'The Filipinos are worth it'

Echoing the words of her father, a tearful Kris Aquino-Yap told thousands of Filipinos gathered at the Manila Cathedral for former President Corazon Aquino's wake and millions more worldwide that her parents' sacrifices for the country were all worth it. "You have given our family honor beyond anything we could ever have hoped to receive," Kris said Wednesday, “that no matter how great the sacrifices of my parents, I can honestly say to all of you that for my family, the Filipinos are worth it." Her statement was received with thunderous applause from her family's supporters.

Kris' father, the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was famous for saying that "the Filipino is worth dying for." Ninoy was gunned down on Aug. 21, 1983 upon his return from exile in the United States. That event spurred the movement that brought her mother to power three years later. Kris opened her 17-minute response from the family by borrowing words from her mother, "minamahal kong kababayan (my beloved countrymen)," which Mrs. Aquino often used when publicly addressing Filipinos. The youngest Aquino daughter thanked the thousands of supporters who continuously prayed for her mother, and who braved heat, rain, and seemingly endless lines to personally condole with the family and get a last glimpse of the remains of the late democracy icon. "Paano po ba kami makakapagpasalamat sa inyong lahat sa effort ninyong pumila sa gitna ng matinding init at malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan para po masulyapan ang mommy namin, magbigay respeto at maipagdasal siya sa huling pagkakataon?" Kris said. (How can we thank you all for your effort to line up despite the heat of the sun and the heavy rains just to get a glimpse of our mommy, to pay your respects and to pray for her for the last time?)
In addition to the 2500 full-capacity audience inside the cathedral, thousands outside and millions around the country glued to their televisions listened to Kris and an eloquent homily by Cory's spiritual adviser, the Rev. Catalino Arevalo, S.J. Countless others around the world followed the Mass on GMANews.TV's live video stream and posted comments on the tribute page. In her speech, the youngest Aquino child extolled the woman lovingly referred to by many Filipinos as "Tita Cory" with praises for her unwavering faith and dedication to the country. "Mom believed that true public service did not end when one's term of office ended. She continued selflessly working for the betterment of the lives of our countrymen," Kris said, noting the foundation Mrs. Aquino established in Ninoy's name soon after his assassination. 'Noy, ikaw at ako' In her speech, Kris also thanked her siblings for always being at their mother's bedside during the most trying parts of the former president's bout with colon cancer. "Pinky (second daughter), we will forever share that painful memory of seeing mom finally break down and release all her pain that she was so kind to bravely conceal from us," Kris said. Mrs. Aquino "peacefully" died at the Makati Medical Center due to cardiorespiratory arrest, drawing condolences from world leaders. Kris said that with both of their parents already gone, she and only brother Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III are left with an unfinished task. "Noy, ikaw at ako ang nasa posisyon para ipagpatuloy ang lahat ng kanilang nasimulan (Noy, you and I are in the position to continue what our parents have started)," Kris said. "During our last conversation with mom na whatever support you needed, I will be there for you," she added. In the midst of a tear-drenched message to her brother, she managed to slip in a laugh line: "Noy, alam ko sa hospital sinabi ni Josh (Kris's older son), please Tito Noy, never get married." "Sana maintindihan mo, you're now his security blanket. You've taken mom's place as his protector." Kris recalled the last words that Mrs. Aquino expressed to her and her four siblings before passing away. "'Take care of each other.' I know that those words were meant not only for our family," Kris said, "but for all of us as a nation." - With additional reporting by Howie Severino GMANews.TV