IRIGA CITY--The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) will declare a “Cory Day” starting next year as a lasting tribute to former President Corazon C. Aquino, the university top official announced after the mass celebrated in honor of the country’s icon of democracy here last Aug. 4.
Lawyer Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda, UNEP president made the announcement in front of offi cials and members of the academic community who attended the Eucharistic celebration presided by Monsignor Raul Pan at a jam-packed university gymnasium that was adorned with yellow ribbons.
The entire nation mourns the loss of a great peace icon, a symbol of democracy and a political exemplar who had led the nation out of an abusive rule and unifi ed all forces to fight the dictatorship. Because of Tita Cory, we regained democracy after the dark years of Marcos dictatorship, Monsignor Raul Pan in his homily said.
Del Alfelor-Tibi, UNEP vice president for Finance, who was on top of the mass preparations said that Tita Cory’s prayerful life is one of the best gifts that she has shared with all of us. “She has taught us that when all else has fallen, we can only turn to God and talk to Him through our prayers and through our faith, that is our best weapon against anything evil.”
The UNEP campus turned yellow during the mass as students and school offi cials pinned small yellow ribbons on their chests while yellow ribbons and streamers tied and displayed in and out of the gym and campus during the occasion proclaimed the love of the academic community to the heroine of the 1986 Edsa Revoultion.
Moraleda said UNEP’s tribute to Tita Cory is intended to remind the students of the legacy of the former president whose ideals and virtues are worth.
Among the universities in Bikol and the country, UNEP is one of the fi rst that made known its plan to declare a special day dedicated to the memory of Tita Cory.
There are now moves in Congress to declare her a national hero.