Manila bids goodbye to Corazon Aquino

MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- A funeral motorcade for former Philippine President Corazon Aquino drew tens of thousands of people into the streets of Manila, witnesses said Monday.

As the Philippine capital bid farewell to Aquino, yellow confetti fell from buildings in a scene that evoked memories of the 1980s pro-democracy movement she spearheaded, the Voice of America reported.

Aquino's coffin, laid on a bed of yellow flowers, was covered in the flag of the Philippines and was carried by a large truck down a section of Manila's EDSA Highway, the site of her "people power" movement, which succeeded in overthrowing the authoritarian regime of President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, VOA said.

Aquino died Saturday at age 76 of colon cancer.

Yellow-wearing mourners also packed Manila's Ayala Avenue in the city's business district, where people sang songs associated with the "people power" movement, carrying signs with such messages as "Thank you Cory Aquino" and "Goodbye."

"This is so beautiful for us. Our hearts feel wonderful," daughter Kris Aquino said. "The Filipinos are so appreciative of what she did for our country."