August 2009

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN SYDNEY HOLDS REQUIEM MASS FOR CORY AQUINO

3 August 2009 (Sydney) – The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney held a Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of the late former Philippine President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. The Mass was attended by leaders and members of the Philippine-Australian Community of New South Wales.

The Consulate also opened a Book of Condolence, which officials of the Australian Government and the Consular Corps of Sydney, as well as leaders and members of the Filipino-Australian Community, may sign and write their messages of sympathy. The Condolence Book was opened on 3 August and will remain open until 10 August.

In the same hour that the Condolence Book was opened, Filipinos and Australian-Filipinos came to the Consulate to sign it.

“News of President Aquino’s demise came to Australian almost immediately after it was announced. The news was sent through telephone calls, e-mail and SMS messages by Filipinos in the Philippines who informed their relatives and friends in Australia. Within a few hours, many Filipinos in Australia knew about it,” said Consul General Eva G. Betita.

The Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald published on 2 August, Sunday, a page of news featuring the former Philippine president.

By the evening of 1 August, Filipino priests throughout New South Wales were offering Masses for the former President. Australians and immigrant communities expressed their sympathies to Filipinos for the loss of whom they regard was a great and admirable leader.

The Consulate and the Filipino-Australian Community are jointly sponsoring a second Mass for President Aquino on 9 August, Sunday, in Waitara, New South Wales.

REQUIEM MASS IN SYDNEY FOR THE LATE CORAZON AQUINO.
The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney held a Mass at the Consulate for the late former President Aquino, which was attended by leaders of the Filipino-Australian Community and Filipinos working in the Sydney area.