In scenes rife with irony, the family of former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino reconciled on Tuesday with the family of former president Ferdinand Marcos, the authoritarian ruler that the Aquino-led People Power revolt overthrew in 1986. In sharp contrast, Mrs. Aquino's children, led by Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Jr. and television celebrity Kris Aquino, showed disdain for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who used to be an ally of their family. Two of Marcos' children -- former Ilocos Norte Congresswoman Imee Marcos and current Ilocos Norte Congressman Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.-- visited the wake of Mrs. Aquino on Tuesday afternoon at the Manila Cathedral and offered their condolences to the Aquino family. The Marcoses and the Aquinos have been bitter political enemies for decades with the latter blaming the former for having a hand in the murder of Mrs. Aquino's husband, the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., at the Manila International Airport in 1983 following his return from exile in the United States. On Tuesday, Imee and Bongbong were warmly greeted by Mrs. Aquino's eldest daughter Ma. Elena “Ballsy”Aquino-Cruz and other members of the Aquino family. Last Sunday, Kris thanked the Marcoses for their prayers. “I would like to say I never thought the time would come. But I say thank you to the Marcoses for really praying for mom. I felt the sincerity,” she said in a television interview. After the interview, Imelda Marcos, the wife of former president Ferdinand Marcos, spoke on television, saying she wants a reconciliation with the Aquino family. “I can feel the pain, the loss of a loved one, so I am in prayer. If these two families reconciled, there will be a miracle in the Philippines,” Imelda said. While the Aquino children showed warmth and cordiality in welcoming the Marcoses, they could not hide their contempt for Arroyo after they disclosed that the President gave a half-hearted attempt to give state honors to their mother. Kris said a Malacanang emissary had approached them and offered a state funeral for her mother. But Kris said the emissary told them that Malacanang was in a “damned if you do, damned if you don't” situation wherein any move they make in offering a state funeral to Mrs. Aquino could be misinterpreted. “I said, ‘I'm speaking on behalf of everybody. Malacanang doesn't have to say they would like to give honor to my mother because the honor is coming from the nation,” Kris said. She said the Aquino family declined Malacanang's offer. For the second time, Kris also recalled an incident last month when she thought the Arroyo government was recalling her mother's two security guards. Malacanang apologized to the Aquino family for the pullout of Mrs. Aquino's security detail, saying that it was a “bureaucratic slip-up.” But Noynoy said the “bureaucratic slip-up” was just a convenient excuse for Arroyo to inconvenience his mother. He said he is not looking forward to meeting Arroyo if she decides to attend her mother's wake on Wednesday. Malacanang said it still uncertain whether Arroyo will go to Mrs. Aquino's wake or burial after her arrival from an official trip to the United States. Arroyo earlier cut short her US trip to be able to arrive in the Philippines before Mrs. Aquino is buried. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita expressed hope that Arroyo's gesture to extend personal condolences to the Aquino family will be respected by her political opponents amid concerns she may be heckled or humiliated if she visits Mrs. Aquino's wake. Ermita, speaking to reporters before the President and the party left New York City, said they are still trying to arrange if the President will visit the wake of Mrs. Aquino at the Manila Cathedral or attend the funeral rites at the Manila Memorial Park. The final decision, Ermita said, will only be known shortly after the President's arrival in Manila.
