(UPDATE) Cory Aquino dies

(UPDATE) Cory Aquino dies

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 05:18:00 08/01/2009

Filed Under: Health, death notices, Cory Aquino

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino has passed away.

She was 76.

Her son Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III confirmed that she died of
cardio-respiratory arrest at exactly 3:18 a.m. Saturday at the Makati
Medical Center.

Mrs. Aquino has been diagnosed with colon cancer early in 2008 and
has been confined at the Makati Medical Center for more than a month.

Mrs. Aquino, widow of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., will be remembered
as an icon of democracy, having led a military-backed popular revolt in
1986 that ousted a dictator who ruled the country for 20 years.

At about 5 a.m. outside the hospital, Noynoy read a statement announcing the death of his mother.

The statement read:

"Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 a.m., August 1, 2009, of cardio-respiratory arrest.

“She would have wanted to thank each and every one of you for all
the prayers and your continued love and support. It was her wish for
all of us to pray for one another and for our country.

“Hinihiling po ng aming pamilya ang kaunting panahon para makasama namin ang aming mahal na ina.

“Later today, we will be announcing further details of her wake para
sa lahat ng ating mga minamahal na kababayan na nais magbigay ng
respeto sa aming ina. Maraming salamat po.”

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed her condolences to the
family of the former President, Arroyo's press secretary said.

The President is set to declare a week of national mourning, said
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde in a live phone patch from the US where
he is accompanying Arroyo who is on official visit there.

Remonde said the President could cut short her trip but that they
were going to discuss the matter when they get to New York, their next
stop after Washington D.C. where she met President Barack Obama at the
White House.

Arroyo is expected to be back in Manila on August 5.

Remonde also said that under the law, all presidents were entitled
to a state funeral but added that this would be subject to the family's
approval.

Popular TV host Boy Abunda, a close friend of the Aquino family,
told reporters on Saturday that the Aquinos were praying the Sorrowful
Mystery of the Rosary when Cory gave her "last deep breath.”

Abunda said all five children of Mrs. Aquino, and her close friends
and relatives were at her bedside when the former leader passed away.

After that last breath, Abunda said, Mrs. Aquino's children quietly cried.

"Malungkot. Tahimik na nag-iiyakan. Tahimik, except for Kris who was
very quiet," he said, referring to the youngest daughter of Mrs. Aquino.

"Kris was very quiet. She was displaying such courage pero noong
dindadala palabas mga labi ni Tita Cory... because you have to remember
that Kris was in the hospital, Kris was by the side of her mother since
July 20 hanggang sa mga oras na yun. Hanggang ngayon si Kris ay nasa
tabi ng kanyang ina," Abunda said.

He said a Mass, officiated by Fr. Catalino Arevalo, was held after Mrs. Aquino's death.

Abunda said Arevalo is a very close friend of the former leader and had been officiating a Mass for her at the hospital.

A family driver of the Aquinos was seen loading stuff into a white
Toyota Hi-Ace van parked at the back entrance of the hospital. He said
the boxes and luggage belonged to Kris who left the hospital early
Saturday morning. With a report from Niña Calleja and Gil Cabacungan Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer

Woah..! first time reading this! It's very sad that she passed away. Even though I don't know her, but my parents does. They were very sad when they saw the news in BCC. But I'm grateful that she died in a very peaceful death and has ended her suffering, I know how the children of the former President feels when she was confine since my grandmother was also like the Former President, it must have really hurted them as much as I do especially when she died!

rest in peace president