On the passing of Cory Aquino

For the most part, I've been quite apathetic about former Philippine president Cory Aquino. There were, after all, some things that she didn't do right during her term. Her passing and the heavy media coverage, however, has caused me to re-evaluate my stand. It has reminded me, along with the millions of Filipinos around the world mourning her death, of how she stood up to the Marcos dictatorship, and how she brought democracy back to the Philippines. Sure, it happened after Senator Ninoy Aquino's death, and she only continued the fight that her husband started, but the simple fact remains: she led the nation to reclaim our freedom. Without her, we would have been left without a leader. Marcos would have stayed in his position, without a strong opposition to challenge Marcos' claim to the country's top position. She stepped up, despite her lack of political leverage, and became the hope of the nation. After Ninoy's death, Cory stood up and gave the Philippines a fighting chance against an oppressive administration. Now, after her death, the Filipino people is once again united, thanking Cory for her valuable contribution to the history of this country. We remember her courage, her leadership, her legacy which forever changed the face of this nation. We owe a lot to her, and it is only right that we acknowledge her leadership as we mourn. She will always be the symbol of hope and unity for the country. In these times, may we not only remember Cory, but be inspired and renewed, that despite adversity from the very institution that is supposed to uphold it, we must always value and fight for our freedom.