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Yellow ribbons were tied, Masses held, cannons were fired and Philippine flags raised at half-mast in provinces, as the country mourned the death of former President Corazon Aquino.


As soon as news about "Tita Cory's" death spread, local governments and civic groups from accross the country organized Masses.


Military commands gathered troops and brought the sad news: President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino is dead. Howitzer cannons were fired starting 8 a.m. and Philippines flags in all military camps were raised at half-mast.


President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a 10-day national mourning for the death of the former president, but military commands said mourning will last the whole month of August.


Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, commander of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command, said full honors will be accorded to the former chief executive everyday during the month-long mourning.


"In accordance with military tradition, full honors will be accorded to her to include a half-mast of the national flag for 30 days in all military camps," Dolorfino said.


Brig. Gen. Jessie Dalosa, deputy commander of the military’s Central Command, said they fired Howitzer cannons every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Mass was also held at noon at the command’s headquarters.


The Western Mindanao command, meanwhile, said it will continue firing cannons until Sunday as the military salutes Mrs. Aquino goodbye.


In Davao, yellow ribbons were tied around government offices, schools, vehicles and some private company compounds.


Masses were also held around the region from morning up to 5 p.m.


The Carmelites in Cagayan de Oro City also offered a special Mass at 6 a.m.


“We should be happy because finally the former president rests,” Mother Superior Aimee said.


Former senator Victor Ziga, the first Bicolano senator during Aquino’s time, joined Bicolanos in Albay in mourning the death of the former president.


Aquino, looked up to as the country’s democratic symbol, succumbed to complications from colorectal cancer at 3:18 a.m. Saturday.


She was propelled into the presidency after the 1986 people's revolt that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.


Aquino restored democracy in the Philippines and rewritten a new Constitution with democratic safeguards.