(UPDATE) Noynoy: No state funeral for Cory

(UPDATE) Noynoy: No state funeral for Cory

MANILA - The Aquinos have decided on a private funeral for the late President Corazon Aquino, who died early morning Saturday after battling colorectal cancer for more than a year.

Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said they have decided to have a private funeral, instead of a state funeral.

"It won't be a state funeral," the senator said.

"That was the intention from the start," he said, adding that nobody from the presidential office had contacted him "nor am I waiting to talk to anybody there."

Aquino also said that they have not yet been contacted by Malacañang regarding any plans for a state funeral.

"For all intentions and purposes, she had been a private citizen after stepping down, and siguro, to a degree we would like to spend as much time as possible as a family with her," he said, explaining their decision.

Aquino, however, said that there will still be honor guards at the wake, as per tradition in wakes for former government officials.

"I understand there will be honor guards at La Salle. I still have to be briefed on the parts... of the protocol, and I have to consult also the rest of my siblings," he said.

The body of the former leader will lie in state at the La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) gymnasium, and the wake will be open to the public at certain times, Aquino's spokesperson Deedee Siytangco told members of the media at a press conference at the Cojuangco Building in Makati City.

The public viewing at the LSGH will be held starting 5 p.m. Saturday, and will continue until Monday. The daily viewing schedule will be until 4 a.m., and will then resume on 7 a.m. There will also be a mass at the LSGH at 8 p.m. Saturday.

During the duration of the wake, there will be Catholic Masses daily at 12 noon and 8 p.m.

For those who will go to the LSGH, the line for the public viewing will start and end at the school's Gate 5.

Family members, VIP guests and members of the media will enter and exit at the LSGH Gate 6.

On Tuesday up until Wednesday, a necrological service, an overnight vigil, and a requiem will be held at the Manila Cathedral, Siytangco said. The exact times of these activities will be announced later.

On Wednesday, Aquino will be buried at the Manila Memorial Park after a 9 a.m. mass at the cathedral. She will be buried beside her late husband, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.


s0urce: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/01/09/noynoy-no-state-funeral-cory