On the Web, thousands more grieve for Cory

By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 18:27:00 08/03/2009

MANILA, Philippines – The outpouring of condolences and support for former President Cory Aquino continues to flood the Internet, a venue for those who cannot join thousands who gathered in the streets to pay respect and mourn her passing.

Many of those who are attending Mrs. Aquino’s wake at Manila Cathedral are sending updates through microblogging sites Twitter and Plurk.

Currently the word “Manila Cathedral”, where Aquino’s body is being brought for necrological service, is at the top 10 most discussed topics on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the words “Cory Aquino,” “Tita Cory,” “Manila Cathedral,” “Yellow Ribbon,” and “Ayala” are among the top trends in Plurk.

Cory Aquino’s death last Saturday morning has been consistently one of the most discussed topics in both sites.

Since Saturday, Internet traffic through social networking sites, forums and even YouTube were already up after Aquino succumbed to colon cancer.

Facebook accounts about the former president are being activated. Several hundred users of the popular social networking site are clicking to become supporters.

“President Cory has sacrificed so much for love of God and country. Not anyone of us would have done what she did,” one Facebook subscriber said.

Another subscriber, Rica Prats said: “rest in peace Pres Cory. Thank you for bringing freedom from dictatorship and democracy to an oppressed country. We will miss you!”

Twitter and Plurk were among the first to register increased traffic.

‘Virtual’ yellow ribbon

One of the more popular images that came out since Mrs. Aquino’s medical condition became known was the virtual yellow ribbon, which started on July 23 by the blog forum Barrio Siete (http://barriosiete.com/touch-a-blogger-tie-a-yellow-ribbon-for-cory-aquino/).

The call gathered steam in the following weeks as her condition worsened. Many users pasted the iconic yellow ribbon on their blogs and even on their pictures.

A large tarpaulin with the yellow ribbon design is also seen at the 6750 building along Ayala Avenue.

Local online forum PinoyExchange.com also registered increased traffic, hours after stories of Mrs. Aquino’s death early Saturday morning started appearing in local news websites.

While most of the messages in PinoyExchange gave prominence to Aquino’s charisma after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, a few gave dissenting statements. One forum member, “drhenry4” stressed that the Philippines’ economy worsened during her term.

“Economic component of democracy cannot be discounted and for Cory to be branded an "icon of democracy" is really dubious if not awkward,” drhenry4 said.

Another forum member “batabatuta,” criticized Aquino for her inability to lead but credited her for being a symbol of hope among Filipinos tired of the dictatorship under former president Ferdinand Marcos.

Videos of Aquino and other memoriam videos also started appearing on YouTube. At least half a dozen videos, mostly captured clips from TV broadcasts, were uploaded.

Blogger and political analyst Manuel Quezon III (http://www.quezon.ph/category/daily/) put a link to a speech Aquino made during the EDSA Revolution. Journalist blogger Anthony Ian Cruz (Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. posted links to other bloggers who offered sympathies to the departed leader.

International media news sites are also running the story on Aquino’s passing. In fact, her death is at the top of the most viewed story in CNN.com.

Photos of her taken throughout her life were also posted as sidebar in the CNN.com story, along with a link to the cover story of a Time Magazine issue that featured her as 1986 Woman of the Year.

The online edition of British news agency BBC also ran a story but added it with tributes from US President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"Her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation. On behalf of the American people, the president extends his deepest condolences to the Aquino family and the nation of the Philippines."

New York Times offered an obituary (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/world/asia/01aquino.html?_r=1) written by Seth Mydans.