Cory Aquino death anniversary today; President Benigno Aquino III to visit tomb

When she took over her mother-in-law’s job at Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City three years ago, Malyn Marasigan was often reminded by the late President Corazon Aquino to keep watch on the tomb of her husband, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

“She told me to make sure no one would take away the flowers there,” Marasigan recalled. Other than that, she said, the ever-calm widow with an infectious smile had no other particular requests.

Since 2009, however, Marasigan had been looking after the flowers on two tombs, one of them particularly prepared and painted white for visitors expected today, the second anniversary of Cory Aquino’s death.

The Aquino children had been making unannounced visits to the tombs on ordinary days, Marasigan said.

On Monday, Cory’s only son, President Aquino, is scheduled to visit his parents’ graves for a Mass at 4 p.m., according to a Palace advisory.

Malacañang on Sunday asked Filipinos to pray for Cory Aquino, the late democracy icon, who died of colon cancer two years ago at age 76.

“She shouldn’t worry about the flowers. Nobody steals them,” Malyn said Sunday, as though assuring the former President of her continued vigilance.

Marasigan’s mother-in-law, Editha, used to be the caretaker of Ninoy’s tomb for as long as she could remember, Malyn said. “When she passed away in 2008, my husband and I took over.”

Since the former senator was laid to rest here in 1983 and after his widow was interred next to him 26 years later, their tombs had been drawing curious remarks from visitors who found them to be “too simple” for such an iconic couple, Marasigan said.

Others found the tombs to be very “open” to the public, unlike those in mausoleums or gated enclosures, she said.

Marasigan said the Aquino family probably wanted it that way—for every one to have an easy view of their parents’ final resting place.

She said she would give this explanation to onlookers who would compare the Aquinos’ tombs to that of other famous personalities buried at Manila Memorial Park.

But then, having no “privacy,” the tombs had sometimes been treated irreverently by some unruly visitors.

She said there were times when people climbed over and stood on top of Ninoy’s tomb or placed their on food on it for a “picnic.”

“That ticked me off,” Marasigan said. “I made sure that I called their attention, but on certain days when I really got mad, I gave them a mouthful for disrespecting the tomb.”

In Manila, Mayor Alfredo Lim has signed a proclamation declaring Aug. 1 as Corazon Aquino Day.

But according to Lim’s chief of staff, Ricardo de Guzman, schools and offices in the city would remain open on Monday.

A staunch supporter of the late President, Lim will lead city employees in a commemorative program at the Ninoy-Cory Park on Burgos Street and Bonifacio Drive at 8 a.m. With reports from Christine O. Avendaño and Jaymee Gamil