Salamat pnoy A tribute to Benigno S. Aquino III 8 february 1960–24 June 2021 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines 2010–2016 volume 1a photo malacañang photo bureau/gil nartea

b Salamat pnoy A tribute to Benigno Simeon Aquino III 8 february 1960–24 June 2021 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines 2010–2016

volumei 1 Salamat PNoy A Tribute to Benigno Simeon Aquino III This book is a project of the Alliance of Women for Action Towards Reform (aware) Paulynn Sicam, Editor Michael Ali Figueroa, Book Designer editorial board Cheche Lazaro, aware Narzalina Z. Lim, aware Phyllis Zaballero, aware Rapa Lopa, Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation Yna Sorongon, Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation Ebook concept and design, Philippine copyright © 2021 by the Alliance of Women for Action Towards Reform. All rights reserved. The copyright of individual articles, photos, and works of art in this book belong to their creators and publishers. Every effort has been made to reprint these with permission, to ensure that they are in the public domain, or fall under fair use. Please do not reproduce any part of this ebook without permission from the original creators. v1.01 • 1 september 2021 • 10am

cover Portrait of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III (2015) by Orley Ypon oil on canvas, 103.2 x 78.1 cm National Museum of the Philippines collection

ii volume 1 contents

foreword v

introduction viii

1 Tributes, Accolades, and Tears 1 2 Honoring God’s Servant 75 3 His Cabinet Remembers 121 4 In Praise of Excellence 187

acknowledgments 75

iii photo pcoo

iv foreword

he presidency of Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Tis actually the stuff of legend, but the public was not fully aware of it. So much was accomplished in the delivery of social services, education, health, infrastructure, the economy, peace, culture and the arts, and other aspects of governance, that the public was generally unaware of, because the principal, PNoy himself, was not one to crow about his accomplishments. It was only when PNoy passed away that the true value of his six years as President emerged, told by people who sought to set the record straight. This eBook gathers the testimonies of thought leaders—heads of state, government officials, clerics, businessmen, educators, journalists, and ordinary Filipinos, hailing the accomplishments of the PNoy administration, and how these impacted on the lives of the most vulnerable Filipinos.

v Politics has taught the Aquino family some very painful lessons. From Ninoy, Cory, and now Noy, the phrase “Panapanahon lang” was invariably applied. After they vacated the position of power—with their missions accomplished— much of the support that went with it quickly dissipated, and was now attached to the new dispensation. Difficult as it is, public service is truly a thankless job. But all is not lost. Hope lives in those who know the truth and bravely speak out. This eBook, a record of the outpouring of grief and a recollection of the greatness of PNoy’s legacy by people whose lives he touched, is a fitting gift to the Aquino family. It is also a gift to our people, especially the future generations of Filipinos who must learn the lessons from history so they can correctly determine the course of our nation’s progress and development. The Aquino family and the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, Inc. are indebted to the women of Alliance of Women for Action Towards Reform (AWARE) for putting this eBook of tributes and memories together to ensure that the legacy of PNoy’s presidency is documented and preserved for posterity online. There is much to learn from PNoy’s years in office, when, following in the footsteps of his parents, he

vi showed how good, steady, honest governance and an unblinking vision of the future, brought the country and our people the development and prosperity we deserve. Thank you, AWARE, for making available this Treasure of Truth-telling that, we hope, will inspire its readers, especially young Filipinos, to give of themselves to our country and our people.

Rafael C. Lopa President, NCAF

photo pcoo

vii introduction

(Alliance of Women for AWARE Action Towards Reform) was founded in September 1983, an offshoot of Senator Ninoy Aquino’s assassination and the resulting general public revulsion against what they perceived to be the Marcos government’s cowardly role in it. The women—Tingting Cojuangco, Ching Escaler, Narz Lim, Guila Maramba, Winnie Monsod, and Triccie Sison—met each other during an anti-Marcos assembly at the Colegio de San Agustin gymnasium. They were reluctant to be identified as political partisans, so they decided to strike out on their own. That’s how AWARE was born.

viii Recruitment of new members followed in the next few weeks until a historic meeting was held at the Cojuangco Building in Makati to agree on a basic set of principles in our bid to overturn the dictatorship. To achieve this, the members pledged to use peaceful, non-violent means, which included joining forces with other like- minded groups to form a mass movement with civil disobedience as a core principle. The group immediately got involved in the dozens of anti-Marcos demonstrations that took place, including the planning, organizing, and provision of logistics for the first march in Ayala Avenue towards Ugarte Field, where Ninoy Aquino’s widow, Cory, spoke for the first time to a big crowd since her husband’s burial. What was significant about this event was that it was attended by people from the business community; professionals, and workers from corporations in and around the financial district. It was the beginning of the awakening of what was then called “the middle forces.” AWARE gained public recognition when they organized the highly successful Women’s March in 1984 and held prayer rallies in front of the houses of the members of the Agrava Commission which was tasked to investigate the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, their objective being to stiffen the spines of the Commission members and,

ix at the same time, show them that they were appreciated—and that they were being watched. There is a memorable photo of AWARE members in Nick Joaquin’s book The Quartet of the Tiger Moon taken at a rally in the Espana Rotunda, with arms linked, just having been tear gassed and stoned but holding fast in front of tanks and firearms. That rally only broke up when the bullets came whizzing by, injuring young Fidel Nemenzo, now Chancellor of the University of the Philippines. That photo speaks volumes of these women who were not daunted by tyrants and dictators.

x When snap elections were called by Ferdinand Marcos in 1985, AWARE played a crucial role in Cory Aquino’s election to the Presidency, having organized “Cory’s Crusaders” to campaign for her all over the country. In 2010, AWARE again campaigned for her son, Benigno Simeon Aquino III, fondly called PNoy, in his bid for the Presidency. It is to honor PNoy’s memory and his accomplishments as President, that AWARE has decided to publish this e-book of tributes and memories culled from the internet and local and foreign publications generated by his passing. AWARE has had many contributions to the public discourse on key issues affecting the polity and the economy by way of uplifting products of critical thinking. No branch of government has been spared from its scrutiny and its clamor for reform. Its membership includes women who have served various Presidents in Cabinet and sub-Cabinet positions; an ambassador; a famous artist; a media icon; a college president; a corporate president; a head of an international organization and leaders of non-government organizations. Last and most importantly, in line with AWARE’s de facto motto—When the going gets tough, AWARE gets going—these are the go-to women, the doers who can perform and deliver on any task that needs doing in the pursuit of reforms towards good governance.

xi AWARE Members 1983–2021 Mel Alonzo Mila Blanquera Cecile Cacho Dede Caniza (+) Tingting Cojuangco Marie del Rosario Ching Escaler Marivic Estrella (+) Tess Fajardo Patsy Francisco

xii Vicky Garchitorena Aurora Go Jo Guevara Cheche Lazaro Carla Lim Narz Lim Cleofe Llamas Maridol Mabanta Guila Maramba Winnie Monsod Mely Nicolas Betty Nelle Addie Olboc (+) Noemi Olivares Maribel Ongpin Carla Pacis Josie Palad Baby Paterno (+) Susie Quiros Siony Santos (+) Yet Severino (+) Pilar Singian Triccie Sison Zeny Tanada Mariel Tolentino Pinky Valdes Joji Velarde (+) Nena Villanueva (+) Phyllis Zaballero

xiii photos pp 14-17 ateneo de manila university/aaronxiv vicencio xv xvi xvii xviii xix photos pp 18-19 gov.ph and pcoo “Recalling the late president’s service to the nation, I commend his soul into the hands of the all-merciful God.” pope francis

photo official gazette xx 1 Tributes, Accolades, and Tears

photo official gazette salamat pnoy 1 tributes photo twitter/leni robredo

He tried to do what was right, even when it was not popular. Tahimik at walang pagod siyang nagtrabaho para makatulong sa marami. vice president leni robredo, june 24, 2021 salamat pnoy 2 tributes Hindi ka namin bibiguin Vice President Leni Robredo Misa ng Taumbayan Para kay PNoy, Agosto 1, 2021

akikiisa ako sa lahat ng kasama natin Nngayong araw sa Misa ng Taumbayan para kay PNoy. Kasabay nito, inaalala rin natin ang anibersaryo ng pagpanaw ni dating pangulong Cory Aquino. Napakasuwerte natin bilang sambayanan na magkaroon ng dalawang Pilipinong buong-pusong ibinigay ang sarili sa kanilang pamumuno. Ngayong araw, ginugunita natin ang mga buhay nila, at kinikilala ang lahat ng kanilang ginawa para sa atin. Una kong nakilala si PNoy dahil kay Jesse. Sa mga kuwento ng asawa ko noong nabubuhay pa siya, parang nakilala ko na rin ang kaibigan niya: Simple, disente, masipag, makatuwiran. Dahil din sa pagkawala ni Jesse, lumalim ang pagkakakilala ko kay PNoy. Naramdaman namin ang suporta at pagkalinga niya sa amin, lalo na sa mga anak ko. Siya mismo ang namuno ng search and rescue para sa nawawalang eroplano, at siya mismo ang salamat pnoy 3 tributes personal na nagbibigay sa amin ng updates tungkol sa operasyon. Siya mismo ang nag-uwi kay Jesse sa Naga matapos makita ang katawan niya. Hanggang sa noong nagpumilit akong makita si Jesse sa huling pagkakataon, nandoon siya; kasama ko sa loob ng embalming room, nasa likod ko noong hinawakan ko ang asawa ko sa huling pagkakataon, tahimik akong binibigyan ng espasyong magluksa. ‘Yung quiet, dignified presence niya, napakahalaga. Hindi siya nawala sa tabi naming mag-iina, kahit noong dinala ang mga labi ni Jesse sa Malacañang, hanggang sa iuwi at ilibing ito sa Naga. Lagi kong ipagpapasalamat ang suportang ibinigay niya sa amin noong panahon na iyon. Noong nasa Kongreso na ako, personal ko ring nasaksihan kung paano siya bilang pangulo. Totoo ’yung mga kuwento ng staff niya: Kapag may meeting na kasama siya, kailangan lagi kang handa dahil mabusisi siyang magtanong. Mahirap makipagdebate sa kaniya, dahil memorized niya hanggang sa last digit ang mahahalagang numero at detalye. Pero dahil rin dito, naging madali ang trabaho. Mapa Agrarian Reform man, Bangsamoro Basic Law, o West Philippine Sea ang usapan— kampante kami dahil alam naming seryoso siya sa trabaho at matibay na kahanay sa paniniwala. Bumalik lahat ng ito nang nawala si President Noy noong nakaraang buwan. At hindi ako nag- iisa sa malalim na pag-alala: Kung paanong salamat pnoy 4 tributes pagkain ang love language niya—alam namin ito nina Aika, Tricia, and Jill, dahil pinapadalhan pa niya kami ng pagkain, miski noong private citizen na siya. Kung paano siya bilang mabait na kapatid at matalik na kaibigan. Kung paano siya bilang boss, ayon sa mga dating katrabaho niya sa gobyerno—mula sa kaniyang gabinete hanggang sa mga kabataang naging close-in staff niya. Maging mga ordinaryong mamamayan, nagbalik- tanaw sa kung paano niya iniangat sa ginhawa ang buhay ng karamihan. Kung paano niya tayo tinuruang mangarap muli. Iba-iba man ang pagkakilala natin sa kaniya, hindi maipagkakaila ang katotohanan: Mabuti, mahusay, at marangal siyang Pilipino. Naging tapat siya sa kaniyang tungkulin bilang pangulo. Itinuring niya tayong Boss. Narinig natin ito mismo mula sa kanya, at alam natin, hindi lip service ito, kundi tunay at malalim na pilosopiya na nag-uugat sa mismong pagkatao niya. He rolled up his sleeves and went to the frontlines kapag lindol o bagyo o kapag may gulo; nakipagpuyatan siya kasama ang staff at Gabinete; walang briefer na hindi niya sinuyod, dahil tayo ang boss niya. Walang wang-wang, dahil tayo ang boss niya. Ang pera ng taumbayan, napunta sa taumbayan lamang, dahil tayo ang boss niya. Never siyang nagbalandra ng pangalan sa mga billboard, never nagnakaw o nagsinungaling, at nanatili siya salamat pnoy 5 tributes sa tuwid na daan, dahil tayo ang boss niya. He always carried himself with honor and dignity, dito man sa Pilipinas o kaharap ang ibang heads of state, dahil alam niyang his words and actions reflect who we are as a people. Tayo ang Boss niya. Ngayong araw, sa pag-alala natin sa buhay ng isang PNoy, humaharap din tayo sa mga tanong: Ano ang kaya nating gawin, dito at ngayon, para ipagpatuloy ang mga nasimulan niya? Ano ang posible pa nating makamit para maabot ang mas malalaki pa nating hangarin? Tayo ang boss—so how do we prove ourselves worthy na matawag na boss ng isang taong katulad niya? Paano tayo tutugon? Ang sagot, marahil, ay nasa bawat isa rin sa atin: Sa pagtugon natin, nasa araw-araw nating pagdesisyon at pagkilos—kung ano ang pinipili nating ipaglaban, kung paano tayo magkawanggawa at makipag-ugnayan, kung paano natin tinutulungan ang kayang tulungan. Ang sagot natin, nasa pagpapaalala sa isa’t isa na walang Pilipinong kailangang humarap sa anumang laban na mag-isa. Tayo—tayong lahat, bilang kolektibo, bilang isang bansang Pilipinas— ang boss ni PNoy, kaya ang tugon natin, nakaugat dapat sa mga pangarap na nagbibigkis sa atin: Isang mundo na mas patas, mas makatao at mas makatarungan, kung saan lahat nasisilungan, lahat naaaruga, lahat ipinaglalaban. salamat pnoy 6 tributes Ito na rin siguro ’yung pinakamagandang tribute na puwede nating ibigay kay PNoy: Ang mahanap ang lakas ng loob na tumindig at pandayin ang Pilipinas na pinangarap niya para sa atin. Tayo ang Boss—tayo ang may kakayahan, hindi tayo passive observer lang sa demokrasya, kundi may responsibilidad na makilahok. Bawat isa may sapat na liwanag para makita ang mga susunod na hakbang tungo sa mas magandang bukas. Ito ang paniniwala ni PNoy mula pa noong umpisa. Dito tayo humuhugot ng lakas ngayon, at dito rin tayo huhugot ng lakas sa mga darating pang panahon. Maraming, maraming salamat, PNoy. Kung worth fighting for kami, mas lalo kang worth fighting for. Worth fighting for ang legacy mo, worth fighting for ang mga prinsipyo mo, worth fighting for ang Pilipinas na pinangarap mo. Gabay ka namin. Bukal ka ng lakas ng loob namin. Umasa ka: Hindi ka namin bibiguin.

salamat pnoy 7 tributes Statement by President Joe Biden on the Passing of Former President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines june 24, 2021 I extend my deepest condolences to the people of the Philippines on the death of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. He was a valued friend and partner to the United States, and he will long be remembered for serving his country with integrity and selfless dedication. President Aquino’s steadfast commitment to advancing peace, upholding the rule of law, and driving economic growth for all Filipinos, while taking bold steps to promote the rules-based international order, leaves a remarkable legacy at home and abroad that will endure for years to come. I greatly valued our time working together, and I extend my heartfelt sympathies to his family and to all who will mourn his absence. salamat pnoy 8 tributes salamat pnoy 9 tributes

July 14, 2021

H.E. Jose Manuel B. Romualdez Ambassador of the Philippines 1600 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20036

Dear Ambassador B. Romualdez,

On behalf of the Albright Stonebridge Group, I would like to offer our sincere sympathies on the passing of former President Benigno Aquino III. President Aquino was a steadfast leader who will be missed here in Washington and the region.

We will remember his efforts towards deepening the relationship between the United States and the Philippines. President Aquino’s legacy includes his contributions towards promoting social services, health, and education in the Philippines, and he will continue to be an inspiration for further progress towards those goals.

Sincerely,

Madeleine K. Albright Chair

Confidential

salamat pnoy 10 tributes top PNoy, as APEC 2015 chair, with US President Barack Obama at the APEC Leader’s Meeting Welcome Dinner at the SM MOA Arena, November 18, 2015. photo malacañang photo bureau/joseph vidal bottom The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) applauds PNoy during the Official Welcome at the PICC, November 18, 2015. photo malacañang photo bureau/benhur arcayan salamat pnoy 11 tributes mci photo lh goh (from pnoy’s 2011 state visit to singapore)

resident Aquino’s legacy and steadfast Pservice to his country will be remembered for generations to come. He was a dedicated public servant, having served as a legislator in both the House of Representatives and the Senate prior to his Presidency. Under his charge, the Philippines experienced a period of fastest economic growth, as well as improvements in education and healthcare. President Aquino also made invaluable contributions to deepening the friendship between the Philippines and Singapore. I will always cherish the memory of meeting him during his State Visit to Singapore in 2011. Singapore President Halimah Yacob

salamat pnoy 12 tributes mci photo chwee (at the istana, from pnoy’s 2014 visit to singapore)

resident Aquino had a lifetime of illustrious Ppublic service. He served in the House of Representatives, then the Senate, and later the Presidency. He felt a strong obligation to serve, especially due to his family history—both his parents were prominent political icons in the country. As President, he brought stability and rapid economic progress to the Philippines, and pursued policies that improved the lives and well- being of his fellow countrymen. My heart goes out to his family, and to the Filipino people. His passing is a great loss to the Philippines. Singapore prime minister lee hsien loong

salamat pnoy 13 tributes photo pcoo

NOTES FROM THE EU DELEGATION Remembering PNoy, a friend of the EU Luc Véron Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines The Philippine Star, August 1, 2021

he death of former President Benigno T“Noynoy” Aquino III caught the Philippines and the world in disbelief. Noynoy Aquino was a friend of the EU. We are forever grateful for his contribution for the deepening of our bilateral relations. Like his mother, Benigno Aquino III, despite his aversion for traveling, visited Europe as president of the Republic of the Philippines and left a strong impression of friendship between the EU and this country. It was under his term that the bilateral Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2014 and eventually ratified four years later.

