Take Care of our Democracy

Now that President Cory, the restorer and staunchest guard of our democracy has left us, we Filipinos must start to take care of this democracy ourselves.

Democracy is Cory Aquino’s greates gift to the Filipino people; the fact that bloggers like me can rant all day speaking of various societal ills, reporters doing free, unrestricted press work, and people in full exercise of their civil liberties owe these to her, whose great courage lent a hand in reinstating democracy to the freedom-desiring Filipino.

But she has left us and has gone to the bosom of her Creator. Nobody will tell us that democracy is attacked; nobody is there to defend it for us. All we have now is each other.

At times when the leaders of our country flirted with the ideas of playing around with the freedom she gave us, she immediately rose to the occasion and defended it. Now, when we see leaders of our country attempt to play with the destiny of this nation and its people, we must defend democracy ourselves. It is not only a commitment to freedom, or a vow to God, but a responsibility; one that keeps Cory’s legacy of freedom restoration alive.

The Filipinos are worth dying for, said Senator Ninoy, The Filipinos are worth living for, said President Cory, and the Filipinos are worth it, said Kris. We say to them, “The Filipino is worth caring for”. For it was Cory’s final message to her family and to the nation. Take care of each other. An understatement of which would’ve been to take care of our freedom.

Now that she rests beside her beloved spouse, Ninoy, may she truly be embraced by her Creator for the wonderful things she has done for our country.

Peace. Tita Cory Aquino (1933-2009).