MANILA, Philippines - The family of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino said Thursday they “remain in complete trust in God’s infinite healing power” as prayers poured in for the cancer-stricken democracy icon.
Mrs. Aquino, who has been battling colon cancer for one and a half years, was admitted to the Makati Medical Center last week and friends have been holding a novena for her recovery.
“Her current hospitalization was necessary because of her loss of appetite, caused by fluid build-up in her stomach area. We remain in complete trust in God’s infinite healing power,” said a statement from the office of her son, Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.
“Our family wishes to thank the Filipino people for their prayers and outpouring of love and concern for our mother. She continues to be a woman of faith, a fighter, a source of hope and inspiration for all of us, not just her family but our entire nation as well,” said the statement. “We entrust everything to God.”
A similar statement from his sister, Kris Aquino-Yap, was sent to news agencies.
Lourdes Siytangco, Mrs. Aquino’s former spokeswoman and a close family friend, quoted family members as saying that the former president “is no longer receiving chemotherapy or any other medical interventions.” Mrs. Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer last year.
“Former President Cory Aquino is now out of the ICU and in a private room, a decision she and her children made in consultation with her doctors,” Siytangco wrote in her regular column in the Manila Bulletin newspaper.
“The country’s beloved “Icon of Democracy’ is fighting the hardest battle of her life at the Makati Medical Center,” she said.
In an interview with reporters after a healing mass for Mrs. Aquino, Sto. Niño de Paz chaplain Rufino Sescon Jr. said he was informed by Margaret Juico, Mrs. Aquino’s trusted aide, that the former President has received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.
However, he stressed that the sacrament is different from the communion of the dying.
“Not really, not really. Anointing of the sick is for those who are seriously ill but not necessarily the point of dying already,” Sescon said after celebrating the second day of the prayer novena for Mrs. Aquino at the Greenbelt chapel.
In an interview with GMANews.TV, Siytangco said Mrs. Aquino “is stable. She is fine.” She declined to give further details.
Former president Joseph Estrada, his wife Loi and children Jinggoy and Jackie attended Thursday’s mass along with Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. and wife Gina, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former agrarian reform secretary Philip Juico, and singer Lea Navarro.
“The whole family is praying for her. I hope she gets well,” Estrada told reporters after the mass. “She’s the most respected president, the most trusted president we’ve had.”
Mrs. Aquino was instrumental in the EDSA uprising in 2001 that toppled Estrada and helped bring President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to power. However, she apologized to Estrada late last year during the launching of de Venecia’s book, saying “all of us make mistakes.” Both former presidents have been critical of Arroyo in recent years.
No visitors allowed
Siytangco said Mrs. Aquino’s “courageous battle with colon cancer has been inspiring with ‘bonus time’ for her living a quality life the past year and a half.”
She said Mrs. Aquino “is aware of the many people praying for her, sending her well-wishes and continues herself to be prayerful.” Supporters started a novena on Wednesday at the Greenbelt chapel in Makati for Mrs. Aquino’s recovery.
Siytangco said no visitors are allowed in Mrs. Aquino’s room at the hospital. Only the former president’s children Ballsy, Sen. Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Pinky, Viel, and Kristina Bernadette are “taking turns” at her bedside, she said.
“The members of her family beg everyone’s understanding of their need for solitude and privacy at this delicate time,” Mrs. Aquino’s family said in a statement posted on Mrs. Aquino’s Web site.
Radio dzBB reported that family members of the former president declined to give media an update on her condition. No hospital official would give the media an update on Mrs. Aquino’s situation either.
Radio dzBB’s Louie Garcia reported early Thursday that Cory’s daughter Kris arrived at the Makati Medical Center at 12:30 a.m. but declined to give reporters a statement. The report said Kris brought clothes and fruits for her mother.
A Makati Medical official said there is no assurance they will issue any medical bulletin because it would depend on the family’s decision. The official also requested members of the media to leave the hospital premises as only family members are allowed to visit Mrs. Aquino.
Sen. Aquino has also declined to discuss his mother’s health condition with reporters.
Palace offers prayers
Saddened over the health condition of the former President, Malacañang on Thursday offered prayers to strengthen Mrs. Aquino in her battle against colon cancer.
“Of course ikinalulungkot ng Malacañang ang report na ang dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino ay nasa maselang kalagayan. Kaya kami ay nakikiisa sa panawagan na ipagdasal natin na maka-survive si Pangulong Cory laban sa cancer,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in an interview on dzXL radio.
[Of course, we at Malacañang are saddened with the reports about the condition of Mrs. Aquino. We are heeding the call for prayers for President Aquino to survive her battle with cancer.]
Mrs. Aquino has been asking Mrs. Arroyo to resign since 2005, in the wake of the “Hello Garci” electoral scandal involving taped conversations between then poll commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and several politicians, including Mrs. Arroyo. with a report from AIE BALAGTAS SEE - GMANews.TV
