this painful moment in the life of a family. I personally console deeply with the family he leaves behind with all sincerity. For I and my children know the pain of such a loss. I would like to appeal to all of us to pray for the repose of the soul of the late President and also to pray for our country.”

A part of the statement she did not include in the speech says, “I hope history judges him more kindly than we can, being so close to his time.” Such a class act.

Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco handed Dadong a note that night, “You are not only a good man but one of the best Presidents we ever had.”

Dadong, in his response to the tributes, said, “So I am now prepared to return to our divine Creator.” He died on April 21, 1997. Cory died on Aug. 1, 2009. For more than 20 years now, three of the four presidents we’ve had were a child of either Macapagal, Aquino or Marcos.