salamat pnoy 14 tributes Sadly, I did not have the chance to personally meet with the former president. I have therefore asked one of my predecessors, my friend Guy Ledoux, whose tenure coincided with President Aquino, to share some of his memories. Ambassador Ledoux recalled the time of his presentation of credentials as one marked with significant bilateral challenges. At the time, the EU had banned all Philippines air carriers, it was considering to put to a stop the recruitment of Filipino seafarers on its ships and was ready to ban the import of fishery products from the Philippines. Quite a harsh panorama for a new ambassador, I would say. All those issues were solved thanks to an efficient administration and the president’s leadership. “The lifting of the air ban was an amazing success achieved in a very short time,” according to Guy Ledoux. He recounted that in 2014, President Aquino personally sent transport secretary Abaya to Brussels to explain the extensive measures by the Philippine government to ensure that the EU would lift the warning regarding the recruitment of Filipino seafarers on European vessels. In 2013, President Aquino signed an Executive Order (No. 154, s. 2013) approving National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

salamat pnoy 15 tributes (NPOA-IUU). As a result, stringent sanctions on illegal fishing were imposed, which enabled the EU to lift its warning against imports of fishery products from the Philippines. This was, and remains, a major step in ensuring the sustainable exploitation of fisheries in the Philippine waters. My predecessor also recalled fondly President Aquino’s methodology and approach. ”President Aquino’s objective was always to protect the jobs of Filipino people, whether in the maritime transport industry or the fisheries industries. His aim was to defend the interests of the Philippines both at home and abroad, whether in the relations with the EU or any other international partner and he stood firmly on his principles.” In the speech President Aquino delivered in Brussels in 2014 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of EU-Philippines relations, he cited the shared core values between the EU and the Philippines: the rule of law, democracy, inclusive growth and the protection of human rights— including the rights of those who might not be from our respective countries, such as migrants or migratory workers. These words remain valid today in our partnership. In the speech, he said, “We live in a world challenged by pandemics, by cross-border terrorism and by climate change.” As a true multilateralist, he said that only on a global level salamat pnoy 16 tributes could we address these challenges. He continued, “The choice is clear: Together, we can confront and overcome these challenges, or we can succumb to them individually.” Timeless words indeed. Then European Commission President Barroso hailed President PNoy for his efforts to bring peace, stability and development to the country of which the successful accomplishment of the Mindanao peace negotiations and signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro were remarkable examples. The EU is pleased to have accompanied the Philippines by supporting the Mindanao peace roadmap and governance framework and contributing to the delivery of peace dividends at the grassroots level up to this day. The EU shall always regard President PNoy as our true friend, an ally best remembered for nurturing the ties and the peace that bind the EU and the Philippines together. Maraming salamat at mabuhay PNoy!

photo official gazette

salamat pnoy 17 tributes The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Philippines, with great sadness and sorrow, expresses its heartfelt condolences to the Filipino people and the family of the late former President of the Philippines Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. As a great friend of Germany, his official state visit in the Federal Republic of Germany in September 2014 marked an important milestone in intensifying German- Philippine relations. During his visit, he met with former German Federal President Joachim Gauck and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. At the same time, several bilateral agreements and exchanges of notes in the spheres of social security, trade and education were signed at a ceremony held in the German Federal Foreign Office. This visit was conducted in the context of the celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and the Philippines in the same year. german embassy manila salamat pnoy 18 tributes The Embassy of France expresses its deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the Filipino people and to the family, friends, and colleagues of former President of the Republic of the Philippines, Mr. Benigno S. Aquino III. Former President Aquino leaves a legacy of leadership and reform founded on democratic values, economic prosperity, and honesty. Bilateral relations between France and the Philippines reached new heights during the presidency of Mr. Aquino where he warmly welcomed former French President François Hollande to Manila in 2015. It was during this historic first visit of a French Head of State to the Philippines that our two presidents jointly launched the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change – a mark of our two countries’ shared commitment to the fight against climate change and a symbol of the growing partnership and friendship between France and the Philippines. Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia

salamat pnoy 19 tributes salamat pnoy 20 tributes salamat pnoy 21 tributes salamat pnoy 22 tributes salamat pnoy 23 tributes photo linkedin/stephen groff

Very sad to learn of the passing of former Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Had the honor of working closely with his administration on behalf of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Pakikiramay sa aking pamilyang Pilipino. #RIP Stephen Groff Governor, National Development Fund salamat pnoy 24 tributes Let us all take this opportunity to unite in prayer and set aside our differences as we pay respects to a leader who has given his best to serve the Filipino people. His memory and his family’s legacy of offering their lives for the cause of democracy will forever remain etched in our hearts. philippine president rodrigo roa duterte

salamat pnoy 25 tributes photo facebook/motoo konishi Reflections on the Aquino leadership and administration Motoo Konishi World Bank Country Director for the Philippines, 2012-2016 Distinguished Fellow, Asian Institute of Management, 2016-present

s we read and hear the outpouring of Agratitude for President Benigno S Aquino III highlighting his accomplishments and his virtues, I wanted to write a bit about how much the World Bank has learned from President Aquino. World Bank’s institutional goal is to eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. On this, President Aquino will tell you three things. First, unless you improve governance and reduce corruption, you can never eliminate extreme poverty. Second, unless you can tackle climate change and natural disasters, you can never

salamat pnoy 26 tributes eliminate extreme poverty. And lastly unless you can grow the economy that lifts the entire country from bottom up and create meaningful jobs you can never eliminate extreme poverty. Those three conditions for eliminating poverty was really taken to heart by the World Bank. The Aquino administration walked the talk. Here are some examples of things which the World Bank learned as part of advising the Administration. On Governance and Corruption: Philippines was one of the eight founding members of the Open Government Partnership—a global partnership between Government and Civil Society to promote transparent, inclusive and participatory governance; Anti-corruption effort in DPWH brought down the cost of large national contracts by 25-30% (much of it due to elimination of corruption payments); tax revenues improved from less than 12% of GDP (one of the lowest in the region) to over 15%, including the passage of Sin Tax, and using the multilateral banks to create the huge fiscal space which the current Administration is using to borrow to finance the heavy cost of Covid-19 expenses. The improvement was so impressive that the World Bank held conferences of heads of tax authorities in the region on how it was accomplished. Support to DBM on Bottom-Up Budgeting to direct more resources towards rural salamat pnoy 27 tributes and poverty reduction programs and budget reform and transparency. Breakthrough work on the Bangsamoro Peace Process and the Organic Law. And of course most importantly, the drive for good governance led to one of the fastest economic growth rates globally, rivaling that of China. On climate change and natural disasters: The Bank, ADB and JICA were able to help NEDA put together the Typhoon Haiyan Reconstruction Plan in less than six months after the typhoon and delivered several billion dollars of assistance packages in matter of few months (again a new record at the Bank). A complete game changer in the world of post disaster reconstruction planning and it has now set a new global standard on disaster response. In addition, to reduce and mitigate the financial burden caused by natural disasters, DOF instructed the World Bank to create a wholly new Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Program (now a new product line offered globally by the World Bank). On improving the quality of growth and lifting the whole country from the bottom up, Aquino Administration expanded the program to provide universal coverage of health insurance; doubled the families covered under the Conditional Cash Transfer Program that pulled 7.7 million Filipinos out of poverty (largest and one of the best managed program of this type in the world). salamat pnoy 28 tributes And nearly tripling the budget for social services (education, health and DSWD—unheard of increase in social services globally). The Aquino administration was committed to delivering on its promises to the Filipino people and knew how to maximize the resources available to them to ensure that these objectives were met. We worked hand-in-hand with them in ensuring that only the cutting edge policy solutions were proposed and implemented. My senior staff were practically embedded in many of the Departments. We would scramble and work with our Washington teams to put together global best practice notes in 24 to 48 hours. Many of the reports were produced in-house in Manila. The Philippines Jobs Report and Mindanao Jobs Report both were monumental work produced by teams led by our brilliant senior economist Karl Chua who is now the Secretary of NEDA. Over the 35 years that I served at the World Bank, I have worked with Presidents and Ministers in over thirty countries. But the four years as the Country Director for the Philippines has been the most challenging, most impressive and most rewarding because of the Aquino leadership and administration. We witnessed and appreciated the difficulty and effort that was required to stabilize and turn a country around that was in a downward spiral. salamat pnoy 29 tributes We also saw first-hand the togetherness and shared vision that is necessary to put a country on a true growth path. We were inspired to work for a President and a Cabinet truly pushing to eliminate poverty and bring a brighter future for its citizens. And we all know that this is because of the President’s unwavering devotion to the Filipino People, to improving their lives, and to retake the position of Philippines as a nation to be proud of and a nation that will succeed and excel in Asia. Dear President Aquino, on behalf of all the World Bank staff who worked on the Philippines during your administration, it’s been a true honor and privilege to serve you. Bravo for the pride that you have brought back to the Filipino people. May you Rest in Peace and thank you for the devotion and sacrifice you have made for this great country.

photo pcoo

salamat pnoy 30 tributes National Artist Bencab and PNoy during the Vin d'Honneur at the Malacanang Palace on June 12, 2016. photo facebook/bencab

Rest in peace my good President. bencab Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, National Artist for Visual Arts (Painting) salamat pnoy 31 tributes President Aquino with Risa Hontiveros Baraquel, in 2015, after her oath-taking as PhilHealth Director photo official gazette My president, my friend Senator Risa Hontiveros

hey say the 40th day is when a person's soul Tfinally leaves earth and ascends to Heaven. We say goodbye to Noy, but history will never. History will remember his bravery against China, the infrastructure he imagined, the economy he built, the international relationships he fostered, the bills he signed into law against all odds, his indifference to personal attacks. His presidency was a part of the Filipinos’ story, and proof again that we as a nation can overcome anything.

salamat pnoy 32 tributes PNoy brought a quiet dignity to his work at the Palace. There was nothing vain about his presidency. He did what he said, and said what he did, nothing more. The Presidency was a job he had to do, and the only thing on his agenda was the Filipino people. I am grateful that he served us. He did the brave work of helping Filipinos plant the seed. Now, we are left with the responsibility to tend it, to grow it, to protect it, so that one day we might sit beneath and pick fruits from the branches of a tree Noy never got to see. Walang ginusto si Noy kundi bumunga ang mga pangarap nating lahat, kahit hindi siya makakalilim o hindi niya matitikman ang mga prutas. It has been 40 days since his death. I will always mourn our loss of PNoy, but I look to his life with much faith. That we the Filipino people can in time turn the tree he grew into a forest, that we can sustain it, that we can make it live forever. Noy is an example of who we truly are as a people. And as he also believed all his life, the Filipino shall always overcome. We can make it possible again. For now: Good bye, my President. Good bye, my friend. Maraming salamat.

salamat pnoy 33 tributes photo philippine information agency (pia) western mindanao Miles de gracias Maria Isabelle ‘Beng’ G. Climaco Mayor, City Government of Zamboanga

amboanga City joins the nation in mourning Zthe demise of former President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III, the 15th president of the Philippines from 2010-2016. We thank him profusely for the love and concern he showed to Zamboanga City. Miles de gracias por su dedicao servicio na Republica de Filipinas llevando el legacia del su tata, estaba Senador Benigno Aquino y su nana, estaba Presidente Corazon Aquino. Ele una persona que tiene grande amor y dedicacion para na entero pais. Paz eterno P. Noy na mano de Dios! Gracias por tu servicio na Nacion!

salamat pnoy 34 tributes salamat pnoy 35 tributes salamat pnoy 36 tributes salamat pnoy 37 tributes National Museum director Jeremy Barns and Board of Trustees chair Ramon del Rosario accompany PNoy as he tours the museum during its 111th anniversary in October 2012. Here, they view Juan Luna’s The Parisian Life. photo official gazette National Museum recalls cultural, heritage projects supported by PNoy ABS-CBN News, July 6 2021

he National Museum of the Philippines has Treleased a video to pay tribute to the late former president Benigno Aquino III who passed away in June. In a Facebook post, the National Museum released a video tribute to express its gratitude to Aquino, who supported the restoration and

salamat pnoy 38 tributes creation of national museums all over the Philippines during his administration. The 7-minute long video highlighted the accomplishments of the National Museum during the Aquino administration, which includes the National Museum of Natural History project which was started in 2013, and opened to the public in 2018. Several regional museums and satellite offices were constructed and developed during Aquino's term, including museums in Batanes, Vigan, Marinduque, Bohol and Iloilo, among others. The Aquino administration, likewise, supported the heritage preservation projects of the National Museum, including the restoration of churches damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake which struck Bohol and Cebu in 2013, and the damage brought by Typhoon Yolanda in the La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish Church in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. “The National Museum of the Philippines is honored and grateful to be instrumental in the cultural heritage projects and programs aligned with the nation-building vision of President Aquino and his administration.” Watch the video on YouTube

salamat pnoy 39 tributes photos pp 40-41 facebook/loida nicolas lewis

salamat pnoy 40 tributes Who is PNoy? Loida Nicolas Lewis National Chair US Filipinos for Good Governance Memorial Service for President Noynoy Aquino St. Ignatius Loyola Church, New York City, July 4, 2021

ur 15th OPresident Noynoy Aquino died 10 days ago in his ancestral home in Quezon City, in his sleep. Although the immediate cause of death was kidney failure, he really died because he understood that he was not perfect, but he had done the best he could for the country, and he could do no more. Who is our President we fondly call PNoy, short for President Noynoy? Born on February 8, 1960, he is the middle child and only son of Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr. (who was then Vice Governor of Tarlac), and Corazon Cojuangco, whose father was one of the richest businessmen in Tarlac. But he was only 12 years old, when on September 21, 1972 (declaration of Martial Law),

salamat pnoy 41 tributes his father, then-Senator ‘Ninoy’ Aquino was arrested on trumped up charges of rebellion. So almost every weekend for eight years, Noynoy visited with his mother and four sisters, his father who was in solitary confinement. Then in 1980, his father was released to go to the United States for a heart operation. Noynoy returned to Manila to finish his senior year in his college studies at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University. For the next two years in Boston, Noynoy with his parents were in exile—while his father taught at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. But news that President Marcos was suffering from lupus caused Ninoy Aquino to decide to go back home, even when it would mean being back in prison, or worse, death. Before Ninoy boarded the plane in Boston, again he told his only son, “Noynoy, take care of your mother and sisters.” August 21, 1983. The whole world witnessed the assassination of Noynoy’s father on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport. Noynoy now the Man of the Family at 23 years old. Three years later, he fulfilled his father’s admonition, he was beside his mother as she campaigned and won the snap elections of 1986. During those turbulent six years of her salamat pnoy 42 tributes presidency, Noynoy saw the trials, tribulations, and six coup d’état that his mother underwent. The most serious coup attempt targeted Noynoy—as his car came toward Malacañang, a hail of bullets peppered his car. Three of his bodyguards took the bullets for him, as they threw him down to the bottom of the car. The bodyguards died. Noynoy himself got hit on his legs, and on his neck. Because it was less dangerous than operating on his neck, a bullet remained there as a constant reminder that he was living a second life. Noynoy then ran for public office after his mother’s term was finished—as Congressman, and later on as Senator of the Philippines. Then came August 1, 2009. Noynoy’s mother, Cory Aquino, died after fighting cancer for a year. The grief of the people for Tita Cory, and the groundswell of support for Noynoy to run for President became overwhelming. After a spiritual retreat, he decided, “Yes, I’ll take it.” He ran and won in a landslide victory in May 2010. Do you now understand why the first directive he gave was, “No more wangwang”? In short, he believed that a public servant, a politician, should serve and not be served. And that’s why he has declared to the Filipino People: “Kayo ang Boss ko.” salamat pnoy 43 tributes And you have heard our Consul General describe all of his accomplishments. Because PNoy appointed good people like Cesar Purisima, Conchita Carpio-Morales, Albert del Rosario, Dinky Soliman—they ushered the Philippines’ receiving for the first time, investment grade status from Moody’s and others. The Philippines was upgraded from a borrower to a “lender” status by the IMF in 2012. And again, the Philippines’ landmark case against China (in the Hague), showed the world that we can peacefully stand up against China like a David vs. a Goliath—whereas Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei dared not go against China back then. And we won that exactly five years ago! The Foreign Press began to call the Philippines “The Rising Tiger of Asia”—and we were on our way to have our rightful place in the family of nations! So thank you, President Noynoy, for being a humble, good and faithful servant to the Filipino People. I will quote what you said at the wake of your mother, Tita Cory—you quoted St. Paul’s letter: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). And so you did, President Noynoy. We love you. Thank you.

salamat pnoy 44 tributes photo official gazette

For so many times in our history, my people have shown that, united, nothing is impossible. We called it People Power. pnoy to the un general assembly 24 september 2010

salamat pnoy 45 tributes photo facebook/daisy diamante “The world is beautiful, isn’t it?” Daisy Diamante

ew York. I remember that day quite clearly. NI was speed walking to get lunch during the General Assembly time and took a short cut by the gardens. I saw the then President; he was standing alone under one of the small trees, his salamat pnoy 46 tributes frame hidden by the bushes. His security and assigned Secret Service agent standing discreetly a few paces away. I pointed at him if I can go near, they nodded back. So I went to him and said hello in Kapampangan, I assumed he spoke it since our provinces shared borders. He smiled and said, “You found me, I want to be alone.” I was mortified and turned to leave, and he said, “No, no, stay. I need company.” We both looked up at the sky and spent a few seconds of companionable silence. Two people from Central Luzon under the warm fall sun of New York. I asked about his flight, he told me he was tired and it was a turbulent flight coming in; he re-enacted it like he was the pilot with sound effects. We shared a laugh. Then the UN’s K-9 dog passed and I whistled at the dog (I would tickle his chin whenever I would see him for a tail wag, much to the consternation of his handler). The President then sat down on his haunches and admired the dog and we had a canine talk for a few minutes; he said he had a dog back home and talked fondly about the family pet. We didn’t talk politics or the state of the world, just about puppy dog tails and all good things small and wonderful. The roses were abloom, the skies were wide open, the sun beating down on us, with the East River sending sparks across the water and on to our faces. He said, “The world is beautiful, isn’t it?” I smiled salamat pnoy 47 tributes and cheekily said, “From here, it is perfect.” He laughed until he fogged up his glasses. Then the Foreign Minister came and broke the party for two and it was time for us to head back to work. He told me good luck and to do well. I wished him the same and we parted ways. We are all the same when alone. A simple human being with a small-big dream—making our side of the world a little bit better. After that meeting, he went to address the member states and said, “Climate change does not recognize national boundaries, or political or economic affiliations. The choice before us, then, is clear: Together we must face these challenges and surmount them, or together we will suffer the consequences of inaction.” The world is indeed a beautiful place. Just a little sadder with many beautiful people with small-big dreams leaving. Paalam po.

photo pcoo salamat pnoy 48 tributes PNoy’s last SONA in 2015 photo official gazette Rest in peace, my President Fr. Vids Gornez, SJ

is voice cracked in his last SONA. The rudest Hcritic dismissed it as mere drama, but for the discerning, it spoke eloquently of the depth of his love for country he earnestly strived to serve.

