Tens of thousands bid farewell to Philippines' Corazon Aquino

Aquino, whose husband was assassinated by forces loyal to dictator Ferdinand Marcos after returning home from exile in 1983, died at the weekend following a battle with cancer and is to be buried on Wednesday.

There has been a massive outpouring of tributes for the woman fondly called Tita, or Auntie, Cory, a grandmotherly figure credited with restoring democracy to the nation.

Traffic ground to a halt and confetti rained down from office blocks as people from all walks of life braved intermittent rain to get near Aquino's coffin, lying on a bed of yellow flowers atop an open truck that slowly made its way through the Makati financial district.

Flashing the letter "L" sign with their fingers for Laban (Fight) -- Aquino's party slogan -- the crowd sang a revolutionary anthem and chanted "Cory, Cory."

Women openly cried as yellow balloons symbolising Aquino's "People Power revolution were released into the air. Yellow banners fluttered from rooftops and posters of Aquino hung from lamp posts outside the stock exchange.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all," the youngest of the Aquino children, actress Kristina Bernadette, said as the convoy stopped in front of the statue of her late father, Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino.

"Our hearts feel so wonderful because you are letting us feel that you loved my mum very much," she said. "I feel so blessed to be a Filipino."