Read on this article on how two townmates cherish their fondest memory of Mrs. Aquino:
Despite the death of former President Cory Aquino, two of her townmates in Tarlac — retired teacher Milagros Milla and museum staff Lina Salvador Bernardino — have a reason to smile and feel proud these days, because as they recalled fondly, the former president had gifted them with several of her signature yellow clothes that she wore during rallies to defend the country’s democracy.
Milla and Bernardino, both from Tarlac City, felt lucky having got personal clothes from Mrs. Aquino which were given to them when the late president visited the Aquino Museum, also in the city, on several occasions either just for personal reasons or to accompany VIPs (very important persons) for a walk down memory lane on the Aquino family’s historical past.
Instead of displaying her old clothes in the Aquino Museum, the former leader opted to give them to other people who will surely benefit from them.
The two claimed that no amount of money will convince them to give up their handover clothes from Mrs. Aquino, especially after they witnessed the multitudes who showed their love and respects to the “icon of democracy” during her wake first at La Salle Greenhills and later at the Manila Cathedral and during her funeral procession to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City last August 5.
During an interview with the Manila Bulletin inside the Aquino Museum, Milla and Bernardino proudly wore Mrs. Aquino’s blouse and blazer, made by famous designers Bobby Novenario and Auggie Cordero, respectively.
On display in the museum were the original yellow dress worn by Mrs. Aquino when she was sworn into office as the first lady president of the country following the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution and a Filipino terno she donned during the turnover ceremonies when she ended her term in June 1992.
Milla and Bernardino said they are now the envy of their friends and relatives because of the “souvenirs” they got from the late president.
“I was surprised that one day, President Cory just arrived at the museum with a box-load of yellow clothes. She just told me to choose from her wardrobe,” Bernardino said.
Having almost the same body built and height, Bernardino said that Mrs. Aquino often assigned to her the task of distributing the clothes but gave her first priority to choose which among them she would keep.
“At first, I was really surprised because I knew that the clothes were worn by a former leader of our country. I didn’t imagine myself wearing her clothes later on,” she said.
Bernardino, who worked as a staff of the Aquino Museum which was opened on August 21, 2001, remembered Mrs. Aquino as a very caring person. Aside from clothes, the former president also brought food for the museum staff each time she would drop by for a visit. “She was very caring. She would often ask how we are,” Lina recalled.
On the other hand, Milla, who volunteers as a guide at the Aquino Museum whenever the place is overflowing with visitors, said that although she had souvenir clothes from Mrs. Aquino, she seldom use them in order to preserve them. Aside from the yellow clothes, Mrs. Aquino also gifted her with art works that included a painting of bouquet of flowers and a big puzzle that is now displayed in the Millia household. Both art pieces bear Mrs. Aquino’s signatures.
“My seven children are now asking me to give them those paintings. No way!” she exclaimed.
Milla, now 76, belongs to the “49ers Group” composed of high school graduates of Holy Ghost Institute in1949 in Tarlac that supported the campaigns of Mrs. Aquino.
Wearing silver-framed eyeglasses and sporting a brushed-up hairstyle, many say that Milla is a look alike of Mrs. Aquino.
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