salamat pnoy 49 tributes Reviled, ridiculed, rashly judged but only by the vilest of enemies, the good man always stands tall. Ninoy his father never saw a great chapter of the country's emancipation from a dictator. Cory his mother died before seeing her son shine and shed light to a gloomy economy when people learned to dream again, with not a few dreaming, but too high, thus setting themselves up for frustration. And now, PNoy dying without seeing the dawn of this yet another dark chapter in the country's history. Is it propitious that he died on the Solemnity of John the Baptist, holy patron of Manila, but above all, precursor of the Son of God himself, he who announced in the desert the news of the coming salvation? History has the habit of repeating itself, and I say salvation history. Abraham never saw God's promise fulfilled when it was finally fulfilled. Moses never set foot on the land promised to his people. John had to decrease so that the true Saviour could increase. Is PNoy's death a portent of things, good things yet to come? Only the Lord of history knows. But yes, history does repeat itself.

salamat pnoy 50 tributes A child who adored you Amin Hataman

found myself crying into my pillow an entire I day after hearing of your passing. It had taken essentially an entire 24 hours before the shock subsided, and I had processed the information for long enough that I could take hold of my emotions. I thought that it was only natural that I shed tears for a great man I so admired; the product of a noble heritage and family that shaped Philippine history, and are the unfailing hallmarks of democracy. My sadness was to be expected.

salamat pnoy 51 tributes Until about an hour ago, when I realized the tears that stained my pillow weren’t mine. They were the tears of an immature, naive, and utterly stupid child. A child that adored you, you being the first President that he had grown up having, the first Philippine Head of State that he’d seen campaign, witnessed winning the election, and addressing the people. A child who’d seen entire rooms and atriums become silent before you even entered. A child who was ecstatic at the opportunity to visit and speak with you, only to be silent in awe and nervousness for the majority of the conversation that you and his father shared, right in front of him. I silently cursed myself for allowing myself to slip back to being that child again, even for only a handful of minutes, precisely because I know better. In the years intervening the last time I spoke with you, I had learned that infallibility is an adjective that is never, ever to be applied to a person, that I should be wary of those in power, and that idolatry is unspeakably damaging to democracy. Returning to these lessons I’d learned, I can’t help but curse myself even more for that instance of weakness. How stupid of me. I didn’t know you, not truly. I can’t say with confidence that it was truly you that stood behind

salamat pnoy 52 tributes those podiums, that said the words, that looked on at the crowds and smiled. I couldn’t imagine, for the life of me, what went on inside your head as you made decisions that would impact millions, and whether or not you attached faces to them. In truth, you were a complete stranger to me, and it seems the tragedy is that that is what you will remain. I wish I could’ve spoken with you - really spoken with you, just once. For all I know, in reality you may have only used your parents and your last name to gain power, to work for the benefit of your family and to bask in the glory of being the most powerful individual in the republic. You may have relished duping so many hopefuls with your shallow words, taking action only to increase your fame and renown. You may have very well taken advantage of all of us. If this is true, then let my letter end here. I will pay my respects for the dead, and move on without second thought or glance. Democracy is better off. But, if by chance—if by the smallest chance you actually cared, that you had real ambition for us Filipinos and the direction we were headed, and you understood the sheer gravity of each and every singular yellow ribbon that has ever been tied by a person who was willing to bet on you; if you had tried your damnedest to answer millions salamat pnoy 53 tributes of hopes with nothing but your utmost effort to bring honor to these islands; if you had meant every single word you said to the child who sat in front of your desk, after mustering the courage to ask you a question in the middle of your conversation with his father, then I have only one answer to all of your efforts: Thank you, so very much, from the bottom of my heart. You gave it everything you had, despite all the difficulty, all the pressure. Because of you, I can raise my head higher as a Filipino. I am now more determined than I have ever been. Please, rest easy. There are so many who will continue your work.

photo pcoo salamat pnoy 54 tributes A press photo distributed by the Office of the President on March 15, 2012, during the start of the Noynoying protests photo gov.ph

Survival of Noynoying Fr. Rolando S. DelaGoza CM Former CHED Commissioner

here is a dictum in science that says “survival Tof the fittest.” It may seem that, for all intent and purposes, the dictum does not apply to Noynoying, the somewhat pejorative word coined against President Noynoy Aquino. After he ended

salamat pnoy 55 tributes his term five years ago, the word seemed to have disappeared, but after the death of President Noynoy on June 24, the word has morphed and appeared with a new and accurate meaning. From being a pejorative adjective, “Noynoying” has become a word of descriptive force, with the meaning of a loving, decent and dedicated person. So it has survived not only because it is a fit description of Noynoy, it became a description of a true servant leader. From a word indicating uncaring, low EQ, unmotivated actuations, it has become a motivated, caring and decent action for the good of the country which President Pinoy has raised high before the nations of the world and whose GDP he made more competitive with those of our Asian neighbors. From being a passive, insincere, disrespectful qualification, it has become an active and productive word which promoted the development of the Philippines into one of the richest and most admired countries in the world. That is what “Noynoying” means to this 81 year old student of Philippine History and how I wish, it also means the same to you; May “Noynoying” be embedded and live in the Filipino heart.

salamat pnoy 56 tributes July 3, 2021

To the Siblings of PNoy and family, Thank you for allowing PNoy to love the Filipinos as he did... as exemplified by your dear parents. My fondest and closest encounter with PNoy was when he visited Zamboanga City on January 16, 2013 to grace the culminating event for the Centennial jubilee of Ateneo de Zamboanga University as our keynote speaker. Now, the photos of him and with him are treasured memories. Below is a simple attempt of expressing my sympathy and gratitude for the gift of PNoy! GRACIAS y SALUDO! Sincerely,

Ruth Guerrero, Ateneo de Zamboanga University

salamat pnoy 57 tributes salamat pnoy 58 tributes fb.com/ciel.fernando

salamat pnoy 59 tributes salamat pnoy 60 tributes Tayong mga kabataan Diwa Vargas Donato

na kong hinangaan sa yo, halos lahat ng Uspeech, naisulat at naisabi sa Filipino. Sa simpleng bagay na yon, nagpapasalamat na ako agad dahil para sa isang 11 years old, naiintindihan ko ang sinasabi ng presidente ko. Bagay na nagpanalo siguro sa akin sa mga writing contests tuwing ikaw ang topic. Dahil lumaki ako sa field ng campus journalism, una kong pagka-disappoint ay sa Freedom of Information Bill at mas lumalim sa kulang na aksyon para sa Ampatuan Massacre. Habang sinusulat ko to, kinikilabutan ako kung saan ko nakuha ang tapang na ito dahil high school palang pala ako nito. Hindi perpekto ang administrasyon mo ngunit ramdam naman na ng karamihan kung gaano kaimportante ang mga pinaglaban niyo - ang ating soberanya sa West Philippine Sea, anti-graft and corruption policies na naipakulong kahit ang mga matataas na pulitiko, ang reproductive health at sin tax kahit tinaguriang radikal noon, K to 12 kahit may mga bago at malalaking hamon dito... Para naman sa akin, ang iyong economic policies na paigtingin ang public and private partnerships, ang pagpapalawak ng political

salamat pnoy 61 tributes participation ng ordinayong mamamayan lalo na sa Bottom-Up Budgeting, ang iyong political philosophy na dahil naka-angat naman ng konti ang bansa noon, magbigay sa mas mahihirap sa atin katulad ng mga bansa sa Africa, ang pakikinig mo sa kritisismo. At syempre, ang suporta sa aming mga kabataan. Pero ang lagi mo nga palang sinasabi— tayong mga kabataan. Ang masaksihan ang iyong pamamalakad ang isa sa naghubog ng prinsipyo ko sa murang edad. Lagi kong dadalhin ang simpleng pangarap mo para sa amin - isang bansa kung saan bawat isa ay may kakayahang tuparin ang inaasam niyang kinabukasan. Much can be said but the important thing was that you were a good man. You did everything you could to make our country better in all aspects. You will be remembered as a president with dignity, respect for democracy and rule of law, and putting the interests of your people first. We will continue believing that the Filipino is worth dying, living and fighting for. Laking karangalan at biyaya ang mabigyan ng pagkakataon na matuto at makakuha ng inspirasyon sa iyong mga gawa at salita. Maraming salamat po at paalam sir.

salamat pnoy 62 tributes photosalamat pcoo pnoy 63 tributes Honor Pablo A. Tariman

Sometimes Death has a message Telling us the virtues we ignored in life Are more recognizable When we say goodbye To earthly existence. This country has never known dignity Until we got used to a leader Cursing his way to the presidency. We have never known honor Until someone used power To overtake and bury it Throwing caution to the wind. We have never known What domestic bliss looked like Until someone ordered Arrest, detention and execution For those in disagreement With the ruler’s insatiable Killer’s instinct.

salamat pnoy 64 tributes These days Honor has overtaken us As we applaud uncouth behavior Like this old man Groping his household help On the day of his birthday. And so we grieve for this public servant Who held honor As his badge of courage. It turned out Honor died with him As we reckon with someone Who prefers to rule Than to govern. So whatever happened To honor as we know it? It died with the mob And passed away With a selfless servant-leader Who quietly lived honor And never once defined it With words.

salamat pnoy 65 tributes He shouldn’t die in vain Let’s proceed To reclaim honor In this wasteland Of bad governance. Honor what is thy name? It is as simple as going to sleep With a clear conscience At peace in the midst Of a weary world Grappling with death and pestilence.

salamat pnoy 66 tributes On being caught by grief in the rain Pablo A. Tariman

I heard thunder And flashes of lightning Late in the afternoon. I imagined rain would follow As I feel cold wind Rustling curtains In my window pane. Was that rain confined To that little acre Where three good people Lie in state? Earlier I saw crowds Lining up The long road to Sucat. There was something spontaneous About this crowd Braving the virus As they unfolded flags And let loose A shower of thank-yous salamat pnoy 67 tributes For the leader Who was their last link To honor and honesty. I am not a joiner Of worthy and lost causes. But I can see pure spirits Paying tribute to honor and dignity After we lost them. I must admit That at some point I was in tears. It was more for courage I didn’t have And saw it in simple people Who can see goodness And reflect the truth When they see one. I like the feel of rain On my head; I like the cleansing ripples Of rainwater As I weigh on grief That was long in coming. Today I celebrate honor and honesty When they were declared passe By leaders in private jets. salamat pnoy 68 tributes Today I celebrate the simple people Who braved the high bright sun To remind us Honor is not such a lonely word In the milieu Of goal slayers. It feels edifying Being caught by grief By impending shower. I like being absolved By rainwater washing away Your private guilt As an urn finds its way Into its final resting place In the rain.

salamat pnoy 69 tributes Dying in your sleep Floy Quintos

Go now, while the dawn’s light is purest and the world is quiet still. Soon, the noise of mourning will rend the air, and even vultures will shriek lamentations while sharpening their claws. Small and light And tender, you will no longer feel the thousand cuts of calumny, or the sharp stabs of lies foretold. The promise of perfection will lose its sheen. As will the memory of your noblest dreams. The clarity that floating brings, the passing nature of all things. salamat pnoy 70 tributes Your broken heart. Your battles lost. Your splendid vision. At what cost? But dream you did. For dream you must. Now pass your battles onto us.

salamat pnoy 71 tributes Pagpanaw sa iyong pag-idlip Salin sa Filipino ni Elmer L. Gatchalian ng “Dying in Your Sleep” ni Floy Quintos

Humayo ka, habang ang liwanag ng bukang-liwayway ay napakadalisay pa at ang mundo ay panatag. Ilang oras pa, ang ingay ng pagdadalamhati ay pupunit na sa hangin, at maging ang mga buwitre ay papalahaw na ng kanilang hinagpis habang pinatatalim ang kanilang mga kuko. Munti at magaan at mapagmahal, hindi mo na mararamdaman ang sanlibong sugat ng paninirang-puri, o ang matatalas na tusok ng mga inihasik na kasinungalingan. Ang pangako ng kadakilaan ay mawawalan na ng ningning. Gayundin ang alaala ng iyong mga pinakamatayog na pangarap.

salamat pnoy 72 tributes Ang linaw na hatid ng paglutang, ang paglipas ng mga bagay-bagay. Ang nabigong puso, ang pagkatalo sa labanan, ang nakamamanghang pangitain. Ano ang kapalit nito? Ngunit nangarap ka. At nangarap ka dahil iyon ang nararapat. Ngayon, ipasa mo na ang laban sa amin.

salamat pnoy 73 tributes Ateneo de Manila University President Fr Bobby Yap, SJ blesses the urn and ashes of PNoy at the Ateneo de Manila Church of the Gesù, around 9am on Friday, June 25, 2021, in preparation for the public viewing, when thousands lined up to pay their respects photo ateneo de manila/aaron vicencio

salamat pnoy 74 god's servant 2 honoring God’s servant

salamat pnoy 75 god's servant PNoy and Fr. Jett at the Ateneo de Manila Ignatian Festival in 2013 photo malacañang photo bureau/benhur arcayan

salamat pnoy 76 god's servant Noynoy Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ Simbahan ng Gesù, Pamantasang Ateneo de Manila, 25 June 2021

inext ko si Noy nung May 16, Ascension. TSabi ko: JTV: Pre, Ascension ngayon. Naway akayin kang umahon ng ating Poon.

Noy: His will and intention be done. Jett, hindi ako nagpapadalaw sa ospital. Baka matsambahan pa ng covid. Salamat sa alok.

JTV: Nauunawaan ko. Kaya pray from home na lang ako for you. Ingat lagi. Tapos, makalawa, pagkaraan ng kanyang angio procedure, kinamusta siya muli nung 18 May:

JTV:Pre, kamusta ka na after your angiogram?

Noy: They discovered a blockage between 70-80%. In a good position for access. Massive relief after. This was the best outcome possible. Thank you for the prayers.

JTV:Ay galíng. Natanggal ang bara. Hinga nang malalim. Mabait ang Diyos.

Noy:The heart got enlarged because it was working so hard to remove the fluid because efficiency was down due to blockage.

JTV:Kaya pala stouthearted ka. :) Sige, now the heart can rest. (Kung makina pa yan, nag overheat na o

salamat pnoy 77 god's servant kumatok sa baradong karburador.) Pahinga ka pa at hayaan mong humilom ang puso.

Noy:Yung isang klaseng broken heart, hindi kaya dito. Broken heart. Isa lamang ako sa maraming nakamalas sa kabiguan ng kanyang puso. At hindi lamang dahil sa kanyang lovelife, na hinalintulad niya sa Coke Zero. Pangulo siya pero ilang beses siyang nakatikim ng talo. May mga hapon na ibinuhos niya sa amin ni Cardinal Chito Tagle ang tampo niya sa Simbahan o sa mga Heswita, o ang kanyang isyu sa sistema ng katarungan sa bansa (hindi lang sa Korte Suprema). Naroon lagi ang tampo sa bagal ng kilos, sa kupad ng takbo ng pag-unlad ng bansa. Yung A sa DAP na hindi man nakalipad ay acceleration, arangkada. Noong prinisenta naming mga Heswita ang aming wishlist sa kanya (tungkol sa pagkokotong at kung anu-anong katiwalian di lang sa customs, tungkol sa pagyurak ng kalikasan, sa kalidad ng edukasyon, atbp), ayun, nagtetext sya. Ano ba ito, sabi ko, hindi nakikinig. Yun pala tinitext na yung secretary of energy o finance o DILG, real time, para sagutin o aksyonan na ang aming mga hinaing. Madali siyang mainip at magalit. Lalo na kung hindi mo nagawa ang homework mo o malabo ka mag isip. Minsan, pagkatapos makipag meeting sa kanya, pina sit-in ako sa kanto ng kuwarto, habang

salamat pnoy 78 god's servant pinulong nya ang kanyang gabinete. Habang pinagmamasdan ko sila, naalala ko ang mga araw namin sa kolehiyo, dito sa Ateneo, nung kami’y mga student leaders sa Sanggunian. Doon pa lamang sa aming kabataan, natuto na kaming makipagbakbakan, walang personalan, basta para sa kapakanan ng kalahatan. Pagkatapos ng meeting, pinasalamatan ako ng ilan sa cabinet at sabi kung puede raw dalas-dalasan ko ang sit in, kasi hindi daw sila gaanong pinagagalitan. :) “Yung isang klaseng broken heart, hindi kaya dito.” Kung broken-hearted sya, alam kong dahil hatî rin ang puso ng bayan. Ang dalamhati ng bayan, dala dala rin ng taong ito. Minsan palabiro naming tinanong si Bro Armin, bakit mo pinagtitiyagaan na maglingkod sa kanyang gabinete? Simple lamang ang sagot ni Brother: Anupaman ang kanyang kahinaan, pag may desisyon na dapat gawin, ang huling tinatanong lagi ng pangulo sa kanila: paano maaapektuhan ang mga mahihirap ng desisyong gagawin natin? How will this decision affect the poor? Kung ganoon magtanong ang pinuno, paano nga naman hindi ka maeengganyo. Ang broken heart ng taong ito, nasobrahan din ng broken heart ng taumbayan. Minsan nasa Palawan kami para itaguyod ang underground river at ang kalikasan. Sabit lang ako, akala ko joyride, pero napagod ako sa kung sinu-sinong salamat pnoy 79 god's servant PNoy in Palawan photo gov.ph binisita, pati ung pamilya ni Dr. Gerry Ortega na pinaslang dahil sa kanyang pagtanggol sa kalikasan. Ang broken heart ng bayan, lalo pang nagagasgasan ngayon ng gaspang, ng dahas na walang pinagpipitagan, ang karahasan at pananakot na panakip butas lamang sa malalim at laganap na kahinaan. Ang broken heart ng taong ito, ang broken heart ng ating bayan, hindi káya dito. Mukhang hindi nga kakayanin dito. Dumirito at gumagapang, pasimple at pahagíng, ang pamamanhid ng puso, ang paglimot sa magiting na nakalipas, ang paghagis ng dignidad ng kapwa, ang pagdududa sa kabutihan, at pangangalyo at pangangapal ng puso. Pero Noy, kung nakikinig ka ngayon, at alam kong naririnig mo ako, wala namang wangwang ang tunay na kabutihan, di ba. Hindi kailangang iwangwang ang katotohanan kahit matinis kung salamat pnoy 80 god's servant umingay ang kasinungalingan. Ikaw mismo ang nag pamana ng pagsupil ng wangwang sa ating lipunan. Kutob mo, kutob ng bayan, kutob ni Kristo: ang kapangyarihan ay para sa mga salat sa kapangyarihan. “Yung isang klaseng broken heart, hindi kaya dito.” Second to the last text mo ito sa akin. Ang naisagot ko na lang:

JTV:E, di magpaka stouthearted na lang, anupaman. At heto, humirit ka pa, iyong kahuli-hulihang linya:

