Just like the thousands of Filipinos who witnessed the final journey of democracy icon Cory Aquino last Wednesday, Boholanos from all walks of life also bid a tearful goodbye to the modern-day heroine. The Cory send off here was in the form of yellow balloons (some 100 of them) and nine doves. The yellow symbols soared into the blue sky after a holy mass at the St. Joseph Cathedral as Boholanos joined the nation in sending the former President to her final voyage to the Great Beyond. The balloons, with the words “Salamat Pres. Cory”, raced against each other on the way to the clouds while onlookers led by Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso clapped their hands and cheered at 11:20 Wednesday morning. Before the balloons and the doves were set free, the people who converged at the foot of the statue of Dr. Jose Rizal sang “Bayan Ko”, bringing back memories of the 1980s protest rallies against the Marcos dictatorship. In his homily, Medroso said the wreath laid at the statue of Dr. Jose Rizal with the words “Daghang Salamat,, (Thank You), President Cory” were simple yet they conveyed the nation's gratitude to the fallen President.

“We know and understand the sacrifices that she made to bring back democracy,” Medroso said in his 5-minute homily delivered in Cebuano. Some 2,000 people, some of them clad in yellow and black, attended the 10 am mass with Medroso as main celebrant with 30 priests as concelebrants. “It is just like old days,” said Engr. Vicente Loquellano as he distributed free yellow ribbons to passing motorists at the cathedral entrance. Loquellano, convenor of Dekada 80, a loose organization of activists in the 1980s, said he had given away more than 1,000 pieces since yesterday. His beneficiaries defied category: most were tricycle drivers who tied the ribbons on the passenger handles, habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) drivers, cars of both old and new models, Kia Pregios, Isuzu Crosswinds and Mitsubishi Pajeros. There were few cars out on the street due to the holiday but most people who opted to stay in their homes were glued to their TV sets to watch the proceedings. “Cory is in the minds of nearly everybody today,” remarked a shoe shine boy in Cebuano. The atmosphere at the park was subdued yet there was no mistaking the desire to be part of the national mourning.    Yellow ribbons were tied around the acacia and neem trees and the flag poles on different parts of the park. Many of the people sitting lazily on the park benches wore yellow ribbons on their breasts. A child too young to understand the significance of the event offered yellow flowers to a picture of Cory on the tarpaulin above the wreath at the foot of the Rizal statue.

Meanwhile, members of the provincial board (PB) attended Tuesday's session with yellow ribbons on their breasts.     Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, who presided over the session, said this is the PB's way of expressing solidarity with the Filipino people in this hour of grief. The PB also unanimously passed a resolution condoling with the family of the fallen president. On Tuesday evening, more than 500 people gathered at Plaza Rizal for the vigil in honor of Cory organized by civil society groups including Loquellano's “Dekada 80”. “We want to show our solidarity with the Filipino people in this hour of grief with the passing of President Cory,” said Msgr. Feliciano Nalzaro, one of the organizers of the activity.     Nalzaro said Tuesday's activity was jointly coordinated by the newly-organized Change Politics Movement and Dekada 80. The vigil started at 5 with Judge Jorge Cabalit invited to give an inspirational message. Cabalit, a former Tagbilaran vice mayor, was a founding member of the Justice for Aquino, Justice for All Movement in Bohol. The people who earlier attended the mass for Cory dispersed a few minutes after the balloons and the doves soared into the sky. Only a few remained to talk some more. “Today we mourn, tomorrow we resume the struggle for a better life for our people,” Loquellano declared. All those who heard him say it agreed with him. The country has not heard the last of President Cory.