Dying while the Rosary was being prayed

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery was being prayed by the family members, as former Pres. Cory Aquino breathed her last. Now it makes sense why she didn't pass away last week. The timing (1st Saturday, plus the time she died at 3:18AM -- also happens to be the hour of the Divine Mercy), reminded me of Pope John Paul II's passing (eve of the Feast of the Divine Mercy).

TV HOST SAYS : Cory gave ‘last deep breath’ as family prayed

By Maila Ager

INQUIRER.net

Posted date: August 01, 2009

MANILA, Philippines — Her family was praying the Rosary when former President Corazon Aquino gave her "last deep breath," popular TV host Boy Abunda told reporters on Saturday.

Abunda said all five children of Mrs. Aquino, and her close friends and relatives were present when the former leader passed away at exactly 3:18 a.m. Saturday.

"Bago siya pumanaw nandun ang kanyang mga anak. To be very exact, they were praying the Sorrowful Mystery, yung pang limang misteryo," he told reporters outside the Makati Medical Center.

"Doon huminga ng kanyang huling…Her last gasp. They were praying around the bed, the children were around the bed praying the Rosary when she passed away," he said.

After that last breath, Abunda said, Mrs. Aquino's children quietly cried.

"Malungkot. Tahimik na nag-iiyakan. Tahimik, except for Kris who was very quiet," he said, referring to the youngest daughter of Mrs. Aquino.

"Kris was very quiet. She was displaying such courage pero noong dindadala palabas mga labi ni Tita Cory... because you have to remember that Kris was in the hospital, Kris was by the side of her mother since July 20 hanggang sa mga oras na yun. Hanggang ngayon si Kris ay nasa tabi ng kanyang ina," Abunda said.

He said a Mass, officiated by Fr. Catalino Arevalo, was held after Mrs. Aquino's death.

Abunda said Arevalo is a very close friend of the former leader and had been officiating a Mass for her at the hospital.

A family driver of the Aquinos was seen loading stuff into a white Toyota Hi-Ace van parked at the back entrance of the Makati Medical Center. He said the boxes and luggage belonged to Kris who left the hospital early Saturday morning. With a report from Nina Calleja, Philippine Daily Inquirer