Noy:Sa grade school hamburger umasa at may pag-asa. Noy, ang huling pangungusap mo sa akin, pagkain. Pagkatapos sabihing ang broken heart, hindi kakayanin, nagawa mo pang balikan ang iyong kabataan at ang mga pook ng sariwang pag- alaga at ligaya. Ang broken heart, di kakayanin. Pero kung may grade school hamburger, may pag-asa. Noy, sa grade school, wala na ung hamburger. Siguro dyan sa langit, marami, ewan. Kung nakakahinga ka na nang malalim, alam kong sa langit, gutom ka pa rin at broken heart para sa amin. Mapalad ang dukhang kalooban, sa kanila raw ang Kanyang kaharian. Noy, ikaw naman ngayon, pray from home, pray from heaven, ikaw naman para sa amin ang manalangin.

salamat pnoy 81 god's servant Salamat sa Diyos Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas Ateneo de Manila University, Church of the Gesù, June 26, 2021

y dear brothers and sisters in Christ: MNakakagulat…Nakakahinayang… Nakakalungkot…Nakaka-inggit. Sa kabila ng lahat... salamat pa rin sa Diyos! President Noy crossed over to the next life as the sun was rising three days ago. The lights at Times Street have been extinguished; but there is no darkness. An endless bright day has dawned upon our dear President Noy. The sun will not set on him anymore. Darkness can touch him no longer. The battle is over, the victory is won!

salamat pnoy 82 god's servant His silence after his presidential term was a silence of dignity. As he brought dignity and honesty to his service to the nation as our President, he preserved that dignity after his retirement. It was the silence of noble statesmen now rare and forgotten. It was the silence of daang matuwid. It was a silence of nobility, that sense of dignity that we truly miss now. He endured and carried the cross of his health problems with courageous dignity, with uncomplaining fortitude, hidden from the limelight, known only to God. It was like the quiet nobility of the Lord before Pilate. Kaya tayo nagulat! Death for him came like a thief in the night as the Gospels say. But then, it was not also surprising. PNoy died as he lived. He served without fanfare. He abhorred power trappings and power tripping. He slipped away quietly as much as possible disturbing no one. Walang wang wang. Very PNoy and not surprising! Gayunman kung nagulat tayo sa kanyang biglang pagpanaw, magmasid tayo sa buong bansa, hindi ba dapat din tayong magulat sa mga nagaganap sa ating paligid? Eulogies have been written and spoken and shared but the best eulogy tribute we can pay our dear President Noy is to bring back, recover, preserve, safeguard and never to compromise again our dignity as a people and the decency of our leaders as servants not bosses. The flags at

salamat pnoy 83 god's servant half- mast are not only for a dead President but for the dying decent governance. Tayo ang boss niya! He lived by it. We are grateful for it. The greatest among you will be your servant, says the Lord. From our human reckoning, sixty one is an age too young to die. But his relatively short life is a fitting reminder for us that what matters indeed is not how long we live, but how; after all Christ died at thirty three. When you are given a chance to serve, serve; a chance to lead, lead; a chance to soar high with the people, soar high. He responded to the call and gave us his best. Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. He did not quote that bible text; he lived it. He made himself an easy target of discontent, trolls and bashers but focused vision was the rule of his leadership game and what a brave headstrong visionary he was! Sayang! He still had much to teach us about decency and integrity. He still had so much to teach us about good governance and professionalism. He still had so much to teach us about self-sacrifice and simplicity. Maybe, and I do hope, his death will spark another fire within us to resurrect his example of decency and integrity. The sincerest form of tribute to dear President Noynoy is to relive his life lessons of salamat pnoy 84 god's servant decency and ethical leadership; recover honor and dignity in our private and public lives, among us citizens and our leaders. His mortal remains are now ashes but his integrity and decency must resurrect through us and in the leaders we choose. As we express our shock and regrets, there is also a tinge of envy in my soul. Nakakainggit. President Noynoy has joined the pantheon of the great and has entered into eternity. He is where sickness can no longer threaten; where fake news has no more place and trolls are dead; where God’s commandments are no longer transgressed and God’s name is no longer blasphemed; where vulgarity and brutality is vanquished by compassion; where God and His love alone reigns supreme. That is where we believe he has crossed over, into the new heavens and the new earth. We who are left behind sighing, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears must still toil under the heat of the sun. We still have to endure mediocrity and violence and vulgarity and treachery. Buti pa si PNoy, malaya na talaga! Sa kanyang pagtawid sa kabila, naroong yayakap sa kanya ang kanyang dalawang bayaning magulang. Proud parents of a noble son! Nakakainggit. There is a new great Filipino in heaven joining his great Filipino parents.

salamat pnoy 85 god's servant Nakakagulat. Nakakahinayang. Nakalulungkot. Nakakainggit. Sa kabila ng lahat...salamat pa rin sa Diyos! Like Timothy he can say I have fought a good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Salamat Panginoon sa matuwid na lingkod bayan! Salamat Panginoon sa marangal na katahimikan Salamat sa halimbawa ng tuwid na daan Salamat sa Pangulong ang boss niya ay taumbayan! Salamat sa pamana ng aruga sa mahirap Salamat sa paglilingkod na masusi at tapat Salamat sa tapang na ipagtanggol ang dagat Salamat sa talino at malinaw na pangarap! President Noy kaming pong boss ninyo ay nagpapasalamat sa inyo. Mabuhay kayo sa tahanan ng Diyos. Kami po ang boss ninyo. Kayo po ang aming champion! May you find the rest that earth failed to give you! Alleluia! Amen.

salamat pnoy 86 god's servant photo pcoo

salamat pnoy 87 god's servant photos ateneo de manila Scared, scarred, sacred Bishop Pablo Virgilio David First Friday, Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2 July 2021

find it significant that this final day of the I novena for the eternal repose of PNoy falls on July 2, the first Friday of the month, the day we dedicate to the Sacred Heart of the Jesus. Perhaps I should call this homily a sequel to Fr. Jet Villarin’s homily on the “Broken Heart of Noy,” his classmate at the Ateneo. This morning, as I was having my “Coffee with Jesus” in the chapel, I was suddenly reminded of an earlier Atenista with a broken heart, named

salamat pnoy 88 god's servant Jose Rizal. Did you know that the young Jose Rizal, while studying at the Ateneo, carved a piece of wood using only a pen knife and came up with a miniature image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus? I was handed a replica of that image two years ago by Fr. Jett Villarin himself when he was still president of the Ateneo and my alma mater gave me the Bukas Palad Award in their 2019 Traditional University Awards. I have placed that image on my altar in my private little chapel in my residence in Caloocan city. Early this morning, I had just opened my breviary in order to start my morning prayer when my eyes were fixed on this little wooden replica of the image of the Sacred Heart carved by Rizal. It was standing there on my altar next to a lighted candle and it reminded me that it was the first Friday, the day of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. So I found myself humming the devotional hymn to the Sacred Heart: O Sacred Heart! O Love Divine! Do keep us near to Thee; And make our love so like to Thine That we may holy be. Habang tumutugtog ang kanta sa isip ko, parang nakita ko sa loob ko ang dalawang istudyanteng ito ng Ateneo na may sugatáng puso—Rizal at PNoy. I imagined the young Jose Rizal, carving a piece of wood. But I asked myself

salamat pnoy 89 god's servant why, of all the possible things that he could make out of that piece of wood, he thought of carving an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I wonder if you have heard of that parable about a little boy who watched, as his grandfather produced a beautiful piece of sculpture of a lion, carved out of one piece of wood. The parable ends with a question the little boy asked his grandfather: “Grandfather, how did you know that there was a lion in the wood?” And the grandfather answered, “My little boy, before I saw the lion in the wood, I SAW IT FIRST IN MY HEART.” You see, we do not all see reality in the same way. Some people see nothing in a piece of wood but potential fuel for burning, kahoy na panggatong. It takes an artist’s heart like that of a sculptor to be able to see a lion in the wood. Today’s Gospel tells us people saw in Matthew nothing but a despicable sinner who collected taxes for the Romans. Jesus passed by, looked at Matthew with his Sacred Heart, and saw in this public sinner a potential saint and apostle, and a future evangelist who would write for the world one of the four Gospels. Why did Jose Rizal see the Sacred Heart of Jesus in that little piece of wood? I think he also saw him first in his heart. He saw a redeemer with a heart that was both wounded and burning. I think, while yet at that young age, Rizal could salamat pnoy 90 god's servant already feel a fire burning in his heart for his beloved country. I also imagine how his heart must have been torn back then between his love for the Church and his love for his country. Sabi nga ng ating Pambansang Awit, kapag ang “Alab ng Puso sa dibdib mo’y buhay,” ang makikita mo sa sawimpalad na bayan mo ay isang “lupang hinirang, duyan ng magigiting na sa manlulupig hindi pasisiil…” Palagay ko, nabighani si Rizal sa larawang iyon ni Hesus dahil iminulat sa kanya ng mga Heswita ang tatlong damdaming naranasan din ng pusong tao ng Anak ng Diyos: ang pagkatakot, pagkasugat, at pagkabanal. Hindi ba nakapagtataka na sa wikang Ingles, ang mga salita para sa “takót”, “sugatán” at “banál” ay halos magkakapareho lang ng titik? SCARED for “takót”, SCARRED for “sugatán”, and SACRED for “banál”. He probably saw in the dynamics of the heart of Jesus the same dynamics that he felt in his own heart. He was also SCARED as Jesus felt scared at the Garden of Gethsemane. Rizal was surely also scared of the call to take upon himself an additional R—RESPONSIBILITY. That by embracing the call to take responsibility for his country, his SCARED heart could become SCARRED. But he also learned from Jesus that a heart that burned with love did not mind getting SCARRED. It was the only way in which it could salamat pnoy 91 god's servant become SACRED. Sabi nga ng kanta, “And make our hearts so like to Thine that we may holy be.” Tulutan mong ang mga puso namin ay matulad sa puso mo. But then again, he also had to be ready to deal with the pain of rejection. The hymn to the Sacred Heart also says, “Ungrateful hearts, forgetful hearts, the hearts of men have been, to wound Thy side with cruel darts, which they have made by sin.” Like Rizal, there was another man who saw a potential lion in a piece of wood. At a time when many Filipinos saw no future in their seemingly God-forsaken country and many were deciding to leave their country behind, PNoy’s father, Ninoy Aquino saw in it a country that was “worth dying for”. Ninoy did not realize that by embracing a sense of responsibility for his country, he had already begun to carve a lion out of his own son Noynoy, or better yet, a heart that would also grow from SCARED to SCARRED to SACRED. I am sure before PNoy got pressured to run for president in 2010, he had also dreamed of a relatively more normal life for himself than the one his own parents had had to live through. I am sure he had also bargained with God when he felt called, and probably reasoned out that his father’s violent death and his mother’s sacrifice should be more than enough service for the country already. I am sure he thought of himself as unqualified for salamat pnoy 92 god's servant the job and was SCARED to follow his parents’ footsteps because it would mean giving up his own dreams for himself. But when he finally embraced his parents’ sense of RESPONSIBILITY, he had already prepared himself to get bruised and SCARRED like his own parents had been. Sabi nga daw ni Noy matapos siyang ma-angioplasty at matanggalan ng bará sa puso, “Yung isang klaseng ‘broken heart’, hindi kàya dito.” Si Fr. Jet Villarin ang gumawa ng exegesis ng pangungusap na iyon sa kanyang homily. Sabi niya, “Kung broken-hearted si Noynoy, alam kong dahil din ito sa hatì ang puso ng bayan. Ang dalamhati ng bayan, siya ring dala-dalá ng taong ito.” Sabi pa niya, “ang broken heart ng ating bayan—hindi kàya dito (sa ospital)… ang pagmamanhid ng puso, ang paglimot sa magiting na nakalipas, ang pagyurak ng dignidad ng kapwa, ang pagdududa sa kabutihan at ang pangangalyo at pangangapal ng puso.” I do not want to end without paying a little attention to our first reading today from Genesis 23-24. The writer tells us after Isaac lost his mother, he found solace in the woman who would become his wife—Rebekah. After Noynoy lost his own mother, I am sure he also had plans of finding his own solace in a woman with whom he could build a normal family. But alas, things did salamat pnoy 93 god's servant not seem to work out that way for him. Ano ba talaga ang nangyaring misteryo sa love life ni Noy? Salamat sa pinsan niyang si Rapa Lopa na nagsulat ng isang magandang artikulo sa TheDiarist.ph tungkol sa love life ni PNoy. Now I can give this homily a proper ending. I would have said the one he eventually decided to give his heart to was his country. No, it was the one Jose Rizal had carved with his pen knife. If the young Rizal had carved the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Noy had decided to allow his life to be carved by the Broken-hearted Christ. Here’s how the cousin, Rapa Lopa put it: Looking back, I believe what happened in Carmel Zamboanga (where Noy made his retreat and decided to go for the presidency in 2010) was he actually finally found his one and only love. While his decision then looked like a decision to put his country and the Filipino people first before his sisters, what happened there was he actually met the One who has been seeking and courting him all this time. The One who has chosen to love him first… It was there (in Zamboanga) where he found the reason why he needed to give the best of himself for his country and his people because it was also there where he found Someone who actually already gave of Himself totally and unconditionally for others.

salamat pnoy 94 god's servant Kayo ang boss ko Fr. Manoling V. Francisco, SJ 12th Death Anniversary of Former President Corazon C. Aquino and 40th Day Memorial of Former President Benigno C. Aquino III

ayo ang Boss ko.” Ito ang buod ng pag- “Kuunawa ni PNoy sa kanyang katungkulan bilang presidente ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Tatlong pagninilay sa pagkakahulugan ng mga katagang, “Kayo ang Boss ko.” Ayon sa kanyang pag-uunawa, siya ang taga pagpatupad ng mga saloobin at mithiin ng sambayanan. Ilang mga halimbawa ng pagdinig niya sa mga saloobin ng taong bahay: una, yung pagbawal niya sa wang-wang. Isa sa kinaiinisan ng mga tao ay ang exemption ng mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan sa mga simpleng batas— paglinya sa govt agencies at pagsunod sa traffic regulations. Sa pagbabawal ng wangwang, tinanggal ni PNoy ang isa sa mga pribiliheyo ng mga makapangyarihan. Ipinabatid niya na sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon ang lahat ng mamamayan ay pantay-pantay . Isa pang halimbawa ay ang pagbawal niya sa mga epal, ang pagpaskil ng pangalan ng mga pulitiko sa mga billboard ng mga proyektong infrastruktura na pinondohan ng buwis ng mga mamamayan.

salamat pnoy 95 god's servant Ikatlong halimbawa ay ang pagtatalaga ng Conditional Cash Transfer Program, ang pag-abot ng ayuda sa mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan. At dahil sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya at pagsisikap ibahagi ang pag-asenso ng bayan sa mga pinakamaliliit na tao, ayon sa NHTS for Poverty Reduction, pitungput-pitong milyong Pilipino ang naiahon mula sa kahirapan. Ito’y mga sagisag ng pagpapahalaga ni PNoy sa mga maliliit na tao na madalas dehado sa buhay, madalas pinagsasamantalahan ng mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan. Sa kabila ng mga pagkukulang ni PNoy, sinubukan niyang pakinggan ang tinig ng mga maralitang Pilipino at tugunan ang kanilang mga adhikain. Ikalawang pagkakahulugan ng mga katagang, “Kayo ang Boss ko”: ang pangulo ang tagapagtaguyod ng demokrasya, katarungan at kalayaan. Boss niya ang katuwiran, kabutihan at katotohanan. Hindi indibiduwal, hindi partidong pulitikal, kundi mga pinakamatayog nating mithiin bilang bansa ang siyang tunay niyang boss, ang tunay niyang pinaglilingkuran. Ayon kay PNoy: Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktadura at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inialay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay

salamat pnoy 96 god's servant kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na kami ng dugo at handang gawin itong muli kung kinakailangan. Naaalaala rin natin ang paghabol ni PNoy sa mga pinakamakapangyarihang nakaligtas sa kamay ng batas. Sa World Economic Forum na idinaos sa Maynila noong 2014, sabi ni PNoy: We pursued all those who committed wrongdoing— regardless of their power, wealth, or influence. As you may have guessed, tangling with these very wealthy individuals and sectors with vested interests was not an easy task. But those in our administration were not shaken: Dismantling the culture of corruption was a promise we made to the people. Sa pagtaguyod ng demokrasya at pagsugpo sa kurapsyon, ipinamalas ni PNoy na sa kalaunan ang tunay niyang Boss ay ang Panginoong Maykapal at ang salita ng Diyos. Ikatlong pagpapakahulugan ng mga katagang, “Kayo ang Boss ko”: ang pangulo ang siyang pangunahing tagapagtanggol ng Inang Bayan, ng lahat ng kasapi ng ating bansa at kalakip ng ating arkipelago. Ayon kay Truong Trieu Duong, dating ambassador ng Vietnam sa Pilipinas, si PNoy ang tanging pangulo ng anumang bansang humarap sa Tsina sa pagkamkam nila ng mga isla natin sa West Philippine Sea at ibang bahagi ng South China Sea:

salamat pnoy 97 god's servant by filing a case against China’s incursions at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague “President Aquino… was the one and only president in the world who dared to challenge China’s vast claim over almost the entire South China Sea and finally won the difficult battle.” Paliwanag ni PNoy sa ikalawa niyang SONA noong 2011: Wala tayong balak mang-away, pero kailangan ding mabatid ng mundo na handa tayong ipagtanggol ang atin. Dagdag pa niya, Hangga’t buo ang ating pananalig at tiwala, at hangga’t nagsisilbi tayong lakas ng isa’t isa, patuloy nating mapapatunayan na, ‘the Filipino is worth dying for,’ ‘the Filipino is worth living for,’ at idadagdag ko naman po, ‘The Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.’ Anak ni Ninoy at Cory Ninoy. Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga. Namana ni PNoy sa kanyang mga magulang, sina Ninoy at Cory, ang magiting niyang diwa at pusong handang ilaan ang buong sarili sa mga minamahal. Ayon sa sulat ni Ninoy sa tangi niyang anak na lalaki: The only valuable asset I can bequeath to you now is the name you carry. I have tried my best during my years of public service to keep that name untarnished and respected, unmarked by sorry compromises for expediency. I now pass it on to you….

salamat pnoy 98 god's servant At sa harap ng posibilidad na hatulan siya ng kamatayan ng Court Martial sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Marcos, ani ni Ninoy: …Some people suggested that I beg for mercy from the present powers that be. Son, this I cannot do in conscience. I would rather die on my feet with honor, than live on bended knees in shame… It takes little effort to stop a tyrant. I have no doubt in the ultimate victory of right over wrong, of good over evil, in the awakening of the Filipino. Cory. Kung binigkas ni Ninoy, “The Filipino is worth dying for,” ipinamalas naman ni Tita Cory, sa kanyang panunumbalik ng ating demokrasya “that the Filipino is worth living for.” Bagamat hindi siya handang manungkulan bilang presidente, tumalima siya sa tawag ng Diyos at bayan na ialay ang buong sarili para sa kapakanan ng ating bansa: I was a reluctant candidate for the presidency. But when the leaders of the opposition then explained to me that only I could unite the opposition against Marcos, I decided to accept the challenge. Marcos cheated in the snap election, but People Power brought me to the presidency. I faced enormous problems during my presidency, but with the help of the people, we restored democracy (Global Forum of Women, 2000) Mula sa pagpanumbalik ng Kongreso at pagbuo ng Bagong Saligang Batas hanggang sa pagdaos ng malayang halalan, pinatunayan ni Tita Cory “that the Filipino is worth living for.” Wika niya,

salamat pnoy 99 god's servant June 30, 1992 was therefore one of the proudest moments of my life. I was stepping down and handing the presidency to my duly elected successor…. This moment is democracy’s glory: the peaceful transfer of power without bloodshed, in strict accordance with law (acceptance speech of William Fullbright Prize).

