President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III laid to rest
MANILA – Thousands lined the streets and national highways to bid farewell to the country’s 15th President, Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III who died early Thursday morning as his ashes were transported from Ateneo de Manila University along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City to the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City at about midday today. It has a distance of about 30 kilometers on well-paved roads and highways.
At the Manila Memorial Park, AFP Chief of Staff General Cirilito E. Sobejana and PNP Chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar met the hearse that brought the late chief executive’s ashes.
A flower-decked hearse carried the remains of the country’s chief executive.
The eldest among the Aquino siblings, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz received the Philippine flag from AFP Chief of Staff General Sobejana.
It was show business personality Kris Aquino who placed the urn beside the remains of murdered former Opposition leader Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and housewife turned elected president Corazon C. Aquino III at 1:44 P.M. as the military honor guard played the traditional taps.
As the tomb was sealed, “Bayan Ko”, a patriotic song which was closely associated with the funeral of former Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. in August 1983, was performed.
Electric posts were adorned with yellow ribbons symbolizing the support and affection for the late President Aquino. Candles were lit and flowers were also offered at Times St. in West Triangle, Quezon City by mourning Metro Manila residents.
Some observed had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, the hearse may have taken more time to reach the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City.
In 2009, hundreds of thousands of Metro Manila residents lined the streets where the remains of former President Corazon C. Aquino were brought from the Manila Cathedral and Manila Memorial Park.
The former president passed on early Thursday morning at age 61 due to lingering illness. (Melo M. Acuña)
Screen grabs from RTVM's coverage of the inurnment of the remains of former President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III at the Manila Memorial Park.
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