Cory gets 2nd posthumous award from Catholic Church

The late former President Corazon Aquino was given her second posthumous award from the Roman Catholic Church Wednesday, this time for being a model of Christian living. Mrs. Aquino’s first posthumous award was given by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) for her exemplary service to “Deo et Patria" (God and country). Catholic Church officials handed the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) "Serviam" award to Mrs. Aquino's nephew Bam Aquino at the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City on Wednesday. “Tita Cory gave the Filipino people in her time a reason to hope, a reason to rise from the tragedies and calamities brought about by governance at that time," Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president Angel Lagdameo said in his speech at the awarding ceremonies. He also lauded Mrs. Aquino for promoting the culture of respect, dialogue and friendship in her time. Excerpts of Lagdameo's speech were posted Thursday on the CBCP news Website. Also on hand to present the award for Mrs. Aquino were Papal Nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, and Manila Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales. The CMMA award cited Mrs. Aquino for her “service to the people as a genuine democratic leader was firmly grounded on Christian values and ideals." Mrs. Aquino died last August 1 after more than a year's battle with colon cancer. Her death and the 26th anniversary of the assassination of her husband former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. triggered a surge in popularity of their son, Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, who was later persuaded to run for the presidency in the 2010 elections. Lagdameo, in lauding Mrs. Aquino, said her advocacy for truth was not limited to simply articulating it. He said that for the former President, “truth learned… through prayer was something to be practiced." “Yes, she was a servant of truth, servant of caritas, servant of the people who elected her," he added. The "Deo Et Patria Award" was given by the CEAP last Sept. 16 during its national convention at the Manila Hotel. Cory legacy Mrs. Aquino led the Filipinos in restoring democratic institutions in the country after the fall of the Marcos dictatorial regime during the 1986 Edsa People Power uprising. Citing milestones in the administration of Mrs. Aquino, a GMANews.TV article written by Ping Galang said that the Philippines in the late ‘70s and until mid-‘80s was “to the rest of the world a nation of 60 million recreants and one dictator… a fragmented people incapable of facing up to a despot in Malacañang who led a corrupt government in turning a once-prosperous economy into an impoverished state in the middle of a “booming" Southeast Asia. - GMANews.TV