Cory monument to rise in Manila

The Manila City government will build a monument of the late President Corazon “Cory" Aquino, who died last August 1 from colon cancer, in honor of her contributions to the country. Mayor Alfredo Lim said he would shoulder the expenses for the project and secure the necessary permit from the Department of Tourism. The project is expected to start within the week. The monument would be erected at the corner of P. Burgos Drive and Roxas Boulevard, beside the statue of Mrs. Aquino’s slain husband, Senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., which stands across the historic Manila Hotel. Lim said he has been consulting with Mrs. Aquino’s family so they could decide among themselves what photograph would be used as basis of the sculpture. According to Lim, he wants the Aquino family to decide on every detail of the statue so that it would be to their liking. Lim recalled that in the case of the Ninoy monument, he consulted Mrs. Aquino herself so that she was the one who supplied the photo that became the basis of the sculptor. Lim, a supporter of Mrs. Aquino, also decided to name the newly constructed 3-storey school in Baseco Compound in Intramuros, Manila after the late president. The New President Corazon C. Aquino High School is set to be inaugurated on August 10, 2009 at 11 a.m. - GMANews.TV