A GIGANTIC photo mosaic featuring a larger-than-life image of the late President Corazon Aquino was unfurled at the Luneta grounds yesterday, one of the many tributes commemorating the first anniversary of her death a year ago today.

Her son, President Aquino led family, friends and supporters in the unveiling of the mosaic?mounted on a tarpaulin weighing four tons and measuring 60 by 76.2 meters?containing 3,200 color and black-and-white photographs of his mother. Most of the photos were taken during her presidency by amateur and professional photographers.

Mr. Aquino said the mosaic symbolized the hope that sprung among Filipinos, beyond the expressions of sympathy for the loss of his mother.

?When she passed away a year ago, I must admit that at first I was a bit concerned that public support for the principles that she stood for had waned over the years. However, I was more than reassured at the record number that flocked to pay tribute to her and what she stood for. It was an expression of tremendous love we did not expect,? he said in his remarks.

Symbol of hope

?[However], beyond the expression of sympathy, it was a resurgence of hope and a realization that each of us has a role in alleviating our common burden. This mosaic of photographs is a symbol of that hope,? he said.

He recalled an important lesson about conviction that his mother had taught him which, he said, was critical in his decision to run for President.

?I remember her best for what she taught me when she said, ?I could not live with myself knowing that I could have done something and I chose not to.? The burden she once carried is now upon me. She managed to overcome it with the help of the people. [She] confronted many challenges and no matter how difficult they were, she never gave up,? Mr. Aquino said.

?I hope and pray that you will also be by my side so that the change that we committed to work on together will soon become a reality,? he told his audience.

Goosebumps

The President later told reporters how much he missed his mother and how he was touched by the continuous outpouring of love and support for her, particularly from the youth who participated in yesterday?s unveiling.

More than 100 rain-soaked Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila students unrolled the photo mosaic which covered almost the entire grassy area fronting the Quirino Grandstand.

A small remote-controlled model plane fitted with a camera hovered in the air as the mosaic was being laid out on the ground. The camera captured an aerial view of the mosaic that was flashed on to a giant screen, eliciting cheers and applause from the crowd.

?It gave me goosebumps, it was so beautiful,? said one woman bystander.

Main photo by Tess Rivera

Viewed from above, the mosaic of photos formed a giant close-up of Cory?s face.

The main image that was used was contributed by Tess Puzon-Rivera, a breast cancer survivor who said she was a big fan of the late President.

?I took that photo in November 2004 at her house. Originally, I took it with some of her paintings in the background,? said Rivera, who described herself a photo hobbyist.

Rivera said she couldn?t believe it at first when she was told that it was her entry that was chosen for the mosaic?s main photo.

?I feel very proud,? she said, tearing up as the mosaic was flashed on the giant screen.

?It?s really something very special for me because we spent time talking after the shoot, she was really very nice,? she said.

During the program, composer Jose Mari Chan sang ?I Have Fallen in Love with the Same Woman Three Times,? a poem that Ninoy wrote for Cory, which left some people in the audience misty-eyed.

Size of 10 basketball courts

The mosaic is the handiwork of photojournalist and mosaic artist Revoli Cortez who covered the Cory presidency.

Cortez is hoping that the mosaic will make it to the Guinness Book of World Records.

?Its size is equal to more than 10 basketball courts combined. It?s also enough to cover the entire facade of a building, say the Manila Hotel, when it?s laid in full from the rooftop to the ground,? he said.

It took Cortez, with the help of Cory?s friends and supporters, about nine months to finish the mosaic.

?It was initially intended for President Cory?s birthday last January but we lacked the time and resources,? he explained.

He said the actual cost of the mosaic was about P1 million, ?but with the help of generous sponsors, including the Golden Touch Corp., which printed the tarp, we were able to cut the cost by half.?

Interesting photos

Of the thousands of pictures that were sent in, he found the photograph of Noynoy, the President, holding an Uzi unique. He said the photo was apparently taken during one of the coups d?etat against Noynoy?s mother.

?I also find interesting the one showing President Cory talking to Mother Teresa. There are a lot actually,? said Cortez.

Deedee Siytangco, Cory?s spokesperson who is now a member of the Cory Veterans, said Saturday?s program was called ?Cory sa Luneta? because it was here that she decided to celebrate the Thanksgiving Mass after the snap elections in 1986.

?It was here that she saw how much the people loved her,? Siytangco said.

Display period

According to Siytangco, the initial plan was for the mosaic to be on display at the Luneta for a week before being rolled up, perhaps for recycling.

But she later said the organizers would be meeting with the Manila government to allow it to be displayed for the whole month of August.

According to Cortez, who presented the President with a replica of the mosaic, the tarpaulin will eventually be given to the Department of Social Welfare and Development which will fashion tents out of it.

Also at yesterday?s program were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former members of the Cory administration and members of various organizations, including Spirit of Edsa, Cory Veterans, among others.

Most of them were in Cory?s signature yellow.