On January 24, 2010, the Ayala Museum in Makati City, Philippines celebrated the life and legacy of former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino with a special event. The occasion marked what would have been her 77th birthday and was marked by the launch of a tribute watch designed by industrialist Jaime Zobel de Ayala for Swiss watch company, Swatch. The highlight of the event was the yellow color, known as the "color of courage" in the Philippines, symbolizing the Aquino family and the 1986 People's Power Revolution.
Cory was widely revered for her honesty and sincerity during her presidency and continues to be celebrated as a cultural icon through various items like books and shirts. The Cory Aquino Swatch watch, accessible and popular, was launched with much fanfare, including yellow confetti raining on Ayala Avenue, reminiscent of the 1986 People's Power Revolution. Cory's children, close friends, and supporters, including Virgie Ramos of Gift Gate, exclusively distributing Swatch in the Philippines, and Jaime Zobel and his wife Bea, who became strong supporters of Cory after meeting her husband Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino in exile, were in attendance.
In conclusion, the Cory Aquino Swatch watch is a testament to her impact on Philippine democracy and her lasting impact on the people of the Philippines, as her death is still mourned and her legacy continues to be celebrated.
Reference: An Icon for Our Time: Swatch Issues Corazon Aquino Tribute Watch, GRIDCROSSER Travel, Food, Art, Culture, Life
Collectors snatch up Cory memorabilia
ABS-CBN News
Posted at Aug 05 2009, 11:00 PM | Updated as of Aug 06 2009 11:24 PM
Collectors snatch up Cory memorabilia
MANILA - Cory memorabilia and souvenir items became all the rage among supporters and fans following the death of former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino.
During Aquino's wake and funeral procession, which a total of about 250,000 people attended, members of the crowd sported newly-made yellow T-shirts, bandannas, or buttons bearing Aquino's face as a sign of support for the country's "icon of democracy." Some t-shirts and bandannas also bore the words "Salamat, Tita Cory."
Amid the crowds that massed around Aquino's funeral cortege on August 3, vendors sold Cory pins for P30 to P40 or plain yellow ribbons for P10 each. Some of these ribbons were home-made.
Cory memorabilia and items cropped up even on online market platforms like eBay Philippines.
Various sellers on eBay are advertising mementos like a commemorative silver coin that was minted when Aquino visited Washington in 1986. Only 1,000 coin pieces were made, so the bidding price for one commemorative silver coin on eBay starts at P4,000.
Other items being sold on the website are People Power T-shirts (P500), a "Cory Aquino for President" badge (P10 starting bid), and 1986 Cory Aquino campaign photos currently priced at $13.13 (about P626).
Priceless
Representatives of the Heritage Art Center in Quezon City expect more People Power memorabilia to surface in the coming weeks, especially campaign paraphernalia that were given away en masse in 1986. Collectors estimate that the value of these items has increased by over 30 to 50%.
For example, People Power and campaign pins of Cory were priced at P5 to P10 during the 1980s, but now fetch P200 to P500. An old magazine with Aquino's face on the cover which were sold at normal retail prices 20 years ago now cost P1,000 and above.
The Heritage Art Center's collection of "Cory comics" that were given away for free as campaign material in 1986 are considered the most valuable of the set, costing P2,500 each.
Edward de los Santos, president of the Bayanihan Collectors Club, is one of the more avid Filipino collectors of Cory memorabilia.
He said his favorite is a pin bearing the words "Hindi Ka Nag-iisa", a catchphrase of Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, who was assassinated in 1983. "Ito kasi 'yong unang-unang pin na pinamimigay pagkamatay pa lang ni Ninoy," he explained.
De los Santos said he has about 200 pins in his collection, which he kept when he joined numerous anti-Marcos rallies as a teenager. He also has an autographed picture of Cory Aquino, which is valued at P7,000.
Though his collection could fetch him a hefty sum, De los Santos said he has no intention of selling these items because, for him, these memories are priceless. Report from Timi Nubla, ABS-CBN News.
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