I was looking for a symbol of integrity to accompany this piece. Here she is. She is the one president in our history that was truly chosen--pushed, even--by the people. She didn't spend to win. She didn't buy endorsements. She didn't lie, cheat or steal. She had integrity and moral clarity.

This is why I write this today. I feel that the country has lost its last symbol of integrity and we are now completely on our own. In the past, we always had Cory Aquino. If she endorsed someone or something, we knew it must be good. We could always count on her to speak out against injustice. We relied on her so much to show us the way. Now that she's gone, I feel that we are being forced to embody everything we depended on her for.

It's not lost on me that she passed on during this time in our history, when we are all again being moved by the energy--good and bad--of change. The presidential elections are upon us. We are asked to discern, to make our choice not because someone is our relative, or because he has charisma or has been in politics forever. We are asked to choose out of our highest aspirations and dreams for our country and our children. We need to choose people who are not just qualified, but who have moral integrity, because in the end, as we see in the outpouring of love and respect for Cory, it is what endures. It is what brings change--true and good change.

I've long been wanting to holler out to actors, celebrities, writers, journalists--anyone in media who wants to be a bearer of true change---DO NOT RENT YOURSELF OUT IN 2010!! DO NOT ACCEPT MONEY FROM ANY CANDIDATE. Use the power of your profession responsibly and with integrity. You are not a hired gun; you are not for sale. Show the Filipinos that votes are sacred; you begin this change by not accepting money from anyone for your endorsement. Get to know all the candidates and, if there is someone out there whom you believe has the integrity and qualifications, by all means support them--in freedom--without accepting a single centavo. In this way, you become part of creating the new politics, the new Philippines of integrity.

Cory Aquino's life and legacy will be honored, not by platitudes, but by active and conscious action towards creating the Philippines of integrity she gave her life and privacy for. This work is no longer hers alone. As she leaves this realm, we honor her by consciously doing our share.

CORAZON COJUANGCO AQUINO (1933-2009)

COMFORT

Last week, I resolved to cook a full recipe of Chicken Marbella. The original recipe is for four chickens, which I rightly thought would be too much for my family of four. Part of me felt it was a little extreme, but then it's a dish that keeps well, so I decided to go whole hog. I cook with free-range spring chicken, so I settled for five, all the while feeling I was cooking for a village.

The day I was all set to put the two-and-a-half pyrexes into the oven, I had an encounter with a bully which left me feeling quite sorrowful, deflated, disappointed and angry. I didn't even know if I could--or should--eat. But motherhood means keeping the space together for everyone and not indulging in your emotions--if you can help it--in front of the children. So that's what I did.

When we finally sat down to dinner, I looked at the festive dish in front of me and suddenly felt truly comforted. Bullies try to make you feel bad about yourself, but the yummy spread in front of me, the joy of my little boys (not to mention their gratitude for the meal before them), put everything back in perspective. I was so happy I decided to cook a big meal, that I decided to cook it that day, and that I had a friend who shared the recipe a few months back. I was suddenly so grateful for all the things that matter. I felt all that even before I took my first bite!

Just google "Chicken Marbella" and the recipe will show up somewhere. It's a lovely comfort food. May it serve you as well as it served me!