MANILA, Philippines—The prayers of all Filipino priests were pledged Monday by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales for former President Corazon Aquino, who is afflicted with colon cancer.

Aquino, 75, had her first chemotherapy session Monday night at Makati Medical Center, according to sources.

Also among the flurry of prayers for the Philippines’ icon of democracy were those from Malacañang, where Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was “one with us” in praying for Aquino’s recovery.

Ousted President Joseph Estrada is also praying for Aquino and her family, his spokesperson Margaux Salcedo said in a statement. He has called on his supporters to pray for Aquino’s speedy recovery and “strength to overcome this battle,” Salcedo said.

Aquino remains “strong and prayerful” and continues to be a “pillar of strength,” according to her children—four daughters and a son.

She “feels blessed” despite her illness, and has reminded her family “that we should never question God’s will,” her youngest child, TV-movie personality Kris Aquino, told “TV Patrol.”

The grim diagnosis was made after a series of medical tests to which Aquino submitted after her family expressed concern over her persistent cough, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Earlier, during the week between Christmas and New Year, Aquino suffered from high blood pressure and had difficulty breathing followed by a fever, Kris said in a statement she read, voice breaking, over ABS-CBN with her brother, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, by her side.

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

Part of history

Their mother being “part of Philippine history,” the family decided to issue the statement to avert speculation on her condition, Kris said.

“Our mother has always believed in being upfront over and above everything else. She is a woman who has lived her entire life trusting in the Lord, and she has always been a woman of great faith,” Kris said.

She aired the family’s request that their mother, like any other convalescing patient, be allowed respite from the public glare: “It’s a very difficult time for our family, most especially our mother. We respectfully ask that she be accorded her privacy.”

Aquino—widow of the assassinated former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., “Cory” to the Filipino public, and heroine of the “People Power” revolt that toppled the dictator Ferdinand Marcos—was President from 1986 to 1992.

“I have not always won but ... I never shirked [from] a fight,” she said in 1992 before handing power over to her successor, Fidel Ramos.

Aquino has been actively supporting Rodolfo Lozada Jr., whistle-blower in the National Broadband Network scandal, and has again called for President Arroyo’s resignation.

The first time Aquino made the call was at the height of the “Hello Garci” wiretapping scandal in 2005, when Ms Arroyo was accused of rigging the 2004 presidential election.

Strength

Boy Abunda, Kris’ friend and co-host, recalled that Kris was distraught when they taped the talk show “Boy & Kris” on Holy Monday and Tuesday.

“She would cry quietly in her dressing room. On the set, we would talk in whispers. No one else knew of her mother’s ailment at that time,” he said.

Abunda quoted Kris as saying that her mother was the family’s “pillar of strength” in this crisis.

“Kris told me that her mom remained strong and prayerful. She never wavered in her faith. Kris also confided in me that her mom reassured her: ‘There must be some meaning to this,’” he said.

Abunda said Kris’ 12-year-old son, Josh, was also deeply affected:

“He stays with his Lola Cory four times a week. Kris told me that Josh kept saying: ‘Lola is well, Lola is well.’ Tita Cory’s only answer was: ‘That should be your prayer, Josh.’”

Deo Endrinal, Kris’ manager, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the former President had appointed Kris and Senator Aquino as the family’s official spokespersons.

He said Kris had cut short her vacation in Bangkok and returned home to be with her mother at the hospital:

“Most of the checkups had to be done in Manila during the Holy Week. Kris wanted to be with her mom, sisters and brother throughout the hospital visits.”

Endrinal said Kris, being “closest to her mother,” wished to “devote as much time as possible to her care.” He also said “going abroad for further treatments is not an option as of now.”

Abunda said Kris read the family statement at Roberto Antonio’s, a flower shop co-owned by himself and Kris and located near the ABS-CBN studios in Quezon City.

Beloved

The Black and White Movement said it was one with the Aquino family in “fervent prayers for the healing and speedy recovery” of the former President.

It added: “To us she is and will always be an exemplar of the unshakable resolve that faith brings, an imperturbable icon of democracy, of an undefeatable confidence in the Filipino. We trust that the good Lord will heed the prayers of a whole nation and grant her divine healing, according to His perfect will.

“We pray, too, for the Aquino family, especially her children, that in this most difficult hour God might give them comfort and peace—the kind of peace that transcends all understanding.

“We entreat every Filipino, wherever they may be, to be united in prayers for our beloved Cory Aquino.”

Similar calls for prayers were issued by Deedee Siytangco, who once served as Aquino’s official spokesperson; Negros Occidental leaders, including Gov. Isidro Zayco and former Gov. Daniel Lacson Jr., as well as the Diocese of Bacolod; Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, and Baguio Bishop Carlito Cenzon.

Cruz expressed admiration for Aquino’s strength considering her physical condition.

“I wish her well. I hope that she will be blessed by God and [recover from this ailment]. We will pray for God’s mercy and healing,” he said.

Cenzon described Aquino as a woman of conviction who had chosen to be an activist.

“We must admire her for doing the things that she is doing now. She is doing this out of conviction ... She is a brave President,” he said.

Sadness

Pampanga Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao said he was confident that with Aquino’s “strength of character” and “devout faith in the Lord,” she would “not be defeated by the ailment.”

Guiao is a son of the late Gov. Bren Guiao, Aquino’s friend and political ally.

Estrada spokesperson Salcedo said the ousted President was “deeply saddened” by the news of Aquino’s illness.

“The unfortunate news also comes at such a bad time, as President Aquino has been one of those at the forefront of the search for truth and restoration of democracy in our country,” Salcedo said.

In Bataan, Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas likewise expressed sadness.

“I am very, very sad. She is our icon of faith and we put our trust in God [for] her health,” said Villegas, who was the Manila auxiliary bishop during the time of then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.

“I am sure she will be even more a true role model of prayer and courage as she carries this sickness,” Villegas said.

In Malacañang, Bunye said: “We know that with [Aquino’s] strength and total trust in God, as well as the love and support of everyone around her, she will be able to surmount this as she has conquered all the other trials in her life.”

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told reporters he was sorry to hear the bad news.

“We just have to pray for her recovery,” Ermita said.

Said Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who served as Tanodbayan during Aquino’s term:

“I wish her recovery. The darkest day of the Holy Week has passed already. Judas, Barabas, Pilate and the other Pharisees are already beyond us, so now we have the Easter Sunday light.” Reports from Jeannette I. Andrade, Bayani San Diego Jr., Cynthia D. Balana, Dona Z. Pazzibugan, Christine O. Avendaño, Kristine L. Alave and Leila B. Salaverria in Manila; Gabriel Cardinoza and Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon; Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon; Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas