a Filipino!

Sometime later that year, there I was … photographing her up close at the burial of Jose Diokno. The challenge of getting that close was kind of funny in itself but the aftermath of the ceremony was even funnier … ah, but I digress.

I salute Cory’s and Ninoy’s sacrifices for the Philippines and its people. Their adherence to the politics of suffering and advocacy of change through non-violence means will always be remembered.

Oh yeah, thank you YouTube as well :) … you do a better job sometimes than those antiquated college textbooks.