Epilogue Minana ni PNoy kina Ninoy at Cory ang kanyang kagitingan sa gitna ng paghihirap at masidhing pagmamahal sa bayan. Noong yumao si PNoy, ibinahagi ng kaibigan kong si Detdet Nisperos Puente na sa kasalukuyang naninirahan sa Boston: Alex, my husband, and I have become friends with Fr Woods of Boston College. He served as spiritual director of Ninoy during his exile there. In one of our conversations, Fr. Woods recounted a father and son ‘shouting bout’ that he witnessed…. Ninoy decided to go home in 1983; he wanted Noynoy to be safe and stay in Boston. But Noynoy, then a young man, fought back fiercely. Fr. Woods remembered Noynoy saying, ‘I am going home because I want to serve my country, OUR country!!! Don’t you ever tell me to turn my back on my country just to keep me safe. Maraming salamat, PNoy, dahil hindi mo kami tinalikuran. Salamat sa pagtataya mo ng buhay mo sa ating bayan. Lahat ng pinaghirapan mo aming aalagaan. Buhay mo sa lupang ibabaw ay tunay ngang may saysay, kabuluhan at halaga para sa ating bayan.

salamat pnoy 100 god's servant Mula sa kanyang talumpati sa Ateneo de Manila University noong 2011, winika ni PNoy: Simple lang naman po ang pangarap ko sa buhay: Kapag tinawag na ako ng Poong Maykapal, at sinabi Niyang finished or not finished, pass your papers, maipagmamalaki kong naiwan ko ang mundong ito nang mas maayos kaysa sa aking dinatnan. Iyan din po ang panawagan ko sa bawat isa sa atin.

photo pcoo

salamat pnoy 101 god's servant salamat pnoy 102 god's servant Noy: Kumusta na ang love life mo? In the lens of the world, his was a tragic, unrequited love story, but not in the eyes of his Beloved

Rapa Lopa TheDiarist.ph, July 1, 2021

ne of the most frequently asked questions Othe media addressed to Noy was, “Kumusta na ang love life mo?” Other than updates on important matters of the State, somehow the media also closely monitored matters relating to the former Chief Executive’s heart. When asked for an update on his love life in one of his press conferences, Noy casually remarked, “Ah parang Coca Cola…noong araw regular, naging light, ngayon zero.” The search for Noy’s lifetime partner was also a concern among family and friends. There was no dearth of matchmakers and prospects. At some point, I did not have enough fingers and toes to count the number of girlfriends and dates he had had. If I venture a guess why none of his relationships blossomed to a lifetime union, it would probably revolve around two reasons: Firstly, Noy was very exacting and demanding. He required perfection in everything he got

salamat pnoy 103 god's servant into. I think his Cabinet secretaries will attest to the fact that if you did not come prepared to your meetings with him, he would not hide his disappointment and disgust. While his co-workers in government could and must bear this side of Noy, his ex-girlfriends and dates may have had a different view about this if he somehow brought this in his quest for a romantic life. Secondly, Noy could be very stubborn and pretty set in his ways. For instance, it was no secret how many people tried to convince him to minimize his smoking and his consumption of Regular Coke when his health challenges demanded it. He would not hide his irritation each time anyone reminded him to quit what to him were his stress relievers. As far as food was salamat pnoy 104 god's servant concerned, he had his favorites and he would keep eating the same food when he got fixated on it. He could also be very particular about the consistency of the preparation of his comfort food. In this regard, I think only Yoly Yebes, his yaya and kasambahay of 30 years, could handle this department. But as I think more about his love life, I also begin to realize that behind these lifetime partnership deal-breakers lies a deeper reason why Noy never found his better half. At a very young age his father already introduced him to the idea of loving his country and his people. Allow me to quote some excerpts from Uncle Ninoy’s letter to Noy, You are my only son. You carry my name and the name of my father. I have no material wealth to leave you. I never had time to make money while I was in the hire of our people… The only valuable asset I can bequeath to you now is the name you carry. I have tried my best during my years of public service to keep that name untarnished and respected, unmarked by sorry compromises for expediency. I now pass it on to you, as good, I pray, as when my father, your grandfather, passed it on to me. There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all your strength. Son, the ball is now in your hands. Lovingly, Dad salamat pnoy 105 god's servant Of course, this invitation to love his country is over and above Uncle Ninoy entrusting the whole family to him. In the same letter Uncle Ninoy wrote: Forgive me for passing unto your young shoulders the great responsibility for our family. I trust you will love your mother and your sisters and lavish them with the care and protection I would have given them… Look after your two younger sisters with understanding and affection. Viel and Krissy will need your umbrella of protection for a long time. Krissy is still very young and fate has been most unkind to both of us. Our parting came too soon. Please make up for me. Take care of her as I would have taken care of her with patience and warm affection. Finally, stand by your mother as she stood beside me through the buffeting winds of crisis and uncertainties, firm and resolute and uncowed. I pray to God, you inherit her indomitable spirit and her rare brand of silent courage… This is probably where Noy started to become very demanding of himself and consequently of others. Growing up and experiencing first-hand the kind of sacrifice his dad and mom had to go through as a consequence of their decision to fight for a cause much larger than themselves, Noy already knew early on that there was no room for mediocrity. He knew that he needed to be the best of himself so he could give the best of himself for others. We all know that authentic sacrifice can be very draining and tiring. It is a constant emptying

salamat pnoy 106 god's servant of the totality of ourselves. And when we run on empty, there will be nothing more to give. I can only speculate then that this is probably why Noy sought things to help him rest, relax, and re- energize to help him move on. This penchant for comfort habits, hobbies and food was his retreat. So if my guess is right about the deal breakers in his search for a lifetime partner, it was probably because unknown, even to himself, is the fact that he was already taken. He was already committed to give of himself to his family and his country. There was no more time and space for another one. Then again, when I ponder on his love life even deeper, it appears there was still space for just one more. When he was confronted with the hard decision on whether or not he should seek the presidency in 2010, Noy had to choose between what was best for the two loves of his life. It was a choice between shielding and protecting his four sisters from another round of sacrifices and persecution, or the opportunity to really take the ball of public service which his dad passed on to him. This really tore his heart apart. When I accompanied him to Zamboanga to make his day-long recollection, I had the chance to chat with him when he took a break for lunch and a smoke in between his time of prayer and consultations with his spiritual director, the late salamat pnoy 107 god's servant Sr. Agnes Guillen. In our conversation I asked him, “Kamusta na?” And his reply was, “Pare parang ang hirap atrasan. Mahirap tanggihan.” (referring to the public clamor for him to run for office). I remember telling him, “Sige, basta alam mo naman kung anong desisyon mo nandiyan na rin kami.” But I also remember cautioning him about the reality of fair weather friends. I told him then, Pare okay tayo ngayon, but there will come a time that these people who are expressing all out support and love for you, will have their share of disappointments and will leave us behind. And unfortunately more often than not, you will be alone to carry this pain. After extended hours of prayer, Noy emerged from the cloistered monastery of Carmel Zamboanga and declared, “Sige, game na!”

salamat pnoy 108 god's servant Looking back, I believe what happened in Carmel Zamboanga was he actually finally found his one and only love. While his decision then looked like a decision to put his country and the Filipino people first before his sisters, what happened there was he actually met the One who has been actually seeking and courting him all this time. The One who has chosen to love him first. Noy’s Zamboanga Carmel Monastery was the equivalent of Uncle Ninoy’s and Auntie Cory’s Laur. It was there where he found the reason why he needed to give the best of himself for his country and his people because it was also there where he found Someone who actually already gave of Himself totally and unconditionally for others. Noy’s eyes were definitely wide open to the realities of possible betrayal and abandonment when he would no longer be in power. Towards the end of his term he kept telling us to get this Aiza Seguerra album and he singled out this song, “Minsan ang Minahal ay Ako.” Listening to this original Ryan Cayabyab composition then, I could feel the inner struggle of Noy as he anticipated the impending reality of desertion and loneliness. True enough, that was what happened. Except for his most loyal supporters, friends, relatives and family, the majority of our people to whom he gave himself totally and uncompromisingly virtually abandoned him and broke his heart. Of course, this

salamat pnoy 109 god's servant was also fueled by political enemies who proactively spewed lies and deception about him and made it their life’s mission to seek vengeance against him who stood up against their wrongdoings. Yes this world may have broken Noy’s heart. But I believe all that does not matter anymore. He is now with his One and only Love. The One who, in Carmel Zamboanga, invited him to love even if it hurt. The One whom he humbly imitated in his 61 years here on earth. During our last face-to-face meet-up sometime in November of last year, his doctors were still grappling with how to manage the next critical steps to get him back in shape. I already noticed then the fistula embedded under his skin, which was already in preparation for dialysis. Typical, Noy, he was explaining to me and my brother Jim the very detailed game plan which he again demanded from his doctors. Pretty much like how he decided on the most difficult governance issues, Noy wanted to have a thorough knowledge of his options and the implications of his choices not only to himself but also the other people who would be affected. The ultimate goal then was a kidney transplant. But at that time he was still not sold to the idea only because it meant someone else would have to give away a kidney. He knew that the path towards recovery was still going to be rough. salamat pnoy 110 god's servant But as we discussed his options in the context of the current state of our country today, he suddenly paused and asked my brother and me, “Hanggang dito na lang kaya ito? Ano pa kaya ang gustong pagawa sa akin ng Diyos?” Such was Noy’s love life. It was all about how much more he could give of himself to the Love of his life, even if it meant loving those who are difficult to love; those who hurt him, those who have betrayed him; those who have abandoned him. In the lens of the world, his was a tragic, unrequited love story. But in the eyes of his Beloved it was a love story that needed to end here on earth so that it will flourish forever in eternity. Just today, my sister Christina showed me a letter which Noy sent us sometime in early ‘80s when they were still in Boston. There were no sms and email then so we settled for hard-copy letters sent via snail mail. In that letter he referred to my updates about my then girlfriend, Didi (now my wife of 30 years). As you can see, checking on our love lives really goes way back in time. As I end this story and my take on Noy’s love life, somehow I cannot help but hear his voice asking me, “Ikaw, Kumusta na ang love life mo?”

salamat pnoy 111 god's servant photo pcoo

salamat pnoy 112 god's servant Remembering PNoy Bro. Enteng Romano Episode 30 (Special Episode) from the Heal Our Land Movement YouTube Channel, June 28, 2021 Watch the video on YouTube

ood evening. Ito po si Brother Enteng GRomano, welcoming you to this very special episode of Heal Our Land Prayer Movement. Last Thursday, ginulat tayong lahat ng balita ng pagkamatay ni PNoy. Nakakalungkot that he had to die at such a young age. Pero higit na mas nakakalungkot na may mga taong nakuha pang mag celebrate at bumatikos sa kanya, sa kabila ng kanyang selfless sacrifice at achievements na nagawa para sa bayan. Kaya naisipan kong idedicate itong episode na ito bilang pagbibigay- pugay sa buhay ni PNoy.

salamat pnoy 113 god's servant And the first thing I asked was this; kanino bang biblical character maihahambing ang buhay ni PNoy? Ang tingin ko, PNoy’s life can be compared to that of Moses. In the closing chapter of Deuteronomy, this is how the life of Moses was described. Moses was considered to be the best prophet of his time. Ako ang naabutan ko noong presidente si Marcos eh, nahalata tuloy ang age ko. And while some may not agree with me, from Marcos up to the present, siguro si PNoy is considered one of the best, if not the best president we’ve ever had. Si Moses, he liberated his people from the bondage of slavery. Kay PNoy ang masasabi natin he liberated our people from the bondage of corruption, or at least he tried to. Now change is never easy. Moses had to deal with a grumbling people, who at the first sign of inconvenience were all too willing to go back to a life of slavery, blaming Moses for leading them into the desert with all the uncertainties that go with it. Si PNoy din dared to introduce change on many fronts; starting with his ‘No Wang-Wang Policy’ stripping the privilege from those he appointed. He also sent to jail big-time politicians for acts of corruption, something unthinkable in past administrations. He fought for K-12 in education, pushed for the ‘Reproductive Health Bill’ even with a Catholic Church squarely against it. Every

salamat pnoy 114 god's servant step of the way, he would meet resistance. And every misstep he had was magnified no end. He was even vilified for it. When Moses was called by God he resisted, offering a lot of excuses, effectively telling God, “Lord, I am not qualified. Please send someone else.” In the case of PNoy, when he ran for president, he certainly was not qualified based on experience. His skills at congress and the senate were lackluster, and he had no executive experience whether in the private or public sector. But unlike Moses, PNoy readily accepted the challenge of running for the highest office of the land. Those whom God chooses to lead a nation, He provides them with the right circumstances, people, and resources to deliver on the task he assigns them to do. The death of Tita Cory was perfectly timed to reawaken a yellow fever amongst our people. This was enough to catapult PNoy to the presidency. But God also prepares them by giving them wise mentors to guide them. Moses had Jethro, his father-in-law, who saw how Moses was so stressed out in dealing directly with the people on all issues. Jethro taught Moses the art of delegation who diligently followed it to good effect. PNoy also had good mentors in the persons of Ninoy and Tita Cory. They showed him how to serve with integrity and passion through their salamat pnoy 115 god's servant photo pcoo words and deeds. PNoy took it to heart and continued the legacy his parents started. When Ninoy decided to defy the military court that was trying him, he wrote NoyNoy a long letter that ended with this advice: “The only advice I can give you: Live with honor and follow your conscience. There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength.” And that he did to the very end of his term. Like Moses, he appointed capable men and women who were trustworthy, who fear God, and who hated dishonest gain, to help him deliver the promises he made to the people. The book salamat pnoy 116 god's servant of Deuteronomy ends on a sad note: Moses dies without setting foot on the promised land. Why? Because he and Aaron failed to follow a simple instruction from God. At least God invited him to the mountaintop of Nebo to see a panoramic view of the Promised Land he will never enter. PNoy ended his term in the firm belief that he fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. He delivered on most of his promises, he certainly left the country in a much better place than when he started in office. In his campaign video clip, PNoy felt confident that people would vote for his endorsed successor as an affirmation of the things he has done for the people. It was not to be. The people did not forgive him for what they saw as the mishandling of Mamasapano or Yolanda, real or imagined, very sad. And here we are, five years later, with the nation in shambles and a people divided. To be honest, ako medyo napapagod na din eh. With all the evil and incompetence going on around us and with all our efforts to expose them, it seems like we are not making a dent. I sometimes feel helpless against the onslaught of fake news and propaganda. Para bang they’re too big to fight. But I am reminded of the twelve spies Moses sent to Canaan. Ten of them focused on the giants, fearful that they would be devoured if they even attempted to set foot on the Promised Land. salamat pnoy 117 god's servant It was only Joshua and Caleb who saw the opportunity, who envisioned the good life on this land filled with milk and honey, and who had the faith that God’s favor was with them to take over the land. PNoy showed us what could have been for our nation: our own version of a Promised Land. But what we need are Joshuas and Calebs to possess the land, not people who are scared to inaction by the giants of fake news and impunity. Lets pray that God raises more Joshuas and Calebs at this time, for our nation. Samahan niyo akong manalangin. Heavenly Father, We thank you for the life of President NoyNoy Aquino. Like his father Ninoy, and mother Tita Cory before him, he has served our nation with honor and integrity. Selfless in every way, devoted to the task of improving the lives of our people. He started his term with a social contract with the people, and with single-minded focus, unmindful of the forces of vested interests arrayed against him, he delivered on most of his promises. He left our nation in a much better place than when he first got into office. The whole world recognized the new nation that we have become, a resurging tiger in the region, a vibrant economy, with a respected leader in the global stage. There was hope, there was opportunity that we could soon join the ranks of more developed nations. But to a people still in poverty for so long, and yearning for instant relief from years of hardship, it was not enough. We fell for the promise of a would-be Messiah who claimed he could solve all the problems

salamat pnoy 118 god's servant of our nation in six months. So here we are today, five years later, our nation has retrogressed even worse than when PNoy started his term. An economy in shambles, a divided people, institutions, culture, and morality damaged to a point where it will take generations to repair. We see a people helpless, hopeless, ready to give up, overwhelmed by the impunity, by the massive propaganda and fake news, designed to prop-up a failed regime. And now even in death PNoy inspires us, PNoy reminds us of what could have been, what is possible, what could be our own Promised Land. But we need to overcome our fear of giants, of impunity and fake news. We need to shed off our attitude of indifference. We don’t need a Messiah, we only need Joshuas and Calebs who see opportunities rather than obstacles, who see God’s hand working in our beloved land. Raise Joshuas and Calebs in our midst, to harness the dream that PNoy has put in our hearts. Forgive our sins as a people, at ipagkaloob niyo sa amin sa lalong madaling panahon ang paghilom ng aming bayan. This is our prayer in the mighty name of your son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Salamat po sa pakikiisa ngayong gabi sa pagbibigay-pugay sa buhay ni PNoy. Patuloy natin igiit na siya ay isang dakilang tao na maraming ginawang kabutihan para sa ating bayan. ’Wag tayong magpapadaig sa mga nagkakalat ng fake news. Ito po si Brother Enteng Romano, na nagsasabing stay safe, keep the faith, and God Bless.

