Thousands pay homage to former Philippine president Aquino (Roundup)

Aug 3, 2009, 9:25 GMT

   Manila - Thousands of people came out onto the streets in the Philippine capital Monday to honour former president Corazon Aquino as her remains were transferred to a Manila church two days before her funeral.

   The people - many wearing Aquino's campaign colour, yellow - lined the streets along the route of a 10-wheel truck that carried Aquino's coffin, draped in a Philippine flag and adorned with yellow and white flowers.

   Yellow confetti rained down along the route, especially along Ayala Avenue in Manila's financial district of Makati, which was closed to traffic as thousands packed the road.

   Workers came out of their offices to catch a glimpse of Aquino's coffin while motorists blew their horns as the truck passed by. People flashed the 'L' sign, which was the former president's symbol during her fight against dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

   Aquino, fondly called 'Tita Cory,' or 'Aunt Cory,' died Saturday from cardiorespiratory arrest after battling colon cancer for more than a year. She was 76.

   She is considered a democracy icon in the Philippines and around the world for leading a four-day, protest-driven 'people power' revolution in February 1986, which toppled the 20-year dictatorship of Marcos.

   Yellow banners with the words 'We love you, Tita Cory,' 'Thank you very much, president Cory Aquino,' and 'Cory, you are not alone!' were unfurled on the facades of several buildings along Ayala Avenue as well as pedestrian overpasses along the route.

   'This is just so beautiful,' the former president's youngest daughter, Kris Aquino, said as she and other family followed the truck carrying her mother's coffin. 'Our hearts feel so wonderful that the Filipino people are showing how they love Mom.'

   'I just wanted to say, 'Thank you. Thank you,'' she added. 'I see women crying, and I really just appreciate the love.'

   During the five-hour journey to the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, the truck carrying the coffin had to stop several times as motorists and people crowded around.

   Mourners shouted, 'Cory, Cory, Cory,' while others sang Bayan Ko (My Country), a nationalistic song about people fighting for freedom.

   'I hope you are in heaven already Mrs Aquino,' said Gerry Fry, a 38-year-old parking attendant disabled in an accident 23 years ago who waited for hours in his wheelchair along Manila's Roxas Boulevard.

   'Please continue to pray for us Filipinos and the country,' he added as he waved yellow ribbons.

   Even students who were not yet born when Aquino became the Philippines' first female president joined the thousands lined up to honour her.

   'All I know is that if it was not for Tita Cory, our country would not be free right now,' said 12-year-old Jasmin Vila, who cheered with thousands of students from Manila Science High School as the coffin passed by.

   'We all should remember her courage and her fight for our democracy,' she added.

   The former president's remains are to be placed at the Manila Cathedral until her funeral Wednesday, which has been declared a public holiday.

   Aquino was president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992, during which she rewrote the constitution, freed political detainees and initiated peace talks with communist and Muslim rebels.