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O 011143Z AUG 09 ZDK
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4777
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001617 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL RP
SUBJECT:  "ICON OF DEMOCRACY" PRESIDENT CORY AQUINO PASSES AWAY 
 
REF: MANILA 1414 (IN POOR HEALTH, FORMER PRESIDENT CORY AQUINO 
FIGHTS ONE LAST BATTLE) 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, 
cherished as "President Cory" by the people of the Philippines, 
passed away August 1 at Makati Medical Center surrounded by family 
and friends.  Hospitalized for her deteriorating health since late 
June (reftel), Aquino succumbed to heart failure as a result of 
advanced colon cancer.  President Arroyo, in the U.S. for her July 
30 White House meeting, declared ten-days of mourning to honor the 
former President and said she would return home ahead of schedule. 
While Malacanang has offered a state funeral for the former 
president, the Aquino family's plans for a funeral continue to 
evolve.  A spokesperson said the family preferred holding a funeral 
mass on August 5 instead of a formal state funeral, although Aquino 
family members have advised the Charge d'Affaires that the funeral 
mass could resemble a state funeral.  Having prayed for weeks for 
her recovery, Filipinos are mourning the loss of their most beloved 
president, memorializing her through their continued prayers and an 
outpouring of yellow ribbons.  The Ambassador offered condolences in 
an official press statement and ordered Mission flags on all 
compounds to fly at half-mast.  The Charge d'Affaires represented 
the Ambassador at the opening of Aquino's wake on August 1. 
 
A DIFFICULT BATTLE AGAINST CANCER 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Hospitalized since late June for her deteriorating health, 
"President Cory" passed away at 3:18 a.m. on August 1, in her 
private room at Makati Medical Center.  President Corazon Aquino had 
been fighting stage-four colon cancer that spread to other parts of 
her body, and, as of early July, was not expected to recover 
(reftel).  Family friends joined Aquino's five children, who include 
a senator and a celebrity, at the former president's side during her 
final moments.  In an early morning statement, Aquino's son Senator 
Benigno Aquino III thanked the public for their prayers and support, 
and said it was his mother's wish that Filipinos pray for one 
another and for their country. 
 
PRESIDENT ARROYO OFFERS CONDOLENCES 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) On an intended ten-day trip to the U.S. for a July 30 White 
House meeting and other engagements, President Arroyo publicly 
expressed her condolences to Aquino's family and said that the 
Philippines had "lost a national treasure."  Arroyo declared a 
"ten-day period of national mourning" to honor and memorialize the 
former president.  Arroyo was originally expected to return to the 
Philippines on August 5, although Arroyo's Executive Secretary 
Eduard Ermita said from New York that Arroyo would return earlier, 
with an announcement about her return trip to be made August 1 at 
11:00 p.m. U.S. East Coast time.  Illustrating President Aquino's 
unique place in the pantheon of Philippine leaders, a Malacanang 
Palace press release called her "the country's icon of democracy" 
for her leadership of the successful 1986 uprising against dictator 
President Ferdinand Marcos, hailing her as an "inspiration" to 
nations around the world seeking freedom from tyranny and 
dictatorship. 
 
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS 
-------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Information available as of this report indicates that the 
wake for President Aquino began August 1, 5:00 p.m. at the LaSalle 
School gymnasium in Greenhills, Mandaluyong City, and would conclude 
by early morning Tuesday, August 4.  The Ambassador asked the Charge 
d'Affaires to represent her at the wake.  For the funeral, a requiem 
mass will be held Wednesday, August 5, 9:00 a.m. at the Manila 
Cathedral in the old walled city of Manila, after which President 
Aquino will be laid to rest next to her late husband Ninoy Aquino at 
Manila Memorial Park cemetery in Paranaque City.  While Malacanang 
has offered a state funeral for the former president, the Aquino 
family's plans continue to evolve.  A spokesperson said the family 
preferred holding a requiem mass instead of a formal state funeral, 
though family members at the wake indicated to the Charge d'Affaires 
that the requiem mass could be similar to a state funeral. 
President Arroyo may also decide to hold a separate memorial service 
after her return to the Philippines.  An ongoing public vigil is 
being held at the Epifanio de los Santos (EDSA) shrine in Quezon 
City, the site where President Aquino led protesters against 
President Marcos in 1986. 
 
A NATION, AND THE U.S. MISSION, REACT 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) The passing of President Aquino has dominated all 
Philippine broadcast and print media reporting since the news spread 
 
MANILA 00001617  002 OF 002 
 
 
in the early morning hours.  Media have reported extensively on 
comments made in Washington by Secretary Clinton as well as the 
Ambassador, who was there for the official visit of President 
Arroyo.  Communities around the Philippines, from Luzon to Mindanao, 
are mourning the loss of President Aquino, displaying yellow ribbons 
in her honor.  Provincial governors and religious leaders are 
expressing condolences to the Aquino family through public 
announcements and prayers, and are preparing for special religious 
services on Sunday, August 2. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Ambassador ordered the Mission to honor the memory of 
President Aquino with flags lowered to half-staff, including those 
at the Manila American Cemetery, and through the prominent display 
of yellow ribbons on Mission compounds.  In a press statement, the 
Ambassador offered heartfelt condolences to the Aquino family and 
the Philippine people, noting Cory's leadership in the People Power 
revolution and, for the past 20 years, her close work with the U.S. 
Embassy in helping to select the annual recipients of the Ninoy 
Aquino Fellowships given for public service and journalism.  The 
Charge d'Affaires represented the Ambassador at the August 1 wake at 
LaSalle Greenhills. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Post will continue to be in communication with the Aquino 
family's spokesperson and Philippine officials as the Aquino family 
makes decisions regarding arrangements for the August 5 funeral. 
 
BASSETT