salamat pnoy 119 god's servant photo twitter/senator joel villanueva salamat pnoy 120 his cabinet 3 his cabinet remembers

salamat pnoy 121 his cabinet Anak po siya ni Tita Cory Rene Almendras Former Secretary of Energy

agandang gabi po sa inyong lahat. At kung Mkayo po ay tsismoso or tsismosa, makikinig kayo sa sasabihin ko. Marami po akong sasabihin na dati’y hindi ko pwedeng sabihin kasi sabi ni PNoy, “Hanggang buhay pa ako, hindi mo pwedeng ikwento yan.” Maraming salamat po sa Ateneo na pinayagan tayo na nandito ngayon. Sabi kanina ni Father Jet Villarin, tinext niya si PNoy nung araw na nag angiogram siya. Mr. President, aamin po ako, I violated your instructions. Tinawagan ko po si Father Jet the night before the angiogram. Nag-usap po kami ni PNoy a few days before that at sabi na namin, itutuloy na natin yung angiogram at kung may mahanap, diretso na tayong angioplasty. At kung hindi kaya, diretso tayong bypass. The next day po, medyo kinakabahan ako. Kinuwento ko sa asawa ko, at sabi ni Maides sa akin, “Dad, bakit hindi mo ipa- misa yung heart operation ni PNoy?” Bakit po kami takot na takot sa angiogram na iyon? Because over a year ago, some time towards the end of September, there was a procedure that was not as critical as the angiogram. Minor

salamat pnoy 122 his cabinet po, tap sampling sa likod po. Mr President, I'm sorry sasabihin ko po. Nung binibigyan po siya ng anesthesia, nag flat line po ang Presidente for a few seconds. Nagkakagulo po kami. Hindi po namin alam kung anong gagawin. Buti na lang po narevive ang pangulo. Kaya po tonight, hihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa lahat ng kaibigan, sa lahat ng kamag- anak na galit sa aming mga kaibigan, at sa mga magkakapatid at pamilya, kung bakit hindi namin ikinuwento na meron na palang sakit ang Pangulo. Sa hospital po kahapon habang umiiyak ako, ang mga text na natanggap ko, inaaway po ako ng mga tao. “Bakit hindi nyo sinabi? Sana nakabisita kami. Sana nakaregalo kami. Sana nakapunta kami.” Hindi ko po pwedeng sabihin, hindi po pwedeng sabihin ng magkakapatid, dahil sabi niya walang sasabihan. Hindi pwedeng ikalat, dahil sya po ay napaka pribadong tao. Sabi niya, “Pre, napipilitan lang silang pumunta, bumisita. E wala na naman tayong magagawa pa.” Kaya sa aking mga kasamahan sa gabinete, alam ko po mayroong mga masama ang loob bakit hindi namin sinabi ang totoo. Sorry po, takot po ako sa Pangulo. Alam niyo naman po iyon. Meron pong mga nakakaalam, nagdududa, tumatawag. Bakit ganito, bakit ganun. Hindi ko po masagot. Totoo po, halos dalawang taon na po simula nung nalaman na may sakit siya. Wala rin po kami pwedeng ipaliwanag sa inyo kasi hindi salamat pnoy 123 his cabinet po namin alam ang lahat ng karamdaman niya. Marami po kaming binabantayan. Marami kaming pinagaaralan, tinetestingan ng mga doktor. Pagkatapos po, nung unang procedure, sabi niya sa akin, “Samahan mo ako”, at si Romy ang kasama ko. “Makinig kayo habang nakikipagmeeting ako sa mga doktor. Pero huwag kayong magsalita.” So naisip ko, bakit kaya? Baka makalimutan nya kung anong sinabi ng mga doktor? Hindi po. Perfect po ang memory ng Pangulo diba? Kung anong mabasa niya, marinig niya, maaalala niya. Then I just realized, siguro gusto lang niya na may kasama siya.. Ate Ballsy, Pinky, sa family, I'm sorry you were not there, kasi tinanong ko siya, “Nasaan yung mga kapatid mo? Sabi nya, “Hinde. Tayo lang.” Nung pinag-uusapan po, may cardiologist, pulmonologist—lahat—naisip ko baka parang cabinet meeting ito. Baka isa-isahin ang mga doktor magpresenta. Mahaba yung meeting, hindi ko na ikukuwento sa inyo. Pero it was a few months po na hindi alam kung ano talaga, which one was causing this problem, which one was complicating this problem. Kaya sorry, wala po kaming ikukwento sa inyo. Tonight po, ayoko sanang magsalita pero sabi ng anak ko, “Dad, hindi pwede, kailangan mong ilabas yan.” Marami akong sasabihin na salamat pnoy 124 his cabinet baka magalit ang Pangulo so pag bigla po akong kumanta, ibig sabihin pinapagalitan na ako, para ho matuwa siya. Nais ko pong ipaliwanag ang iba pang bagay at sagutin ang iba pang tanong. So, sinagot ko na po kung bakit hindi namin sinabi. Ayaw niya po kayong maabala. Ayaw niya pong sabihin na nagpapaawa siya, at may kaibigan pa kami na nagsabi, “Oo nga ano, baka sabihin nila pumoporma na tayo para hindi tayo mabilanggo, just in case.” Hindi po. Ayaw lang niya talaga ninyong malaman. Ang pangalawang gusto kong liwanagin at ikuwento sa inyo, sabi kanina ni Fr. Jet, walang wangwang. Naisip ko lang po, naiintindihan niyo ba kung bakit ayaw ni PNoy ng wangwang? So baka magalit sya, ikwento ko na lang po paano kami nagkakilala para manintindihan ninyo and wang wang. Yung anak ko pong babae, yung bunso po namin na si Mariam, tinanong ako, “Dad, paano kayo nagkakilala ni PNoy?”. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko maalala. Tinanong niya si PNoy at si PNoy ang nagkuwento. Nagkakilala kami ni PNoy dahil sa isang party duon sa kasuluksulukan ng Cavite. Bagong lipat po ako dito. Hindi po kami magkaklase nung high school at grade school kasi sa Cebu po ako nag-aral. Inimbita po ako kasi birthday party ng pamangkin ko na kasing tanda ko. Si PNoy naimbita dahil may nililigawan siya na nandun sa salamat pnoy 125 his cabinet party na iyon. Nung uwian na, Martial Law pa po noon. Yung nagdala sa kanya doon, biglang may ibang pupuntahan. Wala siyang kasama pauwi, wala siyang sasabayaan. Bagong kilala ko lang siya. Pareho po kaming taga Quezon City. Sabi ko, “Gusto mo tayo na lang magsama, sabay na lang tayo umuwi?” Syempre hindi ho pwedeng mahuli si PNoy sa curfew, di po ba? So, timing talaga sinigurado namin. Many many years later, simula ho yuon, naging magkaibigan kami, naging malapit kami. May nagtanong, “Bakit kayo naging malapit ni Rene, na hindi naman iyan nag grade school, hindi naman yan nag high school?” Ang sagot ni PNoy, “Dahil inimbita niya ako na sumabay sa kanya pauwi galing sa Cavite.” Eh hindi ko naman alam na mayroon palang reputasyon ang Cavite nuong panahon na yun, diba? Sabi niya siguro itong taong ito pwedeng pagkatiwalaan dahil delikado yun Cavite, delikado mahuli sa curfew. Doon po kami nagkakilala. Marami pong nagsasabi na mahirap intindihin si PNoy. Nuong una, hindi ko rin maintindihan, pero nung nabasa ko po ang sulat ng tatay niya ng hinabilin sa kanya ang nanay niya at mga kapatid niya, kung mabasa niyo yung sulat na iyon, maiintindihan nyo na si PNoy. Nuong nagkasama po kami, dito sa Ateneo, he felt safe. Dito po pwede sya maglakad, Dito pwede siya makipag biruan. salamat pnoy 126 his cabinet Marami po kaming kaklase na nandito. Dito hindi siya kinatatakutan. Dito hindi siya nilalayuan. Nuong nakilala ko po si PNoy, may kamag-anak ho akong tumawag sa akin. “Gago ka ba? Ba’t ka sumasama diyan? Baka madale ka. Ma-pick-up ka rin ng Metrocom.” Nung nalaman po na sa gabi lumalabas kami, yung isang kamag-anak ko tinawagan ako, “Huwag mong gawin yan. Baka mahuli ka. Eh paano pag huhulihin yan, masasama ka.” Yun po ang sitwasyon. Sorry Mr. President. Minsan po sabi niya, “Para tayong may ketong, lumalayo ang mga tao dahil natatakot sila na masali sa atin.” Karamihan po ng mga tao’t kaibigan, alam nila, mapili daw si PNoy sa restaurant at sa pagkain. Malaking seremonyas ang desisyon kung saan kami pwedeng kumain. Sinong may- ari? Anong nangyari diyan? Akala nila mapili sa pagkain si PNoy. Hindi po. Ini-ilagan po namin ang sitwasyon na sasabihin nung mga waiter, “Sir, bilisan niyo na po, marami pong susunod” or “Sir, pwede kayong lumipat sa loob. Mayroon kaming magandang la mesa doon.” Akala mo para special, hindi po. Natatakot sila na baka makita po na andun si PNoy. Totoo po iyan, Alam po ni PNoy kung anong pakiramdam, what it is to be helpless, to be powerless. Alam po ni PNoy what it feels to be “api” but that did not make him a bitter person. No. Nuong naging presidente siya, salamat pnoy 127 his cabinet imbis na bawian niya yung mga tao na nag-api sa kaniya, ano po ang ginawa niya? Sinigurado niya na hindi aabusuhin ang kapangyarihan. Wangwang was a representation of the abuse of power that you rightfully have. Hindi naman po illegal mag wangwang kung talagang pulis ka, or nasa pwesto ka. But ang punto ho ni PNoy, hindi mo kailangan gawin yan. Kahit may kapangyarihan ka, huwag mong gawin para abusuhin. Iyan po ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw nya ng wang wang. Ayaw niya ng “epal”. Walang ‘this project is brought to you by’, yung ganun. May nagsabi nung kampanya, “Mr. President, mag pa picture ho tayo na may karga kang baby.” Sabi nya, “Ba’t ko gagawin yan? Pakitang-tao yan, Fake iyan.” Let’s talk about the elephant in the room— Mamasapano. Sana daw niyakap ng presidente yung isang namatayan. Hindi ho siya ganun. Hindi niya gagawin yun para ipakitang tao lang, pero alam nating lahat anong ginawa natin para sa lahat na namatayan, diba? Ang laki ng problema namin ni Julia kasi nagbudget kami ng one house per family. Hindi naman po namin alam na yung iba pala, tatlo ang pamilya. May educational plan. Pero you cannot pay for life. No. But what did the President say when he was challenged? Sabi niya, “Habang-buhay ko, hanggang ililibing ako,” Diba, sinagot niya yan nung tinatanong sya about Mamasapano? And true enough, here we are. salamat pnoy 128 his cabinet Ang Presidenteng Noynoy Aquino, hindi ho pakitang-tao. Kung mayroon man siyang gagawin, gagawin niyang tunay. Hindi ho fake. Bakit? Nuong patapos na ang termino ng presidente, sabi niya sa akin, “Pre, maghanda ka na, kasi pag wala na tayo sa pwesto, iba na ang mundo. Nasubukan ko na yan, nung presidente ang nanay ko, nung nawala na, iba na.” PNoy was so ready to step down and he was so looking forward to it. and that is why, ayaw niya nung epal. Kaya ho, pag may bagyo, earthquake, sinasabi nila, ‘Bakit ang tagal niyo pumunta, dapat the next day pumunta na kayo, dapat two days later, pumunta na kayo.”Alam nyo po ba kung bakit? Sabi ni PNoy, “Bakit tayo pupunta doon ngayon, manggugulo lang tayo at imbis ayusin ng mga alkalde, nung military yung mga tao na naapektuhan, tayo pa ang aalahanin nila? They will have to take care of us.” Sabi nya, “Bigyan niyo muna ng pagkakataong ayusin yung immediate concerns, saka tayo pumunta para pagdating natin dun, dala natin solusyon, hindi tayo nagdadagdag ng problema.” Yun po ang pangulo natin. That was PNoy. I’m not going to talk about him as a President, I am going to talk about him as a person. Hindi epal, hindi wangwang. Pasensya na po kayo, minsan naapektuhan ako sa social media. Hindi ako galit. Hindi daw nagdadasal kaya daw ito, ganito na—desperate, frustrated, etc. Hindi po totoo

salamat pnoy 129 his cabinet iyon. On the day that he passed away, 12:20 ng madaling araw, nagtext po sya kay Margie, kasi si Romy at si Margie paalis papuntang America. Tinext sya ni Margie, “Pupunta kami ng Amerika, mayroon ka bang pabibili?” As usual, PNoy texted, “Mare, yung Lifesaver ko at tsaka yung 57.” For weeks before that happened, pinaplano na namin saan siya magpapahinga pagkatapos ng transplant niya. Tinitingnan ko na yung beach house or yung farm lot na pwede naming upahan o bilhin, kasi sabi kailangan malayo ka, kailangan hindi ka dun. We were so looking forward to the transplant. Kilala niyo siya, mga members of the cabinet. Hindi ho sumusuko si PNoy. He was a fighter to the end. After the angiogram, tuwang-tuwa po ako dahil isa lang pala ang blockage, nakuha sa stent. Sabi namin, tapos na yung heart, so we did it. Hindi po totoo yon. Nung nasa hospital na po ako, hindi ko na siya naabutan, binigyan ako ng pagkakataon. Dun na po ako umiyak. Dun ko na po siya kinausap ng lahat. He believed in God. Sinabi nila na hindi nagdadasal ang pangulo. Maraming salamat sa Bukas Palad na kumanta ngayong gabi. You were one of the President's favorites. Every single CD ninyo, mayroon siya. As a matter of fact, pag may bagong CD ang Bukas Palad, tatanungin nya ako, “Pre, mayroon ka na ba nitong kantang to?” o yung CD na to, kung wala pa, bibigyan niya ako. salamat pnoy 130 his cabinet PNoy loved music, pareho po kami. In everything that he did, there had to be music. My friend and my President prayed with his music. I’ll give you two examples. Naalala niyo po si Mary Jane, Indonesia, death row. Four times, kinausap namin ang Indonesian government. Huwag nyo ituloy. We were in Malaysia flying back to the Philippines. The following day, she was supposed to be executed. Last stretch, last draw, last try. Bago ho kami naghiwalay sa eroplano, nag-usap kami, sabi ko, “We did everything possible legally. The president of Indonesia said, ‘There is nothing I can do legally.’ Sabi ko, in the end, Pre, dasal na lang.” Alam nyo ba kung anong ginawa niya nung gabing yun for three hours habang hinihintay nila na sumagot ang Indonesia dun sa last stretch? Nakikinig po siya ng CD ng Bukas Palad. Nakikinig po siya ng kantang Anima Christi. “Soul of Chist, sanctify me, Body of Christ, save me, water from the side of Christ, wash me.” That is how he prayed and he prayed because there were times in the midst of the biggest problems, yun po ang sasabihin niya, “Alam mo Pre, hindi ako nakatulog kagabi pero nagdasal ako.” So it’s not true na hindi nagdadasal ang Pangulo. Nung lumabas po yung kwento na si PNoy daw ay ipinasara yung chapel sa Malacaňang. Si PNoy daw, pinatanggal ang estatwa ni Mama Mary sa tuktok ng ceremonial staircase. May tumawag

salamat pnoy 131 his cabinet po sa akin galing dito. “Totoo ba na ganon?” Sabi ko hindi. Trabaho ko pong sabihin ang totoo sa kanya. Yun ang utos nya sa akin. Kahit gaano kasakit, kahit gaano kasama, sabihin mo sa akin. Nuong ikinuwento ko sa kanya, “Mr. President, sinabi nila na pinagawa mo daw ito. Alam nyo ba po kung ano sagot nya? Sabi nya, “Pre, Mary for you, for your white and blue, we pray you keep us Mary constantly true, we pray you keep us Mary faithful to you. Period.” Tumalikod na lang po ako. Anak po siya ni Tita Cory di ba? Pinalaki po siya ni Tita Cory. Kaya ba niyang gawin yon? Hindi po. On the way home from the hospital yesterday, pauwi po, nagmaneho ako. Sa bagong Skyway po ako dumaan. Habang dumadaan po ako sa Skyway na iyon, naalala ko po yung state visit sa Canada nung sinabi nung representative of the Queen, Secretary- General ata ang tawag. In a speech to PNoy, sabi niya, “You are an honorable man because you have decided to plant a tree even if you know you will not benefit from the shade of that tree.” Napakaganda. Akala ko galing sa Bible, hindi pala. It was a proverb written by a farmer in Canada. In closing, PNoy, maraming salamat sa marami mong punong tinanim kahit alam mong hindi ka makikinabang sa bunga o lilim na maidudulot niya kapag malaki na ang puno. Maraming henerasyon ang makikinabang sa mga bunga at lilim. salamat pnoy 132 his cabinet Malamang hindi ka nila kikilalanin o maaalala na ikaw pala ang nagtanim ng puno na iyon. Pero, Pre, alam ng Diyos ang iyong ginawa para sa bayan at para sa Pilipino. At sa dami-daming pagkakataon na kinanta mo ang Anima Christi, ang huling mga linya ng kantang Anima Christi na kinanta mo, matutupad na. “And when the call of death arrives, bid me come to Thee, that I may praise Thee with Thy saints, forever.” Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

photo pcoo salamat pnoy 133 his cabinet photo pcoo No generalities or motherhood statements Dinky Soliman Former Social Welfare Secretary

y reflection on PNoy’s leadership, he Mbelieved in people’s capacity to rise out of poverty for as long as they are given the opportunity, the capacity, and the tools and resources to use. He supported the human development programs with meticulous questioning on results. You could not give generalities or motherhood statements. It had to be logical, within budget and a reasonable

salamat pnoy 134 his cabinet timeframe. We had to remember and keep our records because he remembered the numbers you gave him. He would quote you the first numbers you gave him if gave him a different number in a subsequent report. He believed in transparency and accountability in its highest forms. We will remember how he would bring out the calculator to show the wrong addition that we made. However, he would patiently walk you through what he meant if he thought and felt that you did not understand. He did that several times in groups. He was a very private person who grieved with people he was comfortable with. After Jesse died, a small group reflected with him and had a private crying session. He had a very wry sense of humor. Whenever we came together for meals, he always said, especially to yung mga kasamahan naming may diabetes, sasabihin nya palagi sa amin, kay Sec. Procy, kay Gil, at sa akin, “Hindi masarap ang dessert, huwag kayong kakain dahil hindi yan masarap.” PNoy, Salamat sa pagkakataong maglingkod sa mamamayan kasama mo. Pahinga ka na at buo na ang puso mo dyan sa langit. Maraming Salamat. Magandang gabi.

