Members of the Aquino family and other Filipinos visited the Aquino family mausoleum at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City on Monday, All Souls’ Day.
Civil society leader Kiko Aquino Dee, with his parents, Viel Aquino Dee and Richard Dee, lit yellow candles and offered prayers at the mausoleum to remember the late former senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., and former presidents Corazon ‘Cory’ Aquino and Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III.
In an interview with the Inquirer, Kiko thanked Filipinos who took time to visit and remember his relatives.
‘Alam po namin na mahalagang panahon po yung Undas para sa maraming Pilipino kaya talagang naha-humble po kami na may nakakahanap pa rin ng oras na bumisita po dito kahit na talagang dapat naman talaga inuuna po yung mga pamilya natin sa panahon na ito, so thank you po talaga,’ he said.
(‘We know that Undas is an important occasion for many Filipinos, so we are truly humbled that people still make time to visit here, even though this is a time when they should really be prioritizing their own families, so we are truly grateful.’)
Asked what legacy he hoped visitors would remember when they visit the Aquino family mausoleum, Kiko recalled how his grandfather Ninoy, grandmother Cory, and uncle Noynoy, along with other Filipino heroes, stood up when they saw something wrong in society.
‘Marami rin naman po yung lumalaban sa kasalukuyang panahon. Sana yung mga yumao at pati na rin yung mga lumalaban po ngayon, sana ay suportahan po natin sila,’ he said.
(‘There are still many people fighting for what is right today. I hope we continue to support both those who have passed away and those who continue to fight in the present.’)
Members of the religious community
Among the other visitors were brothers Martin Angelo Ansano and Sean Zaluaga, seminarians from the University of Sto. Tomas.
Zaluaga recalled how some of his former formators at the UST Central Seminary participated in the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution after hearing the call of then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.
Their stories, he said, gave him a deeper appreciation of the Church’s role in promoting peace and standing with the community during crucial moments in Philippine history.
‘Hindi tayo pwedeng tahimik when there’s corruption. Hindi tayo pwedeng tahimik talaga,’ Zaluaga said.
(We cannot remain silent in the face of corruption. We really cannot afford to stay silent,)
Also, Ruben Bergonia, a safety officer working for a private company in Las Piñas City who hails from Cagayan Valley also offered prayers for the three.
Bergonia, who wore a yellow shirt and stayed at the mausoleum from 8 a.m. until past 10 a.m., said it had long been his dream to visit the Aquino family because of their contributions to Philippine history and society.