Cory Aquino Memorial Shrine and Ninoy Aquino Monument (Manila City)

Names are confusing. There’s a Cory Aquino Memorial Shrine located at the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and Padre Burgos Drive in Manila City. Beside the monument of Cory, within the same fenced premises, is the Ninoy Aquino Monument.

There’s a monument for Ninoy just beside the monument of Cory. Ninoy is officially a hero; Cory is not. The monument of Cory was commissioned by the City Government of Manila; the monument of Ninoy was commissioned by the National Historical Institute. And yet we call it the Cory Aquino Memorial Shrine. But I’m just making a mountain out of a molehill, am I?

The statue, which was unveiled during the 77th birth anniversary of Cory, was made by sculptor Eduardo Castrillo, who also made the country’s first statue of Ninoy in Concepcion, Tarlac. He also made the Ninoy statue at the People Power monument at Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). The monument of Cory Aquino bears a marker with the following words:

Pangulong Maria Corazon “Cory” Aquino
(1933-2009)

Walang takot na kumandidatong Pangulo si Tita Cory sa ilalim ng bandila ng oposisyon sinagisag ng kanyang kabiyak na si Senador Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. na pinaslang nang umuwi sa Pilipinas. Sa ginawang mapayapang himagsikang nakilala bilang EDSA People Power I ng 1986 na nagpabagsak sa diktatura at nagluklok kay Tita Cory bilang ika-11 Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas at kauna-unahang babaing Pangulo sa buong Asya. Tinagurian siya na Ina ng Demokrasya; tumanggap ng gawad Ramon Magsaysay para sa pandaigdig na pagkakaunawaan noong 1988; napili ng Time Magazine bilang “Woman of the Year” ng 1986 at nahanay sa “20 Most Influential Asians” ng ika-20 dantaon noong 1999.

Sa Maynila isinilang si Pangulong Aquino noong ika-25 ng Enero 1933. Binawian siya ng buhay noong unang araw ng Agosto 2009.

Pinasinayaan: Enero 25, 2010.

It’s easy to find the shrine — the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and Padre Burgos Drive, Manila City, just across Manila Hotel. The Monument of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Andres Urdaneta (Intramuros) is at the back, while Rizal Park (Luneta) is in front (see directions). If you’re taking a cab, you can stop right in front. If you’re bringing a car, park in front of the Manila Hotel and take a 5-minute walk. It’s also near Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago.

The marker of Ninoy’s monument, on the other hand, has the following words:

Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.
“Ninoy”
(1932-1983)

Isinilang sa Concepcion, Tarlac, 27 Nobyembre 1932. Cub Reporter, The Manila Times, 1949. Correspondent sa digmaan sa Korea, 1950-1951. Honor ni Pangulong Elpidio R. Quirino, 1951; at ni Pangulong Ramon F. Magsaysay, 1954. Negosyador sa muling pagsailalim sa batas ni HUKBALAHAP Supremo Luis Taruc, 1954. Punong Bayan ng Concepcion, Tarlac, 1955. Pangalawang Punong Lalawigan ng Tarlac, 1959; Punong Lalawigan ng Tarlac, 1961. Senador, 1967. Ibinilanggo matapos ideklara ang Martial Law ni Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos, 23 Setyembre 1972. Hinatulan ng kamatayan ng hukumang militar sa salang subersiyon, ilegal na pag-iingat ng sandata at pagpatay, 1977. Pinahintulutang magtungo sa Estados Unidos upang magpagamot, 1980. Pinaslang nang bumalik sa Pilipinas, 21 Agosto 1983.

By the way, for the benefit of  non-Filipinos who don’t understand the Filipino language, anybody cares to translate the dedications? Please do it in the comment section below. We offer no reward but good karma. Thank you in advance.

Related Posts:

• Remembering the Death Anniversary of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino
• President Corazon “Cory” Aquino (1933-2009)
• History and Beauty in San Agustin Church (Walled City of Intramuros, Manila)
• Change the name of EDSA to Cory Aquino Avenue?