A love so strong that can withstand any form of adversity is what each of us long for. In our most private moment, we storm the gates of heaven asking God to let our one true love come forth in our lives. We fervently hope for that person, albeit our imperfections, to put up with us, through thick and thin. But this kind of love is not something that God simply grants us. A love that remains strong, amidst a cycle of misfortune, is a priceless gift a man and a woman gives to one another. It is something they willingly work on. Needless to say, it is a selfless act.
The slain senator Ninoy Aquino, in his last letter to the late President Cory Aquino, affectionately professed his eternal love for his beloved wife. True enough, theirs is a love story so true, withstanding all forms of misery. I snagged a copy of that letter and I am posting it here for the world to know. I am certain, that after a woman reads this, she will wish for her own Ninoy to come in her life.
My Dearest Cory,
In a few hours I shall be embarking on an uncertain fate, which may well be the end of a long struggle. I slept well last night for the first time since I left Boston -- maybe because I'm just plain tired or I'm really at peace with myself. I want to tell you many things but time is running out and I do not have any machine. After a few more paragraphs, my penmanship will be illegible.
All the things I want to tell you may be capsulized in one line - - I love you! You've stood by me in my most trying moments and there were times I was very hard on you. But if anyone will ever understand me, it is you, and I know you will always find it in your heart to forgive -- and unfair and ironic as it is -- it is because of this thought and belief that I often took you for granted.
Early on I knew I was not meant to make money -- so I won't be able to leave anything to the children. I did what I thought I could do best, which is public service, and I hope our people in time will appreciate my sacrifices. This would be my legacy to the children. I may not bequeath them material wealth but I leave them a tradition which can be priceless.
I realize I've been very stingy with praise and appreciation for all your efforts -- but though unsaid -- you know that as far I'm concerned, you are the best. That's why we've lasted this long. There will only be one thing in the world I will never accept -- that you love me more than I love you -- because my love for you though unarticulated will never be equaled.
If all goes well I should be back in my cell before sundown. Should I be detained do not rush to get home. Take your time and enjoy a side trip to Europe with the girls.
I'll try to call you tonight if the authorities will allow me. Otherwise just remember me in your dreams.
Love, Ninoy
P.S. I offered a special rosary for Papa and I asked for his intercession. You know he never failed me. (Ninoy here is referring to Cory's father, Jose Cojuangco, who died on August 21, 1976)
I am a Filipino. And I am proud to be one. I was born and raised in the Philippines. I love my country, and with my family, I will always fight for the Philippines' democracy.
I am especially proud that the whole nation sang Lupang Hinirang to pay their last respect for our democracy icon, President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, as her casket was brought out of Manila Cathedral. It touches my heart to see Filipinos gathered together as they join the funeral parade. Farewell Tita Cory. May the Filipinos always remember you as we protect our country's democracy.
Laban Pilipinas! Let us not allow a repeat of the Marcos regime. Take it to the streets. Whenever. Wherever. As one nation.
I AM PROUD TO BE A FILIPINO. And I thank God for making me one! Are you? Tell the world and write about it!
In loving memory of former President Corazon C. Aquino, I am encouraging the blogosphere to light a candle for her. Grab the image below, add your prayer for Mrs. Aquino and link up.
1. Bits & Pieces - Thank you Lord for giving President Aquino the gift of life. It was a well-lived life as she touched nations all over the world. It must have been difficult for her especially the last months of her life. But everything is well now as she joins you. May her family find comfort knowing that she is now safe in your kingdom. 2. Your Blog
On the 20th of January 2009, the United States of America will inaugurate its 44th president. Such a historic event it would be. A lot of individuals would definitely want to witness that. It's a By-Invitation-Only event and what a wonderful news it is to learn that 2 Filipino students were invited to witness the significant event!
Anna Marie Liwanag and Paul Michael Thomas Cruz, graduates of Reedley International School, must have been in such high-spirits the very moment they read the letters from the University Presidential Inaugural Conference (UPIC). Rubbing elbows with Barack Obama, the first African-American president of the most powerful nation --- what else can these youth ask for?
Away from the lens of the cameras, Claudio Teehankee Jr. last night left the compounds of The New Bilibid prison. And yes, he is technically a free man now.
What would you do if you see him sipping a hot cup of brewed coffee in your favorite coffee shop with his feet raised up comfortably on the cushions?
(Re-post from Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada's nephew, Voltaire Lozada)
I met with my uncle earlier today, unexpectedly, I might add... It just so happens my dad was in the area because the court hearing (he was the one who filed the writ of amparo, I initially thought it was the writ of habeas corpus) was done for the day... Quick quip though, while administration senators want to file a perjury case against my dad, the justices were saying "wag kayong matakot, kaya nyo to." It's cool to think there are those who are not that corrupted yet in that part of the government which essentially must be impartial... Anyway, I did my best to share everything with my uncle, all your thoughts, your thanks and support... His main concern was "naapektuhan naman ba ang mga bata?" I said yes, but aired out some of the people's reservations about the "communal action" (sounds better than "rally" don't you think?) tomorrow and on Sunday... He doesn't have internet, though he does want to share his thoughts through blogs... He told me there are 2 documents in his computer... The other one is 14 pages long. Let me just post the 2-page version.. I'll find a way to upload the longer one...
FROM JUN LOZADA:
An appeal to our Patriotic Countrymen
It is time to move
“Once you achieved your aim of destroying the system you fought against, do not leave a single trace or else the bad habits that were formed during the period of the dysfunctional system and which still remains in the heart and mind of the people, shall nurture this remnant and allow it to come back in a more vicious form.”
