TARLAC CITY — On the occasion of the fifth death anniversary of late President Corazon Aquino, mother of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, SM City Tarlac had a unique way of commemorating her life.

Tita Cory, as she was fondly called, found way to make herself busy after her presidency by engaging herself in painting.

SM City Tarlac paid a tribute to this talent of the late president by conducting an on-the-spot painting contest themed “Flowers for Cory”.

Many of the works of Tita Cory are centered on still life paintings like flowers. Elmer Ulanday, SM City Tarlac marketing manager, said that in 1996, Tita Cory took an active interest in painting under the tutelage of artist Jeff Consumo.

Next to prayer, painting became a favored mode of keeping her mind active and her “sense of humanity intact.” She has participated in a joint exhibit with a friend and has sold some of her works to raise funds for her advocacy.

The late President, shared Ulanday, loved to paint flowers and women, usually in oil or acrylic on canvas.

“This is the way SM City Tarlac wishes to pay tribute to the contribution of Tita Cory to regain our democracy. We want to trace back her talent in painting. The Flowers for Cory on-the-spot painting contest is a way to celebrate the gift of President Cory Aquino to the Filipino nation by giving tribute to her works as an artist and to commemorate her fifth death anniversary,” said Ulanday.

The on the spot painting contest is a collaborative effort of SM City Tarlac, Ninoy and Cory Foundation and Tarlac Conventions and Visitors Bureau.

“If only Cory can see their works, I guess she will make them all winners, all of these 14 artists. Many of these youngsters never saw Cory and yet they were able capture her style of obra,” Felicitas De Ocampo, a friend of Cory and classmate in painting classes said.