Cory Aquino stricken with colon cancer

PEOPLE power icon and former President Corazon Aquino is suffering from cancer of the colon, a condition which was confirmed after a medical check-up prompted by her high blood pressure, difficulty in breathing, unexplained weight loss, and lack of appetite last December. This was revealed today by her children, Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino and daughters Ma. Elena Cruz, Aurora Corazon Abellada, Victoria Elisa Tee and Kristina Bernadette Yap in a public statement.

In their statement, Mrs. Aquino’s children asked for two things: prayers from the public, and for the media and the public to respect her privacy as she undergoes treatment.

Mrs. Aquino, 75, fondly called “Tita Cory” by the public and even her cabinet, came to power in 1986 via the first Edsa Revolution, which saw the ouster of the dictator Marcos.

Read the PCIJ’s article on Cory Aquino as one of 20 featured Filipinos in i Report‘s special Edsa 20th anniversary issue in 2005. Listen also to the podcast interview we had with the widow of assassinated senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr. who was borne to Malacañang on the wings of People Power, and who became the symbol of the country’s suffering under the iron rule of Ferdinand Marcos.

She retired to her one-story Times St. residence in Quezon City after leaving office in 1992. She resurfaced only during official Malacanang functions that required her presence, including meetings of the Council of Elders, to which former heads of state are members.

However, she also spoke her mind when the democratic institutions she helped restore during her incumbency were under threat. She spoke out against efforts to amend the constitution during the Ramos and Arroyo administrations. She even met with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal, asking the beneficiary of the second Edsa Revolution to “make the supreme sacrifice” by resigning.

Mrs. Aquino also met with Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., after the latter testified about the corruption that attended the $329 million national broadband network (NBN) deal.

In recent weeks, she attended masses and prayer rallies in protest of the NBN deal.

When not busy with her civil society work, Mrs. Aquino paints.

Below is the full text of the Aquinos’ statement:

Statement of Sen. Aquino and his sisters on their mother’s health condition

March 24, 2008

Our mother had suffered from an episode of high blood pressure and difficulty in breathing followed by fever during the week in between Christmas and New Year. Since that time, we became concerned because of her consistent cough, loss of appetite and noticeable weight loss.

Our mom wanted to know what was wrong with her, and with her family by her side, she submitted herself to a check-up and several tests. The results showed that our mother is suffering cancer of the colon.

Our mother has always believed in being up-front. Over and above anything else, she’s a woman who has lived her entire life entrusting everything to the Lord, and she has always been a woman of great faith.

Ang pamilya po namin ay kagaya lamang ng sa inyo. Mahal na mahal namin ang nanay namin at handa kaming magbigay ng suporta, lakas, at pagkalinga sa oras ng kanyang matinding pagsubok.

Alam po namin na ang buhay ng aming pamilya ay bahagi na ng kasaysayan ng ating bayan. Desisyon po ng nanay namin na mag-release kami ng statement, para maunawaan ng lahat ang kanyang kasalukuyang kalagayan. Nakikiusap po kami na sana maintindihan ninyo na kailangan ng aming ina, kagaya ng lahat ng pasyenteng nagpapagaling, ng panahon ng katahimikan.

It’s a very difficult time for our family, most especially for our mother. We respectfully ask that she be accorded her privacy.

Our mom remains a believer in the power of prayer. We ask for your compassion and for your prayers for our mother’s recovery.