Negrenses pay tribute to Cory
at masses, remembrance book
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negrenses grieving over the death of former president Corazon Aquino wept at masses during the weekend in Bacolod City, especially as they sang Bayan Ko, while many have tied yellow ribbons on their cars and the  gates of their homes to honor her.

Aquino, 76, succumbed to cancer at the Makati Medical Center, 3:18 a.m. Saturday and will be buried beside her husband, former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City Wednesday.

Gov. Isidro Zayco and Mayor Evelio Leonardia have ordered flags in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City to fly at half mast for Aquino, and the holdings of masses for her at the Capitol at 4 p.m. today and the Bacolod Government Center Tuesday afternoon.

Honor for former President Corazon Aquino will come from the people, not from Malacañang, her daughter actress Kris Aquino said yesterday in explaining her  family’s refusal to accept President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s offer to give her a state funeral.

“I am speaking on behalf of everybody, Malacañang doesn’t have to say it will give my mother (a state funeral), the honor will come from the people,” she said, in an emotional interview over ABS-CBN.

She thanked the Filipino people for their outpouring of support, saying “I feel the love. I’m so appreciative of the love. I’m so happy you treated my mom like she was your mother.”

MANILA – It's a road made famous as the site of the EDSA "people power" revolt that chased hated dictator of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos from power.

Corazon Aquino had been there beside her people to lead that peaceful revolt and now, 23 years later, the people were again at her side in their thousands.

This time to say goodbye.

A huge line of mourners filed along the famous Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) yesterday to pay their last respects to Aquino, who died from colon cancer early Saturday at the age of 76.