This is one of the three conditions set forth by our beloved hero, Jose Rizal, this condition captures the framework of action and shall act as the guiding principle in any postgame scenario that must be formulated as part of the preparation to undo this brazenly corrupt regime.
But before we consider any action to take, it is a must to first address the concerns and arguments of other individuals and sectors that I believe are critical in creating a broad based support for such an action.
The Arrogant Mindset - first of which are the purveyors of the Perversity issue whose main contention is that taking action may simply result to a more seriously worsened scenario than the present one we are against with. This is typified by remarks such as “any action against the administration will only result to anger and chaos in the street, a situation that can be taken advantage of by ideologically and militarily cohesive groups such as the CPP/NPA or the Right Wing military groups, which will be bad for the economy and will only worsen the already bad situation.” Let me warn you to look out for this arrogant mindset, it is arrogant because it is their view that the universe is totally predictable, and that they are capable of knowing ahead all the unforeseen both the intended purpose and unintended consequences of such purposive social action. It is a fact that no person has been endowed with such gift that borders on the Divine.
The Insulting Mindset - Second are the believers of the Futility issue, whose main contention is that any action taken will simply result in the same thing we are fighting against. This is typified by remarks such as “Kahit ano pang gawin natin, kahit sino pang ilagay mo dyan, pareho pareho lang ang mga yan! Ganun pa rin ang kalalagyan natin, mangnanakaw din lang ang papalit dyan!” Filipinos who say these words are insulting our entire race, they are condemning all of us as incapable of patriotism and love for one another. It seems that they are the majority now, they may have the numbers, but they are wrong. I’ve always believe that real strength does not come with numbers but it comes with commitment.
The Untrustworthy Mindset - Third are the proponents of the jeopardy issue, whose main contention is that any action taken will be too costly for the intended purpose of removing a morally corrupt administration. This is typified by remarks such as “Hintayin na lang natin hanggang 2010, anyway mahigit 2 taon na lang yan. Baka pag ginalaw yan mas lalo pang masaktan ang ekonomiya at maghirap pa tayo lalo.” These type of statements are usually observed from people who are willing not to do the right action now for fear that they may not have the courage to do what is right in the future. Watch out for people who thinks like this, for they will be the practitioners of the same corrupt practices that you are now fighting against once they are the ones in power.
What alternative action can we suggest?
Take action together– There seems to be a common agenda from among all sectors to eradicate state sponsored corruption in the country, as practiced by the current and her immediate predecessors. This shared goal will be enough to put together a sober and well thought out post scenario plan that will address the concerns of the first group in a more synergistic and certainly with a more chances of success compared to a number of separately conceptualized plan by different independent groups.
Inaction is going to be more expensive both in short term cost and long term goals – The short term cost of this state sponsored corruption is going to be enormous if measured in total peso cost, our quick estimate just for the current Chinese projects will run into tens of billions of pesos. But the more costly and hidden from the public is the long term damage to the government institutions, which will now have a new standard for public service that is “Corruption pays as long you as steal big, only the small gets to jail”.This argument will blow the second and the third groups arguments for not taking action, because it is more costly and it will not be business as usual even if a new group takes over government.
History will vindicate us – The history of our Nation has repeatedly shown that Filipinos do not punish a sitting administration for political and authoritarian misdeeds but rather only upon gross moral transgressions such as exemplified by Rizal’s death by the Spaniards, Moises Padilla’s death from the hands of a Quirino henchman in Negros, Ninoy’s murder from Marcos’ thugs and the Tessie Aquino’s jig from the unsealed envelope in Erap’s Senate. The Filipino people are now being subjected to such gross moral abuse such as the ZTE-NBN deal, the bribery scandal, Garci affair and other outright and blatant lies to the people.
“Why be a single stone alone out there in the field? If you can be part of a great monument of the Filipino people.”
I am posting 2 youtube videos of yesterday's Thank-You speech of Jun Lozada and the mass at La Salle, Greenhills. I felt sorry I didn't know there was a mass for him. Had I known about it earlier, Gino & I would have been there to support him. Anyway, re-posting these links I guess would somehow help our country in its current corruption issues. Feel free to re-post it too.
So this is what happened. i got a call from my sister really early the other day. She was asking me to make campaign materials (flyers or posters) for my uncle. He was running as Kagawad in the upcoming local election in my mom's hometown in Pampanga. Now, that wasn't much of a surprise. You see, my other uncle is trying to get re-elected as Kagawad in Manila. Politics in the family? Nah. Not for me.
Anyway, here are the stuff I came up with. Thanks to powerpoint for making my life easier. I only had one night to do these. Talk about pressure, huh. Plus, I didn't have any clue how I would do it. My sister said any color would do. That I can do whatever I want with it. I had to research the internet for ideas. And these are 4 designs I made.
So there. Yeah, I know. Too plain. But my family seemed to have liked it. Bonus point is that my uncle's favorite color is green. Hahaha! Talk about luck. Well, my sister's printer got tired printing the campaign materials. It's ink was dry after making 50 papers. Hehehe! I hope this is going to help my uncle's campaign. He's not just an uncle to me. He's our ninong in our wedding too! Goodluck tito Will!
a full-time life coach. a part-time masteral student. full-time daughter. a part-time cook. a full-time sister. a part-time tv addict. a full-time friend. a part-time dishwasher. a full-time photo enthusiast. a part-time techie wannabe. a full-time digiscrap fanatic. a part-time dreamer. a full-time wife to my loving husband gino.
My Dearest Cory,
