cory aquino’s 4 honor guards give us pride and honor to the country – photos & news
we think the four honor guards of cory aquino during the burial were magnificent men of honor and duty. they stood there for more than 8 hours, snappy and straight without rest through heavy rain, dryness, bumps on the road and inclines.
we think these gentlemen of the military deserve the highest honor and commendation.
we will publish here more photos of these four gentlemen as our tribute to their professionalism and dedication. they make us proud.
Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano said the Senate should commend the honor guards who stood by the late Mrs. Aquino’s casket while the country witnessed the final journey of the democratic icon from the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros to the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City despite the inclement weather.
The honor guards who are being considered for commendation are PO1 Danilo Maalab (representing the Philippine National Police), Private First Class Antonio Cadiente (Army), Airman Second Class Gener Laguindan (Air Force) and Petty Officer III Edgardo Rodriguez (Navy).
Cop endures 8-hour Aquino funeral cortege
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:33:00 08/06/2009MANILA, Philippines—For Police Officer 1 Danilo Malab Jr., standing on top of a moving truck for more than eight hours amid heavy rains as a guard at the cortege of former president Corazon Aquino was one of the most unforgettable experiences of his life.
He did not feel thirst nor did he feel the need to relieve himself despite long hours of standing snappily on top of the flat-bed truck.
“Hindi ko na inisip yung hirap kasi isang malaking karangalan ang mapaglingkuran ang dating pangulong Aquino (I did not think about the difficulties because it’s a great honor to serve former president Aquino),” Malab said in an interview Thursday.
Malab was one of the four honor guards that stood guarding the casket of Aquino as she was brought from the Manila Cathedral in Manila to the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City on Wednesday.
During the length of his interview, Malab was still standing snappily, holding his cap close to his chest.
The timid, 25-year old rookie policeman said the only thing he thought of as the cortege slowly made its way amid a sea of crowds was God.
“Dasal lang ako ng dasal para mabigyan ako ng mahabang stamina na maihatid si Ma’am Cory sa Manila Memorial (I just kept praying that I would be given the stamina to be able to bring Ma’am Cory to Manila Memorial),” Malab said.
He revealed that he only learned that he was to serve as honor guard for Aquino’s funeral procession early Wednesday morning.
Malab, who entered the police force on June 2008, said that the policeman initially chosen to serve as honor guard backed out because of poor health.
His simple breakfast of eggs and dried beef was what gave him the energy to endure the long funeral procession.
But Malab admitted that the first thing he did after the funeral procession was to go to the bathroom.
“Dumiretso ako sa CR pagkatapos (I went straight to the CR after),” he said.
Malab, a member of the Escort and Honor Guard Battalion, said he was greeted by cheers from his co-policemen.
Some even offered to treat him to a drink but he declined, saying he was not fond of drinking alcohol.
Philippine National Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said Malab would be given commendation for his duty as Aquino’s honor guard.
“He is a symbol of discipline when he endured the eight-hour funeral procession,” Espina added.
breaking news has it that this cop was promoted to the next higher rank in recognition of his professionalism and dedication to his duty.
this was how they stood at the start, this one at top of quirino avenue just after the turn at roxas boulevard
in front of magallanes around 4 pm, they still stood the same way they did at the start of the procession
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WAWAM! after hours 
Oo nga. Saludo ako sa kanila!
…tears of joy and pride ran down my cheeks as I watched them yesterday… God is so good…He chose the right persons to guard His chosen one, Pres. Cory Aquino. The Filipino people will never forget what you did. We salute you!
we were there right in front and beside the truck that carried cory’s coffin. as we took pictures and video, we can hear people shout – “good bye, tita cory”, “we love you, tita cory”. it was very touching.
i was so amazed, and very proud for them. The Best talaga ang ” the chosen four”. keep it Up!!!
salamat sa blog na ito at sa mga litrato! agree! lalo tuloy napapakita sa atin ni tita cory na isang malaking karangalan ang maging pilipino.
naipakita ng apat na honor guards na ito ang kahalagahan ng Armed Forces..hindi upang manakot na gamit ang baril kundi ang pagsilbihan ang kapakanang mapanatiling mapayapa ang sambayanan.
ang sarap panooring, si tita cory, civilian, ay binigyan ng ganitong uri ng pagpugay ng ating “men and women in uniform”.
Mabuhay tayong lahat!
these honor guards showed utmost professionalism and dedication. they have given the armed forces pride and honor.
Kahit anu pang estado natin sa buhay, do it well and give it your best…we truly will shine.
Any deed done with the best of heart will shine thru you.
Kudos to these men, they are the best!
a remarkable dedication and pride shown by these honor guards. MABUHAY KYO AT PTULOY N PGSILBIHAN ANG BUONG PILIPINAS NANG MAY DIGNIDAD! NSA PUSO AT ISIPAN NINYO ANG TUNAY N DIWA NG IPINAGLALABAN NG DTING PANGULONG CORY AQUINO! SALUDO KMI S INYO! BE PROUD WE ARE FILIPINOS!
Good thing these guards were recognized (and rewarded even). The four guards were certainly impressive in performing their duties.
From my perspective however, but what these men were told to do is cruel and inhumane. In most military wakes, honor guards are replaced every 20-30 minutes with the accompanying ceremonies. While guarding the casket of the deceased, they also assume the “parade rest” position.
Check out one of the most elaborate funeral rites the world has witnessed (that of J F Kennedy in youtube) and you’ll see what I mean.
i agree with you completely – the military officials should have planned for a changing of the guards at specific intervals.
the good thing is and we admire them for it, the four took the challenge and stayed on. its a tribute to the four men in uniform.
all of them said they did it for cory. they said it was clearly an honor to stand right beside the coffin of tita cory. the crowd around them also gave them energy.
These four men truly gave Tita Cory the honor that she deserved and now they are receiving praises and rewards for a job well or should I say Superbly done! May they inspire all our men and women in uniform to display the same dedication and discipline to help move our country into the greatness that we all aspire for. Congratulations!
they were really great! when the funeral cortege came to an end, that four honor guards came across my mind, i kept thinking if how were they it was more than four hours!!! still, cory aquino’s greatness touched them, even in death she made a way to find some men of honor, and i think that was a real blessing. they truly deserve the greatest honor than can be given. i hope that the characteristics of the four honor guards will also be present in the philippine army, navy, air force and pnp so that our country will progress more.
we salute the 4 honor guards..
may kulang na guard ibig sabihin ko bat wala philippine marine corps na guard sa truck mas maganda kasi yung uniform ng PMC kay sa ibang braches ng AFP!!!!!!!!!1
Kaya walang marines kasi ang marines ay sa ilalim po ng navy. hindi po sya main branch ng armed forces.
they were really great! when the funeral cortege came to an end, that four honor guards came across my mind, i kept thinking if how were they it was more than four hours!!!