Aquino leads commemoration of Cory's 1st death anniversary

President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday led his family and hundreds of yellow-clad supporters in commemorating the first death anniversary of his mother, former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino.

A memorial mass is being held as of posting time at the St. Benilde Gymnasium at the La Salle Greenhills campus, which was also the venue of Mrs. Aquino's wake when she passed away last year after battling colon cancer. The mass is being presided by Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan Bishop Socrates Villegas, a family friend of the Aquinos. The gymnasium bears a historical significance to the Aquino family because it was also the venue of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) 1986 snap elections quick count that showed Mrs. Aquino winning over the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. But the Commission on Elections declared Marcos the winner. Allegations of fraud in the February 1986 snap polls enraged the public, who took it to the streets. The massive street protests eventually ended Marcos' 20-year dictatorial rule and catapulted Mrs. Aquino to the presidency. New 'People Power' Prior to Sunday's mass, President Aquino and his sisters Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, and Kris unveiled the marker beside the chalkboard showing the results of the Namfrel tally in the 1986 snap polls. o The President's cousin, Ninoy and Cory Aquino Fundation executive director Rafael "Rapa" Lopa, introduced the leaders of various non-government organizations that pledged to help bring change in the new Aquino administration. These include the groups One Tama, Hapag-Asa Integrated Nutrition Program, Dynamic Teen Company, Gawad Kalinga, Sparks for Change, 57 75 , KIDS Foundation, Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP), and YES Pinoy Foundation. After the mass, Mr. Aquino is set to deliver a message and then proceed with his family to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, where his parents, Cory and the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. are buried. Various personalities Among the personalities present at the event are Vice President Jejomar Binay, a Cory Aquino loyalist who rose to power when she appointed him officer-in-charge of Makati City in 1986. His family has since ruled the city. Also present are members of Mr. Aquino's Cabinet, namely, Education Secretary and former De La Salle University president Bro. Armin Luistro, Justice Sec. Leila de Lima, Budget Sec. Florencio Abad, Social Welfare Sec. Dinky Soliman, Foreign Affairs Sec. Alberto Romulo, Finance Sec. Cesar Purisima and presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. Senators Teofisto Guingona III and Sergio Osmeña III, as well as House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. were also seen at the La Salle Greenhills gymnasium. — LBG, GMANews.TV