MANILA, Philippines — Former President Benigno S. Aquino III’s remains were already cremated and would be laid to rest beside their parents’ burial place at the Manila Memorial Park, according to his sister Kris Aquino.
The youngest Aquino said in a briefing with reporters at the Heritage Memorial Park on Thursday evening that a public viewing for those who wished to pay their last respects to her brother would be held at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) on Friday.
A later statement from the family indicated that the public viewing at ADMU in Quezon City would be from 10:oo a.m. to 10:00 p.m. On Saturday, Aquino said that the former statesman’s ashes would be buried beside their parents – former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon C. Aquino.
“Dahil alam namin na marami ang mga nagmahal at sumuporta kay Noy, so the cremation is already finished, tomorrow we will have a mass in Ateneo for him, and on Saturday we will bury him beside our parents in Manila Memorial (Park),” she said.
The actress also apologized for the short and simple ceremony, as they would like to avoid large crowds in accordance with safety and health protocols against the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also admitted that they were surprised about Noynoy’s demise.
“Gano’n ka-simple lang, sana maintindihan ninyo na we did not think it would happen this soon, and we are just trying our best na hindi magkaroon ng super spreader event,” she explained.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng mga nagpapadala ng condolences, sa lahat ng mga nakikita namin, na mga nakikiramay sa amin, sa lahat ng mga mayors, sa lahat ng mga gobernador, sa lahat ng mga establishimento na on their own nag-decide na i-half staff ang mga bandila ng Pilipinas,” she added.
The family statement also detailed that the public viewing of the ex-president’s urn at ADMU would specifically take place in the Church of the Gesu, and would be streamed live via the Radyo Katipunan 87.9 Facebook page.
“In appreciation for the outpouring of prayers and sympathies for the late Former President Benigno S. Aquino III, there will be a one-day public viewing of President Aquino’s urn at the Church of the Gesu inside the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. The public viewing will be from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM tomorrow, Friday, 25 June 2021,” the family said.
“In adherence to the regulations of the IATF for COVID-19, the Aquino family enjoins everyone who intends to personally pay their last respects to the former President, to follow the health protocols and social distancing measures that will be implemented by the Ateneo de Manila University in coordination with the authorities,” they added.
Early this afternoon, Aquino’s sisters led by Pinky Aquino-Abellada confirmed that the former president died peacefully in his sleep before he was rushed to the Capitol Medical Center.
Aquino-Abellada said that the death certificate indicated his brother’s time of death at 6:30 a.m. and that his passing was due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.