MANILA, Philippines--Twenty five years after his father, Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was assassinated, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III lamented that nothing much had improved.

"I am saddened that instead of moving forward after 25 years, it seems that the country has moved backward," Noynoy Aquino said on Sunday, during a mass to commemorate his father's death anniversary and to pray for the full recovery of his mother, former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino, who is battling colon cancer.

The senator said that unlike the example of his father, many "are offering themselves to the altar of money and power" instead of serving the people.

After 25 years, he said he "had hoped that choosing the difficult right over the convenient wrong would be easier, almost instinctive, or even unnecessary. However, it saddens me to find that this has not been the case so far."

Cory Aquino also attended the mass at Ateneo de Manila University. Though still ill, the former president was cheerful, greeting friends and well-wishers. She sat on the front row flanked by her grandchildren.

Asked what had changed after 25 years, she said: "Well, I am not really as strong as I was."

The former president granted media requests for an interview. She said she was feeling much better than before, but she had not fully regained her strength.

"It is heartwarming to know that the people still continue to remember Ninoy," she said.

She expressed the hope that her husband would be remembered as "somebody who really loved the Filipino people and proved it by giving up his life for our freedom and for our democracy."

Cory was more optimistic than her son, saying that some positive things have come about following the sacrifice of her husband 25 years ago.

"We have seen the proliferation of nongovernmental organizations. There are many groups helping our people through microfinance," she said, citing the example of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), this year's recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for public service.

"I hope that all of us Filipinos will think how we can help our fellow Filipinos," she added.

Seated behind the former president were Makati Rep. Teddy Locsin, Gina de Venecia and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who arrived shortly after the Mass started.

Former senator Franklin Drilon also attended the mass and was seated with three members of the so-called Hyatt 10, the former Cabinet members of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who turned their backs on her and demanded that she step down in 2005, when audio-tapes indicating she may have cheated in the 2004 presidential elections surfaced.

The three ex-Cabinet members were former finance secretary Cesar Purisima, former social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman and former education secretary Florencio Abad.

Former interior secretary Jose Lina Jr. also greeted the former president before the mass began.

Cory's eldest daughter Maria Elena Cruz, who is celebrating her birthday on Monday, also attended the mass, but she sat away from her mother. Television actress Kris Aquino was not at the church.

In his homily, Fr. Jojo Magadia said "redemption and conversion" marked the death of Ninoy Aquino.

"The sacrifice of Ninoy Aquino redeemed us. Ninoy's death was our redemption," the priest said.

He also lamented the "brazen corruption" in government, the violence in the country, as well as the Filipinos' "tolerance for injustice."

But Magadia said that while it was easy to be discouraged, "we should look back at the life of Ninoy."

"The fight for justice must go on," he said. "We should draw strength from Ninoy."