Cory and Ninoy’s legacy: A union that united a nation

A lot has been said of Cory and a lot more will be said of the lady that inspired the nation to become more than what we were, what we are.

I actually did not plan on writing more about her because what else can be said and most has been said with much eloquence already.

But today, I came across the wedding photo of our beloved President Cory Aquino to her equally beloved Ninoy in the blog of my mommy friend ManilaMom.  I was struck that for most of us, it will be hard to image Cory not wearing yellow, it’s just totally alien.  But there she was in a (not-in-the-very-least-bit-yellow) Filipiniana wedding gown, standing with as much innocent joy, very much like the rest of us, on her wedding day.

Photo courtesy of ManilaMom; Cory and Ninoy on their wedding day

I was moved with the simplicity of it, of their union and how totally unaware they were how their union would one day unite more than just their family.

For me, the inspiration is not merely from their heroic acts and selflessness, that is a given.  But the inspiration lies more from how even the most insignificant of facts can one day become so monumental.

Imagine Ninoy without Cory or Cory without Ninoy.  Both are individuals with their own strengths, power and stature.  But because of each other, they grew to become more than what they were as individuals, more to the point, even after the death of one no less.  Isn’t that what marriage is supposed to be?

For me, it is the ultimate promise of Marriage.  Not only to build a family but to grow as individuals while drawing strength from and because of each other.

It is an inspiration because mere mortals like us can also draw strength from their example.  Very few nations are blessed to have that kind of role models to drive a whole generation and beyond to dream, to persevere, and to remain true to what should be.  That we can also be so ordinary at first but by being steadfast and true we may also contribute to what could be for more than just our family in whatever grand or little way it will be.

So how do we live more like Cory and Ninoy? Not only as individuals, as couple and also as a Filipino.

Let’s make the quaint things count,

Theresa