In near death, Sin still wanted to serve flock
Jun 21, 2005
While in the throes of certain death, former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin still wanted to serve his flock by insisting on getting out of his sickbed to report to his office.
(ABS-CBN NEWS, 21 June 2005) Dr. Ramon Sin, brother of Cardinal Sin, said Tuesday the once influential prelate insisted on getting up Monday to go to his office-residence at Villa San Miguel in Mandaluyong.
"Well, he wanted to get up. He wanted to get up and go to the office, then I told him [that's impossible] because he had some, you know, some [life-saving] gadgets and all these," Ramon said.
He added: "He wanted to get out of the bed."
Ramon said he will always remember the humor and optimism of his late brother.
"He was full of humor, he was always praying and he was optimistic," he said.
Ramon said Cardinal Sin was also the ever generous provider to the needy.
"He gave away finances and pieces of property to the poor,” he said.
Sin, a driving force behind two "People Power" revolts, died at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center in Greenhills, San Juan on Tuesday morning.
He was 76 years old and the officials said he died from an infection relating to a longstanding kidney ailment.
Sin was once called "the divine commander in chief" by former President Fidel Ramos for marshalling huge protests in the mostly Roman Catholic country that drove presidents Ferdinand Marcos from office in 1986 and Joseph Estrada in 2001.
In February 1986, Sin rallied a million people to form human barricades on Manila's main highway and protect a puny band of 300 army rebels against advancing Marcos tanks.
His radio broadcasts in support of mutineers ignited the now legendary "People Power" revolt that drove Marcos into exile and swept political novice Corazon Aquino to the presidency.
Ordained in 1954, Sin became the youngest member of the Vatican's College of Cardinals when he was made a prince of the Church at the age of 47.
Sin was a staunch opponent of artificial birth control, and in August 1994, he mobilized hundreds of thousands of people in a rally denouncing a state policy encouraging use of condoms and pills to curb rapid population growth.
Cardinal Sin, People Power icon, dies
Cardinal Jaime Sin, a driving force behind two "People Power" revolts, died at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center in Greenhills, San Juan on Tuesday morning, Church officials said.
He was 76 years old and the officials said he died from an infection relating to a longstanding kidney ailment.
"Jaime Cardinal Sin, archbishop emeritus, died early this morning," Sin's information officer, Peachy Yamsuan, told reporters.
The Roman Catholic radio station DZRV played hymns to mourn Sin, who retired as archbishop of Manila in 2003, and said a wake would be held at Manila cathedral.
"The nation lost a spiritual leader," said Senator Aquilino Pimentel. "He was irreplaceable."
Sin was once called "the divine commander in chief" by former President Fidel Ramos for marshalling huge protests in the mostly Roman Catholic country that drove presidents Ferdinand Marcos from office in 1986 and Joseph Estrada in 2001.
"My duty is to put Christ in politics. Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of our nation," Sin said at his retirement ceremony.
In February 1986, Sin rallied a million people to form human barricades on Manila's main highway and protect a puny band of 300 army rebels against advancing Marcos tanks.
His radio broadcasts in support of mutineers ignited the now legendary "People Power" revolt that drove Marcos into exile and swept political novice Corazon Aquino to the presidency.
"I am sad, but I am certain he is now with our Lord," said Agnes Sanchez, a devout Catholic.
His departure from the office he had held for 27 years marked the end of an unprecedented period of political activism by the Church, although it remains a potent force and a key backer of President Arroyo.
His death comes as Arroyo faces allegations of electoral fraud that the government says are part of a plot to unseat her. A congressional inquiry into the allegations was due to start on Tuesday.
Ordained in 1954, Sin became the youngest member of the Vatican's College of Cardinals when he was made a prince of the Church at the age of 47.
Sin was a staunch opponent of artificial birth control, and in August 1994, he mobilized hundreds of thousands of people in a rally denouncing a state policy encouraging use of condoms and pills to curb rapid population growth.
'Great liberator'
President Arroyo expressed deep sorrow Tuesday on the death of Sin, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
"History will mark this day with sadness when a great liberator of the Filipino people and a champion of God passed away," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement read by Bunye in a radio interview.
The President added: "Cardinal Sin leaves a legacy of freedom and justice forged in deep personal courage. Many times I was guided by his wisdom and profound love for the poor and the oppressed where he lived in the fountain of the people like no other in his time."
In citing Sin's important role in history, the President said: "His dream of the Philippines united in peace and justice beacons us to bring down the Tower of Babel and build a nation one and undivided in memory of EDSA I and II, a blessed man who never failed to unite the Filipinos during the most crucial battles against tyranny and evil."
In near death, Sin still wanted to serve flock