Cardinal Jaime Sin, the hugely influential Roman Catholic spiritual leader who helped to topple two Philippine presidents, died in hospital aged 76.
Hundreds of mourners began streaming to Manila cathedral at noon to pay their respects to Sin, who died of multiple organ failure after a lengthy struggle with kidney problems and diabetes.
President Gloria Arroyo called him a "great liberator" while the early mourners at the cathedral included former president Corazon Aquino.