salamat pnoy 135 his cabinet Si PNoy, karaniwang tao Joel Rocamora Former Chief, National Anti-Privacy Commission

n the flood of messages to Noy’s family, the Iflood of anguish at his having departed, I noticed a couple of things. One, that many kinds of people were comfortable with PNoy. Drivers, former classmates, cabinet secretaries felt that it was easy to relate to PNoy. I reflected on why that is, and it is because Noy understood that a person in power like him—because who could be more powerful than a president?—has to lessen the distance between him and the people he has power over. Yun ang kagalingan ni PNoy. At yun din ang rason kung bakit binigyan natin sya ng pangalawang palayaw, kasi Noynoy na nga sya, naging PNoy pa. Hindi ko alam kung sino nagbigay sa kanya nitong palayaw na ito, pero it is perfect for him. Nag-umpisa yata yan sa Presidente Noy, naging PNoy. Kaya pinapakita sa palayaw pa lang niya na si PNoy ay pareho lang sa atin, walang malayong distansya between him and us. Parang kapitbahay lang natin sya. It also becomes clear from the reflections of many about him that Noy carried a very heavy burden, the burden of what he felt was the

salamat pnoy 136 his cabinet responsibility of his family, the obligation of his family to our nation. And Noy, maraming salamat. You fulfilled that responsibility. Pwede ko nang sabihin sa pamilya mo, sa mga kapatid mo, hindi dapat ganung kabigat ang obligasyon ng pamilya ngayon, dahil tinubos na ni Noy. Si Noy, karaniwang tao. Hindi sya yung sa Bisaya pa, hambogerong bugoy, mayabang na kanto boy. Klarong klaro na ibang klaseng Pinoy sya. Ngayon, hindi na ganong kabigat ang responsibilidad at obligasyon ng pamilya mo, Noy. Pero alam ko na, sa pagkakakilala ko kina Pinky and Viel, na hindi naman nila pakakawalan ang responsibilidad at obligasyon na minana nila, hindi lang sa kanilang ama at nanay, kundi ngayon, ang obligasyon na minana nila kay Noynoy. I want to end by saying, please share that responsibility with us. The only ones in the family that I’ve really gotten to know are Viel and Pinky. We are happy to share that responsibility with you. We commit to keep that legacy alive and the best way to keep it alive is to make sure that we have a President that keeps, that understands that legacy and will be able to continue the legacy of service to our country, the legacy of decency in governance. Maraming Salamat po.

salamat pnoy 137 his cabinet photo pcoo

What would PNoy have wanted? Mar Roxas Former Interior Secretary

ver the course of tonight, and the last day or Oso, so much has been said about our boss, our friend, our leader PNoy, and yet I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that PNoy is gone. It’s shocking. It’s numbing. Una, pakikiramay po, taos-pusong pakikiramay kay Ate Ballsy, kay Viel, Pinky, kay Kris, sa mga bayaw ni PNoy, sa kaniyang pamilya na andito at sa inyong lahat na nagmaahal kay PNoy. Feeling drained and very saddened and with Covid still very much a danger, I was hesitant to come here tonight. But in the end, I came as I’m sure all of you did because that was what PNoy would have wanted.

salamat pnoy 138 his cabinet PNoy liked so much to see his cabinet together, sharing stories in fellowship just like it was in those days. That’s what PNoy would have wanted. I am wearing barong because I felt that too was what PNoy would have wanted. I recall that he admonished me during Sec. Jesse’s wake. I was not properly dressed and he said, “Huling pagpaalam.” As you can see, the cabinet has differing views but that was PNoy’s cabinet as well. What would PNoy have wanted? He had such a presence—not loud, but deep, insistent. And pretty much, this ethos, what would PNoy have wanted reverberated throughout his government. Not in a petty or selfish way, but in a common good sort of way, in a ‘para sa mga boss ko’ way, in a ‘flag-waving, hand over your heart’, ‘bayan bago ang sarili’ way that always, I felt, and you all felt was what PNoy wanted. And that kept us on the straight and true under his leadership. What would PNoy have wanted? Small things, no wangwang, no epal billboards, no aggrandizement especially if it was for him. Work things, regular things. CSW, as Asec Julia has so described, and Bro. Armin, dotting your Is, crossing your Ts, what today is known as fact- based research. And also in big and important things: Don’t steal, give the people, our bosses their due, and always preserve and protect the national interest.

salamat pnoy 139 his cabinet In the process, many became disappointed and even angered. We are breaking many rice bowls, he told me in one of our candid talks. And so he persevered, trusting his values as his compass. Always, the national interest and the people’s welfare prevailed. That’s what PNoy would have wanted. That was his brand of leadership—by example, by high moral standards, by adherence to his values, by appealing to the best in us, by aspiring for what can be, by trusting that in the end, good will prevail over evil. I often wondered what drew me and countless others like the munchkins in the back, all the young people who worked and made us, the cabinet secretaries, look good because it was their work that gave us the data and the research. What drew all of us to PNoy’s leadership? I realized these were not just what PNoy wanted. These were also what Tita Cory and Sen. Ninoy wanted and nurtured in him. And upon deeper reflection, these too were what our own parents wanted. These were the very same values and dreams that our parents taught us and which in our true, deep, un-cynical selves, we know, we treasure. So really, it wasn’t just what PNoy wanted. It is, in fact, what we all want for our country, our people, our families. These are our values. These are our dreams. They are alive—

salamat pnoy 140 his cabinet present tense. They are in each and every one of us here. PNoy was a comet with a single purpose like those very highly-engineered, special precision stereo systems that he loved. Or target pistols or super roadsters. They were highly engineered instruments. They were impractical for everyday life, but when given time and space and need, wow, they performed magnificently. PNoy was like that. He was a unique, highly-precisioned instrument. His purpose was to lead us and our nation during a difficult time and he served so well, the whole world noticed. We were respected. He left things so much better than how he found them. He didn’t kick problems down the road for somebody else to solve. He preserved and protected the nation. Having served his purpose, God has taken him back. Sir, it is my honor, as I am sure it is for everyone here, to have been in the foxhole with you. Thank you very much for the opportunity to serve. Thank you for your leadership and your example. Thank you for the memories. Let me end, Rene having broken the ice with a paraphrase of a line from a song that is often heard in these grounds: Win or lose, it’s the Philippines we choose. Thank you very much. See you around, Sir. salamat pnoy 141 his cabinet photo pcoo Lessons from an education President Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC Former Secretary of Education

agandang gabi po sa inyong lahat! Hindi ko Mpo alam kung paano ako nakapasok kanina sa Ateneo. Noong tinanong ako ng gwardiya kung bakit ako papasok dito ipinaliwanag ko po na sa paglisan ng ating minamahal na Pangulo, ako na lamang ang natitirang binata sa gabinete. Malugod naman po akong pinapasok ng gwardiya.

salamat pnoy 142 his cabinet Tonight I bow low and lay down my Green Archer’s arrow to pay tribute to a great son of the Ateneo. My President, I will miss your ribbing during UAAP seasons and your witty congratulatory messages when La Salle chances upon a win. In several interviews these past two days, I was asked several times why a LaSallian joined this Atenean’s cabinet. Hindi naman ako kaklase, lalong hindi ako kabarilan, hindi naman ako matalik na kaibigan, hindi rin ako kababayang taga-Tarlac. Kahit na galing kami sa magkaribal na eskwelahan, pareho naman naming minahal ang bayang Pilipinas ng tunay at tapat. Aaminin ko sa inyong lahat na minsan mahirap mahalin at maintindihan ang ating mga kababayan. Pero may natutunan ako kay PNoy na kapag isa kang lingkod-bayan, walang duda, ang taumbayan ang Boss palagi natin. Mr. President, I will never ever forget my brief stint in public service. I always say, when asked, it was the most meaningful six years of my life, but never again! Levity aside, it is such a great honor to have served our people during your watch and at a time when dreaming impossible dreams for our nation can readily inspire one to give without counting the cost. Siguro ’yun yong nami-miss ko kay PNoy. May mga panahon sa ating bayan na marami tayong problema pero hindi tayo nawalan ng mga pangarap.

salamat pnoy 143 his cabinet Mr. President, you had scars to show for that service. Big scars and perhaps a few festering wounds still. It must have pained you to be caricatured by your detractors in images that were the complete opposite of your true self. But you did not bother to defend yourself, for you trusted that the Filipino, in due time, will know and discover the truth and hold on to that. You believed that numbers told the other half of the story. If numbers be told, walang duda, ikaw po, mahal na Pangulo, ang aming Education President. Apart from the Universal Kindergarten and the K to 12 Laws, your administration hired 174,000+ teachers over six years. You built 185,000+ classrooms, among others. At the tail end of your term, you had the consolation of seeing through the first batch of our Senior High School students entering Grade 11, more than a million of them supported by government vouchers. It was your political will that pushed for such bold education reforms with budgetary support and enabling legislation. That has not solved all our problems but it has definitely allowed the Philippines to have a fighting chance to compete with the rest of the world. Mangungumpisal lang ako, Mr. President: meron po akong sentimiyento sa inyo. Lahat naman kami sa gabinete, takot na takot, kabado kapag kami and magpi-present sa cabinet meeting.

salamat pnoy 144 his cabinet Alam naming lahat na parang dissertation defense. Ngayong gabi nga po, nagdala ako ng aking notes at lahat ng mga datos na aking sinabi sa inyo ay meron po ritong itemized listing kung saang mga lugar o eskwelahan at ID number ng school kung saan ang mga ito itinayo. Ibinigay ko po naman ito, Mr. President. Mula sa umpisa ng ating termino hanggang sa pagbaba po ninyo sa puwesto, palagi na lang ninyong binubulatlat, “Brother Armin, ilan ba ang classroom backlog noong magsimula tayo?” Sinabi ko na po sa inyo yan: 66,813. Paulit-ulit po kayong nagtatanong sa akin: “Brother Armin, ilan ba yung ating classroom backlog?” Nagsumite na po ako ng listahan kay Sec Julia. Hindi ko po alam kung nawala niya. Pero nandoon po lahat ang mga detalye. Pero hindi po ninyo ako tinantanan. Hinanap-hanap po ninyo kung saan at kailan ang mga ito napunuan. Ayaw na ayaw po ninyong may utang tayo sa mga boss natin. Salamat na rin sa inyong kakulitan. Salamat sa inyong tapat na pamunuan. Mr. President, kapag ating babalikan ang 185k+ classrooms built during your term, nakapagtayo po tayo ng 84 classrooms bawat araw ng inyong panunungkulan—84 classrooms every single day of the 2190 days of the Aquino administration. At today’s 805k teachers in DepED, around 1 out of every 5 public school teachers were hired during your time. Maybe salamat pnoy 145 his cabinet the nation will not always acknowledge your accomplishments. But I will trust you on this and not lose sleep over some of those unfair criticisms on your administration. A few of us remember and are profoundly grateful. You can rest now, Mr. President. Wala po kayong utang sa ating mga boss. Those of us who are here will tell the story. Iwawagayway namin ang istorya ng pag-asa. Even in death, we can draw inspiration from you to dare to dream again. Let me end by reflecting on the enigmas in PNoy’s life, sickness and death. There is an enigma in a President who does not use ‘Wangwang.’ Or a President who has all the power in his hands but tells the citizens: “Kayo ang boss ko.” There is an enigma for one in power not to give in to the lure of money. Siguro eto na yung lasting lesson at assignment na rin ng ating Education President. Sa panahon natin ngayon when our dreams are suffocated, hopes are quashed, greatness is diminished, he leaves us with one question that can only be answered by actions and not just words: Is the Filipino worth dying for?

salamat pnoy 146 his cabinet photo pcoo PNoy and Bangsamoro peace: Three stories Teresita Quintos Deles Former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process 11 August 2021

he successful conclusion of the Bangsamoro Tpeace negotiations, marking the end of four decades of vicious armed conflict and 17 years of protracted peace talks, is writ large among the legacies of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, PNoy. At least two historic images—of the private meeting between the President and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Al-haj Murad

salamat pnoy 147 his cabinet Ebrahim in Narita, Japan, and of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) against a backdrop of white doves on a blue background—were splashed on the front pages and carried on television news broadcasts, not only in the Philippines but in other parts of the globe. Using an economic lens, international credit rating agencies considered the progress of talks between the government and the MILF as a crucial context of the series of credit upgrades they conferred on the country. And, today, seven years after the fact, the Bangsamoro negotiated settlement continues to be studied by the international peace community. What people may not realize is how large and deep PNoy’s personal involvement in the Bangsamoro peace process was. He didn’t just wait for documents to be brought to his desk for his signature. He was fully on board with the concerned Cabinet members in deciding the contentious issues. Not once did he allow the politicians, whether in Congress or from the LGUs, to dictate the outcome either on the peace table or in the battlefield, even in the most political of seasons. Between the peace milestones which made it to the front pages were many steps taken behind the scenes in which PNoy led or supported the way: time-consuming debates and discussions behind each provision salamat pnoy 148 his cabinet that made it to the CAB, multiple constituencies formed across the country and internationally to uphold the paths to peace in the face of threats and challenges, unprecedented risks taken to build trust and confidence between and across the parties, personal dreams nurtured, sparking and, in turn, fueled by new visions of what the Bangsamoro could be. PNoy didn’t pledge to redress historical injustices committed against the Bangsamoro, and then leave to others, or to chance, how it would happen. As with his other major agenda, he worked hard—from the beginning up to the very end of his term—to secure a peace agreement that would not just be signed by the parties but would be translated into policies and actions that would make a felt difference in the lives of communities too long caught in violent conflict. In pursuing peace, PNoy didn’t confine himself to safe and sure ground. He boldly entered uncharted territory which he never wavered in defending over and over again. Allow me to share three stories that illustrate some of the roles he played behind the scenes to ensure that the process didn’t stall and that agreements would hold. First story: The Bangsamoro peace agenda was not an afterthought for PNoy. It was deliberate and planned even before he became President. salamat pnoy 149 his cabinet When PNoy decided to run for the presidency in the 2010 elections, his policy group within the campaign team asked me to prepare two briefers— on the peace process and on the security sector reform agenda—as input to his proposed program of government. Happily, the briefers I submitted didn’t end up in someone’s filing cabinet. PNoy called me to a meeting with him and his policy team at his Times St. residence to go over the recommendations I had proposed. The meeting took most of the afternoon—thankfully, not quite the thesis defense we learned to expect and prepare for once we were in the Cabinet. On the day PNoy and Mar Roxas filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2010 elections, they put out a full-page ad disclosing “A Social Contract with the Filipino People” as their pledge of good governance and transformational leadership, if elected into office. The agenda of peace in Mindanao was listed as number 14, the only item under Peace and Order, with the commitment to “seek a broadly supported just peace that will redress decades of neglect of the Moro and other peoples of Mindanao.” PNoy would further expound on this in a speech before the Peace and Security Forum organized by the private sector in April 2010. When he won the presidency in May 2010, PNoy asked me to join his Cabinet, returning to the office salamat pnoy 150 his cabinet I had previously held as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. I didn’t need to give it a second thought; I accepted the post (although I had by then already crossed into my senior years). The easy part was done. Making the agenda happen— transforming it from pledge to reality, navigating between and across the thresholds of dreams and the brass tacks of governance—would be the difficult part that I would come to understand more fully working with a President whose word was sacred, who abided no false promises, and who always considered the welfare of the people first and foremost. Second story. Many will remember PNoy’s meeting with MILF chair Murad in Narita, Japan, on August 4, 2011, which caught the entire country by surprise. For once, among people not known to be good at keeping secrets, nothing leaked out about the plan. Media would hear about it only when the meeting was done and the principals were aboard their flights back to Manila. Friendly media would persist in asking us afterwards: How did you get the President to agree to the meeting? For the skeptics, the question was: Why did you bring the President to Narita? Didn’t we realize what a risk that was, including possibly demeaning the office of the President? PNoy’s response when I related the questions to salamat pnoy 151 his cabinet him: “Tell them you didn’t bring me to Narita. I brought you there.” And that was the whole truth. Formal “exploratory” meetings between the government (GPH) and the MILF had restarted in Kuala Lumpur in February 2011. The peace table had reopened amidst a climate of doubt and skepticism between the parties, their constituencies, and among the general public—what with the outbreak of violence in the wake of the failed Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domains (MOA-AD) still fresh in people’s minds, preceded by the attack on Buliok under Arroyo in 2003, and Estrada’s all- out war targeting Camp Abubakar in 2000. Six months had passed since the resumption of talks and there had been little progress. After initial exchanges of courtesies and expectations between the parties, positions were again beginning to harden. Then GPH chief negotiator, now Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and I met with the President several times, hoping to find a way to avoid an impasse, each time getting nowhere. In a one-on-one meeting with the President, after I tried to convince him that it would be all right for us to accede to a certain demand from the MILF because, anyway, they will come to realize that what they were asking for was not doable, PNoy asked me point blank: “Ging, is that salamat pnoy 152 his cabinet honest?” And I knew instantly that I had nowhere to go but to step back. I remember the breakthrough meeting very well. There were just a few of us around the table in the conference room in the Presidential Guest House which then housed the President’s office. We had gone over the main points of contention several times. After three hours, I could feel my shoulders starting to droop and was just grateful that Marvic was still managing to keep up with PNoy’s questions and comments. Suddenly, when it seemed that no one had anything more to say, the President, out of the blue, asked: “Why don’t I meet with Murad? Maybe, if we meet face-to-face, if we could look each other in the eye, maybe we can understand where each one is coming from. Maybe we can find a way.” Preparations were completed in about a week. The President flew to Narita with his core delegation on two borrowed private planes, arriving in the late afternoon, with the MILF delegation landing several hours later. The meeting between the two leaders took place late that evening, close to midnight—just the two of them with one note- taker each (Marvic served as note-taker for PNoy) after a short meet-and-greet between the two delegations. We spent just one night at the airport hotel, flying out the next morning. salamat pnoy 153 his cabinet PNoy would tell us afterwards that the meeting had a rocky start and it took a while before he and Chairman Murad began to talk openly about how they looked at the negotiations, their hopes and wishes for the peace they were embarking on. No negotiations happened in that hotel room in Narita. No offers or promises were made. But the MILF would later declare that that meeting with PNoy was what turned the tide for them. They saw a President who would take a risk for the peace process, one they could trust would implement whatever government committed on the peace table. The talks did not go easily after that. It would take another six months before the panels concluded the Ten Points of Decision and another eight months before the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro or FAB was signed. More than two years would pass after Narita before the CAB was completed. But the temper on the table had changed. As MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal put it: “We were no longer adversaries on the table. We had become problem solvers, jointly looking for solutions to overcome our differences.” The issues were not instantly resolved but there was now trust on the table and at no point afterwards did any side threaten to leave the table, even when the problems seemed insurmountable.

