Cory has left us a great many challenges to continue fighting for like a new president in 2010, clean and honest elections, stamping out graft and corruption, and building a better future for our people. The spontaneous outpouring of love and support for her and the indubitable rekindling of the EDSA spirit vis-à-vis the widespread sentiment of wala-kang-mapili from among the "presidentiables" and GMA's cryptic SONA in sharp contrast with Cory's Paalam before, all seem to point to one thing that can give us reason for hope: Noynoy for President.
For sure, Noynoy's silent courage in the midst of unfathomable grief, just like Cory's after Ninoy was assassinated, did not go unnoticed. Standing out, too, was his steely resolve for principle and honor like Ninoy's, readily seen in his outright rejection of the state funeral dangled by the administration. More, he showed graceful statesmanship in attending to GMA's presidential visit with dignity despite her being personally unwelcome.
Cardinal Rosales, reflecting on the multitudes who paid tribute to Ninoy then and now to Cory, exhorted in his eulogy that the next President of the Philippines should be like Ninoy and Cory. That would be Noynoy himself, no doubt.
From the young age of 13, Noynoy has carried the cross of public sacrifice for others' sake. Ninoy asked him then to take care of Cory and his sisters and work for the awakening of the people in a last will written from prison in Fort Bonifacio, in the dead of night on August 25, 1973, upon deciding to walk into the "jaws of death" as a "last act of defiance against tyranny and dictatorship."
Noynoy not only has Ninoy's and Cory's dugong bayani in his veins; he has shed that blood for our democracy. A constant reminder lies buried in his neck, that is, one of five bullets that peppered him to near death in one of 7 coup attempts against Cory then.
As a 3-term Congressman and opposition Senator now, Noynoy has tirelessly worked for public accountability and liberal democracy. Among his quiet achievements against corruption has been to make military procurement of petroleum, oil and lubricants transparent through public bidding.
"A working democracy must be able to provide jobs, education, social services and equitable economic prosperity for everyone, not just the rich, privileged few."
Verily, public office, primarily the presidency, is a public trust to make life better for all.
And if we had become cynical of People Power over time, it is because of the tragedy that many people in power forget the people and think only of themselves, while many of our people forget their power to check abuse and inefficiency or think only of "what's in it for me?" or worse, "why bother?"
But Cory's passing has given us People Power reborn. And Noynoy. Hence, we make our own Ninoy's fateful testament-
"Son, the ball is now in your hands."