The four honor guards who stood for nine hours beside the casket of former President Corazon Aquino instantly rose to fame. The four were actually picked from the elite honor guard units of the Philippine Navy, Air Force, National Police and Army. Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo identified the honor guards as Pfc. Antonio Cadiente, Airman 2nd Class Gener Laguindam, Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez and Police Officer 1 Danilo Maalab.
Arevalo said that the four are trained to undertake ceremonial rites especially in such difficult task to be immobile. Part of their training is to resist the “call of nature.” Many who witnessed the funeral cortege don’t miss the four honor guards as they stood on top of the flat-bed truck despite the pouring of rain. Aside from the former president and the Aquino family, these honor guards were also the center of attention in the online community.
The four honor guards boarded the said truck after the requiem mass at around 11 am. They truck where they were boarded reached the Manila Memorial Park past 8 pm. Arevalo also said that “apart from discipline inherent in security forces, the prestige of the various services of the AFP and PNP is at stake here.”
He also disclosed that aside from skills that these honor guards acquired from training, it was also the honor and privilege to stand beside the remains of the democracy icon. He also believed that it was their tribute to the former President.
