Cory Aquino in Serious Condition

News Desk
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Publication Date: 02-07-2009

The cancer-stricken Corazon Aquino has been moved from the intensive care unit to a regular room of Makati Medical Centre and has refused to undergo another cycle of chemotherapy, her spokesperson Deedee Siytangco said Wednesday night.

In an earlier phone interview at 6:20pm, Siytangco said the former president, who is battling colon cancer, had been confined at the hospital for a week and a half because of loss of appetite, but was conscious.

“Her whole family is with her now. She’s in serious condition but we’re hoping for the best,” Siytangco said.

There was no word from actress and TV host Kris Aquino, the former President’s youngest daughter and for a time the family spokesperson on her mother’s condition.

Kris’ manager and longtime friend Boy Abunda said she was weeping and inconsolable.

Abunda said he spoke with Kris by phone at around 6pm Wednesday.

“She asked the people to allow her this time for herself. She said she would rather not talk about her mom’s condition at the moment,” Abunda said.

Call for prayers

Earlier Wednesday at the first of a novena of healing Masses for the 76-year-old Aquino at the Greenbelt 5 chapel in Makati City, Siytangco said “Tita Cory” could “talk and pray” but was “not well”.

“She needs all your prayers,” Siytangco said.

The open-sided chapel was standing room only for the noontime Mass dedicated to Aquino and others afflicted with cancer.

“Our hearts are burdened because of the illness of our beloved former president, and the pain and discomfort she has to endure,” broadcaster Korina Sanchez said, reading the novena prayer.

“You took the hand of our dear sister Cory, as she struggled through every trial, as she confronted every challenge, and embraced every cross of her life. Take her hand now and have mercy on her and upon all poor souls who are in agony and make Your will known to them,” said Sanchez, who has asked the former president to be a sponsor at her wedding to Senator Mar Roxas.

Among those present at the Mass were former members of the Aquino Cabinet led by former Senate president Franklin Drilon and wife Mila, former finance secretary Ramon del Rosario Jr, Popoy Juico and his wife Margie, who served as Aquino’s appointments secretary, Manila Mayor Fred Lim, and anti-Arroyo activists Dinky Soliman and Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement.

In Negros Occidental, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra also called on the faithful to pray for Aquino’s well-being.

Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Buzon did the same in extolling Aquino’s legacy to the nation, which was to end the Marcos dictatorship in February 1986 and restore freedom and democracy to the nation.

‘We need her’

In a statement issued by his office, Aquino’s only son, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, said he “sincerely thanks all those who attended the novena Mass and those who continue to pray for his mother’s healing".

Drilon said he last spoke with Noynoy Aquino last week and that the latter “did not sound very optimistic because of his mother’s appetite problem”.

“We have no other recourse but to pray, pray very hard, for her,” Drilon said in a phone interview. “It’s very difficult to lose Cory at this time when we need her most.”

Aquino, known as the icon of Filipino people power, remained active in social and political causes even after stepping down from office.

In July 2005, she added her voice to the growing call for President Arroyo’s resignation over allegations of vote-rigging and corruption, and later joined protest rallies against the administration.

Senators Roxas and Manuel Villar Jr, both presidential aspirants, called on the people to pray for Aquino.

“I have heard the news that President Aquino is undergoing a difficult time in her illness,” Roxas said, adding that he joined the people in praying for her quick recovery.

“President Cory is one of the greatest leaders I respect and emulate,” he said, adding:

“Mrs President, please fight on. We need you.”

Villar said the former president was entering “a critical period in the battle against cancer”.

“We will forever be indebted to President Cory for her significant contribution to the restoration of democracy in the country. In this time when there are serious threats to our democracy, she remains the icon that our people turn to for hope,” Villar said in a statement.

“Our prayers are also with the members of her family. May their unshakeable faith in God strengthen them in this difficult time,” he said.

‘Let’s storm heaven’

Even Malacañang called on the public to pray for Aquino’s immediate recovery.

“That’s bad news,” Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello, who served as justice secretary during the Aquino administration, said of reports that Aquino was seriously ill.

“Let’s start praying for her. Let’s storm heaven with our prayers for the former President to be given a new lease on life,” Bello said in a phone interview.

He said he had always included Aquino in his prayers, and that he would go to St Jude Church near Malacañang to offer prayers for her.

Malacañang held a thanksgiving Mass early in May for the successful colon cancer operation of Aquino at Makati Medical Centre. Arroyo, then in Syria, called to instruct her Cabinet officials to organise the Mass.

In attendance at that Mass was Aquino’s brother Jose Cojuangco and wife Margarita Cojuangco, and brother-in-law Agapito “Butz” Aquino.

Reports from Fe Zamora, Allison W. Lopez, Marinel R. Cruz, Christine O. Avendaño and TJ Burgonio in Manila; Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas