Javier widow hopes Cory will overcome illness
The widow of slain opposition leader and former Antique Gov. Evelio Javier has remained optimistic that former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino will surmount her affliction with cancer of the colon.
"In my heart, I am confident that she will prevail emotionally and spiritually during these days of trial. In her own way, she will overcome," said Precious Lotilla-Javier, in an e-mail from the United States, after she learned of Aquino's condition.
"My thoughts, my prayers and my love are with her," said Javier who like Aquino, lost her husband fighting the Marcos dictatorship.
Evelio Javier was gunned down on February 11, 1986 in the capital town of San Jose Antique while monitoring the canvassing of votes of the snap presidential elections which pitted Marcos and Aquino. Javier's murder hastened the disintegration of the dictatorship culminating in the Edsa People Power I uprising two weeks later.
Javier said that the few moments that she shared with the former president "always gave me the impression that she is a very calm, strong, and prayerful lady."
She said she first met Aquino in Boston, Massachusetts on March 2, 1981 when, Aquino's husband, slain opposition leader and former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. was a Visiting Fellow in the Center for International Affairs and Evelio Javier was a graduate school student at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
Javier also recalled Aquino's presence at the Ateneo chapel on February 1986 when her husband’s remains lay in state at his alma mater.
This was followed by several other meetings including when Aquino was already president.
"The meetings with her were very special moments. I drew strength and courage from her. I always felt energized by those visits," said Javier.
Ousted former president Joseph Estrada also expressed sympathy with Aquino.
Estrada who was in Iloilo City on Friday as speaker in the commencement exercises of the University of Iloilo said Aquino is a "symbol of democracy in our country."
"We are saddened (with) the news that she has cancer. I pray that she will overcome," said Estrada.
He said Aquino is an "inspiration of every Filipino...for restoring democracy in our country and will still be an inspiration" despite her condition.
"Nobody can replace her," said Estrada.