People Power relived during Aquino cortege in Manila

Not even the intermittent rains could stop hordes of mourners from going out to the streets to chant the name of former President Corazon Aquino as her remains were escorted through the Philippine capital's rain-soaked streets Monday. The five-hour procession from the La Salle Greenhills to the Manila Cathedral, which was slowed by mobs of followers, traced some of the same streets where hundreds of thousands of protesters — inspired by the woman in a yellow dress — stopped military tanks 23 years ago and ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The cortege, which left Mandaluyong City at about 11 a.m., was supposed to reach Intramuros in Manila at 2 p.m. However, with what the Aquino family said was an "overwhelming display of love and support," the convoy's duration stretched for five hours.

"The family knew how much the Filipinos loved her (Mrs. Aquino), but they did not anticipate that they (supporters) love her this much. The family is very happy. They cannot thank them (supporters) enough," said Deedee Siytangco, Mrs. Aquino's close aide and former spokesperson, in an interview with GMANews.TV. On Monday, tens of thousands left their offices, schools and homes and converged on streets and overpasses, clutching clumps of yellow balloons, waving yellow ribbons and showering confetti on Aquino's flag-draped casket, carried on a flatbed truck bedecked with flowers. Yellow was the symbol of the nonviolent "people power" uprising that forced Marcos into exile in 1986. People Power shrine The convoy passed by the "People Power" shrine on EDSA, where hundreds of thousands of Mrs. Aquino’s supporters blocked Marcos' tanks in 1986. Supporters swamped some lanes along EDSA and several flyovers and footbridges. Along Ayala Avenue, where Aquino led many pro-democracy marches, employees from high rise buildings rained yellow confetti on the crowds below — reminiscent of the anti-Marcos protests that Aquino led. [See: A rousing farewell on Cory's final ride down Ayala Avenue.] Businessmen and young professionals also poured out into the streets to get a glimpse at Mrs. Aquino's casket, unmindful of the blistering noonday heat in Makati. A brief program led by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay was held when the casket reached the monument of Cory Aquino's husband, Ninoy. 'Goodbye Cory' Instead of the usual stock figures, the Philippine Stock Exchange's electronic board flashed Aquino's portrait and a message: "Goodbye Cory and Thank You So Much Cory." Mang Nestor, a 75-year-old Makati-resident, said he could not pass up this opportunity to say farewell to Mrs. Aquino, who was a year older than he was. He drew out an analog camera and braved through the thick crowd to capture what he said was a defining moment in his life. When the popular protest song "Bayan Ko" was played, Mang Nestor raised his fist while others flashed the "Laban" sign and nearly broke into tears, as if reliving the glory of the 1986 People Power Revolution. Along the three-lane Quirino Avenue, supporters flooded the streets, making only one lane passable. Students skipped classes to go out to see Aquino’s casket. Other people already on the streets touched the slow-moving truck carrying Mrs. Aquino's casket as they made the sign of the cross. "They treat her as a saint. Who would not be overwhelmed by that? The family is happy that their mother is recognized as a beautiful woman who was deeply spiritual," said Siytangco. Despite the rain, the crowds that stood along Roxas Boulevard did not move out. Some waved banners with the words "Cory, ipagdasal mo kami" (Cory, please pray for us) and "Cory, hindi ka nag-iisa" (Cory, you are not alone) while some carried portraits of the late Philippine leader. Among those who lined the streets were government workers, members of the Marines, the Navy, and the Coast Guard, and even employees of the United States Embassy. As sunshine broke through the clouds, a man on a bicycle released four doves. Manila's notorious traffic came to a standstill as drivers rolled down windows and put out their hands flashing Aquino's trademark "L'' sign for "laban," or "fight" in Filipino, her slogan in the campaign that toppled Marcos' 20-year repressive rule. Many of the mourners — nuns, priests, students, wealthy residents and their uniformed maids — wore yellow, Aquino's favored color. Huge banners displayed "Thank You Corazon Aquino" and "You're Not Alone" — an Aquino slogan from the 1986 revolt. Anticipation escalated into fever pitch when the cortege arrived at the final stop, Intramuros, where her children, former Cabinet members and fellow pro-democracy activists gathered for a Mass. Her body will lie in state for public viewing until Wednesday's funeral. "Ito yung pinakamaraming tao na nakita ko," said NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada Jr. said. Police had to form a human chain to prevent the crowd from going near the convoy. Mrs. Aquino died early Saturday at the Makati Medical Center after a yearlong battle with colon cancer. She was 76. She rose to prominence after the 1983 assassination of her husband upon his return from U.S. exile to challenge Marcos. She later led the largest funeral procession Manila had ever seen, with crowd estimates as high as 2 million, and emerged as a leader of a broad-based opposition movement. 1986 election Marcos claimed victory over Aquino in a snap 1986 election, but the polls were widely seen as fraudulent. A group of military officers rebelled against him, triggering three days of "people power" protests by hundreds of thousands that finally toppled Marcos. In office, Aquino struggled to meet high public expectations. Her land redistribution program fell short of ending economic domination by the landed elite. Her leadership, especially in social and economic reform, was often indecisive, leaving many of her closest allies disillusioned by the end of her term. Still, the bespectacled, smiling woman remained beloved in the Philippines, where she was affectionately referred to as "Tita (Auntie) Cory." She stepped down in 1992 after serving for six years. Aquino will be buried beside her husband in a private funeral Wednesday. Her youngest daughter Kris thanked the Marcos family in a rare conciliatory gesture and said her mother had forgiven all her political enemies. Nevertheless, Kris Aquino said her family refused President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's offer of a state funeral because the government had attempted to recall two soldiers assigned to guard her mother when she was still alive. Former Philippine presidents traditionally have the right to retain at least two guards. Aquino's only son, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, said the family would not be too enthusiastic to see President Arroyo at the funeral but she could pay her respects. Months before she was diagnosed with cancer, Aquino joined street protests organized amid opposition fears that President Arroyo could amend the country's 1987 Constitution to lift term limits or impose martial law to stay in power when her term ends next year. President Arroyo has said she has no desire to extend her term. - GMANews.TV/AP