·Philippine President Arroyo will cut short her U.S. visit to pay tribute to Corazon Aquino.

·Arroyo will fly drectly back to Manila before dawn Wednesday.

·She also declared a non-working special holiday to make way for Aquino's burial.

Philippine soldiers carry the coffin of late former Philippine President Corazon 'Cory' Aquino to a gymnasium for her funeral wake in Mandaluyong City, east of Manila, the Philippines, August 1, 2009. Corazon Aquino's died at the age of 76 on August 1. (Xinhua/Luis Liwanag) Photo Gallery>>>

    MANILA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will cut short her U.S. visit to pay the last tribute to former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino who died on Saturday in Manila after a long battle with colon cancer.

    Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced Sunday that Arroyo will scrap her visit to Chicago and Guam and flies directly back to Manila before dawn Wednesday.

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    The president also declared August 5 a non-working special holiday to make way for Aquino's scheduled burial.

    Signing the proclamation in New York City on Saturday, the President said it is proper for a grieving people to be given the opportunity to honor and show their respect, appreciation and gratitude to the beloved former President in their own respective ways.

    Corazon Aquino, who became Asia's first woman president in 1986,was reckoned as a global democracy icon. The assassination of her husband, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, in 1983 pushed Cory into the politics. She led the popular mass revolt in February 1986 to end strongman Ferdinand Marcos's 20-year iron- fist rule.

    Filipinos around the country mourned the death of Aquino, a president they reckon as a moral leader. Aqunio's family has turned down an offer of state burial.

    Arroyo, who started her U.S. visit on July 30, was the first Southeast Asian leader to meet U.S. President Barack Obama in the White House. 

A supporter of the late former Philippine president Corazon Aquino pays tribute in front of Aquino's residence in Manila's suburban Quezon city August 1, 2009. Aquino, whose "people power" revolution swept dictator Ferdinand Marcos from power in the Philippines, died on Saturday after a 16-month battle against colon cancer, her family said. She was 76.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>