salamat pnoy 154 his cabinet Third story. The parties signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, or FAB, in October 2012. The FAB laid out the basic frame or outline of the comprehensive political settlement being negotiated by the parties. The details would still need to be worked out through future Annexes which, upon completion, would comprise the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, or the CAB. The CAB was finally signed with four Annexes and one Addendum on March 27, 2014. The panels were holding their 13th formal meeting in Kuala Lumpur on October 2-7, 2012, when I received the good news from GPH chair Marvic that they were nearing the completion of the FAB and the official signing of the document could take place within the following week. The President, of course, needed to see and clear the final document before the GPH panel could sign off on it. Panel negotiations on the final points of the agreement would take up to late evening of October 6, a Saturday. I met with the President at his Bahay Pangarap residence that night at 11pm. We were joined by communications heads, Sec Edwin and Sec Ricky, and DILG Sec Mar. The President scrutinized the print-out of the latest draft but needed to get on the phone to clarify some last details with Marvic in Kuala Lumpur. There was a remaining question about the proper

salamat pnoy 155 his cabinet preposition to use in one of the provisions: should it be “of” or “for” the Bangsamoro? PNoy proposed: why not “in” the Bangsamoro? And so it was, that the last word that went into the FAB, came from PNoy. We left Bahay Pangarap at around 2:30am of Sunday, after settling the plans for the announcement of the FAB later that day. The initial announcement would be made by the President before the panels returned home and would be interviewed by the media, and before any untoward speculations about the agreement could arise. We were back in Malacaňang at 9am. The President wanted to make sure that no one would be caught by surprise that an agreement they did not know about was going to be signed. He wanted Secretaries Volts and Leila of national defense and justice, respectively, to get a full briefing on the final provisions of the FAB before it was announced. At 11, the entire Cabinet arrived, together with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House. After the President gave them a detailed background on the FAB, he told the Cabinet: “If anyone has any question or concern, you should raise it now, because once I make the announcement, that is it.” The President made the announcement on the FAB at 1pm over national TV, with the two panels salamat pnoy 156 his cabinet and the Malaysian facilitator watching from Kuala Lumpur. Our GPH panel would later recount how a number of their MILF counterparts—tried and tested and battle-scarred mujahidin—openly wept when they heard the President of the Philippines telling the entire nation that the region and its people would be called the Bangsamoro. One week later, on October 14, after the agreement had been published in newspapers and the panels held a joint press conference for the first time, the FAB was signed by the parties in Malacaňang. I share the details because they give a glimpse of how involved PNoy was in the crafting of the negotiated peace settlement, both in substance and in form. It was not the only time that the President held a late night meeting to review peace documents. On another historic night, he called Congress leaders to a meeting to hammer out some contentious details in the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would enact the political provisions of the CAB into law. That meeting also went up to 2am, and a small group had to stay behind to finalize the language of the consensus reached on the document. No provision in the peace agreement would get passed him unless it was properly endorsed by the concerned Cabinet Secretary. And, when consensus was difficult to reach between the panel and the concerned officials, or between salamat pnoy 157 his cabinet different offices protecting conflicting interests, he would convene and chair the meeting of the opposing sides himself. For PNoy, peace agreements were not meant just to be signed; they had to be implemented—with no short cuts, no false promises, no one left out or left behind, no one disadvantaged. The Bangsamoro peace process was not only PNoy’s political legacy, it was also very much his personal legacy. He gave it time and his dedicated attention. He inspired, interrogated, challenged, and stressed about it. I know I gave him stress. I am forever grateful that he never gave up on the peace, nor on me. While I must close this now while there are still other images and stories burning in my head and my heart, I cannot miss a final sharing of how PNoy engaged the Bangsamoro peace process by embracing it with his dreams for the Bangsamoro and its people, especially the children. He spoke about these dreams in his speech at the signing of the FAB: I ask the entire nation, and the entire world, to join me in imagining a Mindanao finally free from strife, where people achieve their fullest potential. A child in Lamitan will be offered the same education as a child in Quezon City; the sick of Patikul will gain access to the same healthcare as those in Pasig; tourists visiting Boracay will also have Sulu in their itineraries; a salamat pnoy 158 his cabinet businessman will earn a profit whether he sets up shop in Marikina or in Marawi…. Children who have had to witness immeasurable suffering will now get to witness a harvest; sons and daughters who have had to sweep bullet casings from their yards will now get to pick fruit; families who once cowered in fear of gunshots will now emerge from their homes to a bright new dawn of equity, justice, and peace. While his dreams were so vivid for the Bangsamoro, his dreams of peace also included imagining his own future. At the end of his speech during the launch of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro at the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute located at the edge of Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, he shared what he hoped the peace would bring for himself: …siguro naman ho ‘pagnatapos na po yung termino ko, baka naman may ipagkaloob na po sa atin ang Diyos, magho-honeymoon po tayo. Siyempre, baka maimbita ako ni Chairman at sabihin niya dito ka muna magmeryenda at turista na tayo sa ARMM dahil ganoon na katahimik. Dahil ako naman po ay pareho n’yo. Darating ang panahon kung papalarin po akong may susunod po sa akin, ay mapamana natin sa susunod na salinlahi: hindi na karahasan, hindi na pananakot, hindi na kaba, nguni’t tunay na tanda na ang lahat ay maatim at makukuha ng Pilipinong nagkakaisa… Nakakatuwa na nanaginip si PNoy nang para sa kaniyang sarili. At nakakalungkot din ako na hindi niya nakamit itong inasam-asam niya. I hope and

salamat pnoy 159 his cabinet pray that when the peace is fully attained in the Bangsamoro and its people are able to enjoy what he dreamed and what he imagined, that they will not forget the leader who gave so much of himself to win the peace, and that they will say, as I now say—Maraming, maraming salamat, PNoy. We love you.

photo pcoo salamat pnoy 160 his cabinet photo malacañang photo bureau

Our fight goes on Senator Leila de Lima Former Secretary of Justice

Noy would be the first to say that we can fight Pthe good fight with or without him. Of course we will. It is just that the fight is more worthwhile with people like him by our side and among our ranks, people who really do care both in their words and in their deeds. For myself, I did not follow the man. I followed the path he was on, because I believed that it led to a better place. That was why I joined the PNoy administration. I didn’t know him then, and he didn’t know me beyond our respective track records. But we found ourselves on the same path because we both believed it leads to a better Philippines for all Filipinos. It has been an honor serving the Filipino people with you, Sir. Your march may have ended, but our fight goes on para sa mahal na sambayanang Pilipino.

salamat pnoy 161 his cabinet photo pcoo He valued young people Julia Abad Former Secretary of the Presidential Management Staff

agandang gabi po. Ang inside joke po ay ako Mpo yung cabinet secretary with the rank of alipin. But don’t worry, that’s the only joke for tonight kasi hindi ko po kayang tapatan si ES. While I’m here as part of the cabinet tribute, I am also here to try and represent the ranks of all the other ‘alipins’ who served with PNoy. Those of us who stood on the sidelines with our weapons of choice, briefing kits, mobile phones, hand-held radios, and cameras. Those of us who learned the art of complete staff work under his watchful eyes and guided by his pointed comments. And those of us who benefited from his love language of long hearty meals, often accompanied by loud, ruckus singing, and his generously dispensed life and love advice. salamat pnoy 162 his cabinet Reading through countless tributes of the past 24 hours and recounting stories with former colleagues who are almost family, I hope you will bear with me in my attempt to summarize the lessons we learned from PNoy. First, take pride in your work. Anything, even the neighborhood, even near the neighborhood of sloppy was just simply unacceptable. It didn’t matter if it was a greet list, a menu, a request for appointment, or something as major as the State of the Nation address technical report. We learned how to proofread, check every last decimal point, and vet, vet, vet. Cross your Ts, and dot the Is, he would always remind us. Cabinet members and senior government officials would semi-jokingly refer to their presentations to the president as “oral defense” or even “thesis defense”, nervously arriving at the palace, armed with bundles of documents and profusely reviewing their numbers until the very last possible minute, trying to anticipate what the president’s questions might be. But no matter what we did, or how much we prepared, there was always something we would not see, a curveball that would be impossible to predict. And when that happened, wow, would he let us have it. You see, to PNoy the presidency was a responsibility that he took very seriously. He

salamat pnoy 163 his cabinet made sure that we remembered this every day. Bruised as our egos might be from the final edits of the day’s talk points, convoy preparations, scenarios, schedules, and speeches, whenever we heard the familiar announcement signalling the president’s arrival, we would always stand a bit straighter and with so much pride, and no matter how unnoticed we were at the sidelines, applaud with all our hearts as we prepared to soak in the fruits of our labor. “Para sa bayan” we would tell ourselves and each other. Our mantra behind living to fight yet another day. Second, leadership is about being of service to others and having the courage to forge a path. For him, leadership was about setting an example and always about what and how much you could give, never what and how much you would get in return. President Aquino obeyed traffic regulations, took commercial flights, and told all of us to always fall in line and never jump queues. After all, by virtue of the responsibilities that we had accepted, we should be able to do everything, if not more than we expected from the public, and always put those that we serve before ourselves. It came almost naturally to him. During meals, he would make sure everyone had started eating before he would even begin to put food on his plate, regardless of how hungry he was, or who he was eating with. salamat pnoy 164 his cabinet “Hard-headed” is an adjective I come across quite a lot in articles I read about Sir. While there is some truth to that, I think it also reflects a brand of courage that is truly his. His belief in doing what he felt in his heart of hearts was right, gave him the strength to make the most difficult and sometimes unpopular of decisions. “May we always have the strength to choose the difficult right over the easy wrong” was something I heard him say a lot. And because he displayed so much courage, hard- headed, stubborn, stick-to-it courage, he infected us with some of that courage as well. Third, have faith in the youth. While Sir was conservative in many aspects, especially when he was giving relationship advice, he was also amazingly ahead of his time. When I was first asked to join him at the Senate, the first thing he said to me was; “I didn’t tell your Dad I was going to offer you a job, because I wanted to ask you first.” He wanted to build a youthful team, he said. So would I like to come and help out. In an environment where there is such a premium on seniority in terms of age and experience, it was refreshing as it was risky to put one’s faith in such relatively inexperienced hands. But he did, and with such confidence in our abilities that it was as humbling as it was empowering. One of the greatest gifts from the ten years I spent as PNoy’s chief of staff was the opportunity

salamat pnoy 165 his cabinet to see up-close how much value he placed in young people. During my first few days at the Senate, I asked Rochelle Ahorro, his long-time and ever-faithful appointments secretary, how we prioritize requests for slots in his schedule. “Basta students, he will accept. And he will really take the time to talk to them and listen to what they have to say,” was her reply. As president he spent a lot of time with the staffers that worked in his office and the different department agencies. He would always drive us to refine and improve our work, in ways that we can only describe as character building. “After all,” he would say as we poured through boxes of data, preparing for the next speech, calling our contacts and alternately threatening them, and apologizing profusely for the deluge of last-minute requests. “This is a report about fulfilling the responsibilities we have been given. Why should we give this effort any less than everything we have got?” PNoy was excellent with words. We would sit and take notes while he would give pointers for his speeches, stumbling over one quotable quote after another, always amazed at his ability to say things in a way that made your hair stand or your heart skip a beat like he knew what you were thinking, or feeling, or hoping. After all the work was done, and the boxes of data packed away, he would bring us together and say thank you he salamat pnoy 166 his cabinet knew best, by feeding us and singing with us. As if he knew how much anxiety and anguish his pep- talks gave us, the amount of songs you were asked to sing were always commensurate to the amount of scolding you had received. At the end of the evening, we would go home sufficiently placated and refreshed, ready for another day. PNoy pushed us to our limits, and sometimes we did feel that what we were being asked to do was more than what was humanly possible. But at every opportunity, he reminded us why. It was because our work mattered. It was because we mattered. And that made all the difference. It was this belief that we were being given the responsibility to play a part in something bigger than ourselves that we drew on for strength, for inspiration, and for courage every day. You have fought the good fight, Sir, and it was our honor and our privilege to have played our own little parts. Our years of service with you have inevitably shaped who we are today. Thank you for showing us by your life and your everyday examples that the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for. Maraming, maraming salamat, Sir. Hanggang sa muli.

salamat pnoy 167 his cabinet photo official gazette

THE VIEW FROM TAFT Lessons from the man who would call us boss Cesar V. Purisima Former Secretary of Finance Businessworld, August 2, 2021

n the 41st day of President Benigno Aquino OIII’s passing, as our grief slowly recedes into tender reminiscence, we find a trail of leadership and management lessons from the boss who insisted on calling us his “bosses.”

salamat pnoy 168 his cabinet Walking your talk wins confidence. One word defines the Aquino economic legacy: confidence. The Philippines won its first investment grade credit ratings—and the respect of the business and international community— by walking PNoy’s talk. “Kung walang kurap, walang mahirap” (If there is no corruption, there are no poor) was not just a mantra, but also an organizing principle with which he led his administration. PNoy restored consumer, investor, and business confidence after decisive follow-throughs: in his anti-corruption drive, in budget and finance reforms, and even in how he carried himself during his tenure. His “no wang-wang” (no sirens) policy was not a gimmick. Presidential Management Staff Secretary and Presidential Chief of Staff Julia Abad recalls how PNoy “obeyed traffic regulations, took commercial flights, and told us to fall in line and never jump queues.” PNoy walked his talk on the “no epal” (no shameless self-promotion) policy, refusing to have posters bearing his face put up whenever projects were launched, knowing that they would be funded by the people’s money. In these little things, he showed, rather than told, everyone who he was and what his administration stood for. Delivering impact wins more confidence than demonstrating intent. salamat pnoy 169 his cabinet Success depends on how well you define and measure it. My experience as finance secretary would not have been as fulfilling had I not been empowered by my boss. When at the cusp of winning the 2010 polls, PNoy sat me down and asked me to be his finance secretary. I told him it was too early; he insisted it was just the right time to align our priorities. Together, we defined how success might look like, and agreed on the broad objectives of the economic agenda. Fully understanding my marching orders gave me the freedom to execute PNoy’s growth agenda. PNoy also knew how to drive success by the yardstick with which he measured it. He ran on a 16-point Social Contract with the Filipino People, which encompassed every conceivable sector, from economics, gender equality, environment, to security and peace. When asked if he would like to reduce it to 10 points for easier recall, he stood firm, believing the Social Contract had to be complete if it was to be the guiding document for his administration. True enough, Secretary Julia attests that the Social Contract became the criteria for all of PNoy’s decisions, from hiring key people, to his positions on issues, and even which engagements to attend. The Social Contract was distributed salamat pnoy 170 his cabinet during the first cabinet meeting; PNoy stressed that it would be the basis of our policies and programs, and the basis of his—and the people’s—evaluation of our work. Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro recalls PNoy’s almost “nagging” him about the 66,813-classroom backlog we had at the start of the term, believing it to be a debt we owed to our future bosses that PNoy was keen to pay. ASAP. PNoy would constantly ask where we were relative to that measure. At the end of his term, the country had been able to build around 185,000 classrooms, 84 classrooms a day, thanks to PNoy’s constant measuring against that metric. Hire young. Train early. Empower fully. PNoy believed in the youth. To him, experience did not matter as much as malleability. And so PNoy hired young—Malacañang was filled with millennials, even fresh graduates. PNoy trained his young team early, but not with a heavy hand. Instead, he chose to train by empowerment. To him, empowerment was not mere delegation. It takes more work to empower than to delegate. He avoided micromanagement, instead empowering his people to make their own choices, guided by the goals and principles he set. His team was allowed to make their hiring decisions, causing a virtuous cycle of more and more young people salamat pnoy 171 his cabinet joining, imbued with a sense of hope and a belief in their capacity to contribute. PNoy held his team to a high standard, and established systems of accountability—like when he required us to sign our work so that we could take full responsibility for our outputs. But PNoy knew accountability was best operationalized with the heart. He would conscientiously mark errors on the margins— typos and numbers that didn’t add up—and called erring people in for sober reminders of the sacred duties they held. Raf Ignacio, one of PNoy’s closest staffers, recalls how these meetings made staff realize how they were indeed integral parts of PNoy’s team, how their output was read by the President himself, and, most importantly, how they were accountable not just to an office or a position, but to a person whom they deeply respected. Ultimately, people feel empowered when they believe their work to be meaningful. Staffers thrived in the high-stake, high-stress environment because PNoy emphasized how they were his alter egos, and how their work was directly linked to the betterment of the Filipino people. “The true measure of success is your ability to train your successor,” Sec. Julia remembers him saying. The kids are alright. The principal inheritors of PNoy’s legacy— salamat pnoy 172 his cabinet the young millennials who graduated out his administration—have all been trained well. Picking the right people will deliver success; placing the right systems will sustain it. PNoy believed that to sustain reform, you would need more than the right change agents. You would need to take the long view by setting up systems and institutions. Often, this approach requires more time and sweat. For example, instead of launching infrastructure projects left and right, PNoy emphasized doing things the right way by establishing a robust public private partnership (PPP) framework and institutionalizing the PPP Center. Doing the homework on this developed domestic technical expertise for building a viable and bankable project pipeline, and ensured projects were bid out competitively and fairly. Using political capital begets more political capital. Many leaders think political capital is a non- renewable resource and thus strive to change as little as possible to preserve it. But PNoy understood political capital is earned not to be saved, but precisely to be used. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky salamat pnoy 173 his cabinet Carandang recalls: when faced with staunch and vicious opposition on the Reproductive Health Law, PNoy decided to risk spending political capital to achieve its passage. This turned out to be a smart move. Had he held back and had the bill tanked, it would have been seen as a sign of weakness and would have imperiled other legislative priorities. When the bill was passed, his hand was strengthened and his political capital reinforced. The same was true with the Sin Tax Law, the passage of which boosted both his political capital and our fiscal resources, allowing him to pursue other objectives. Using political capital, however, requires prioritization. Secretary Ricky underscores how PNoy unlocked the value of getting a few big things accomplished first to reap more political capital, rather than tackling everything at once, losing focus, and achieving nothing. Navigate with a moral compass. PNoy had a strong sense of his true north, and would constantly go back to his moral foundations when faced with complex decisions. Presentations involving spending would notoriously be tough because PNoy tended to the people’s money with even greater attention than he did to his own. He famously had a dog-eared copy of the Constitution ready for reference. He took staffers salamat pnoy 174 his cabinet to the Aquino Museum in Tarlac to remind them of the deep personal and national history that animated his commitment to democracy. Plant trees under whose shade you will not sit. PNoy understood how change is a continuum, and how we run only a small leg of a grand relay race for our people. While we carried the baton, PNoy believed we ought to run as best we could to avoid burdening the next runner. He thus insisted on solving difficult, politically costly issues—like the Bangsamoro peace process—instead of passing them on to future generations to deal with. PNoy invested in education, infrastructure, health, and social services, knowing full well that he would not be at the finish line for the photo op. Foreign Affairs Secretary Rene Almendras recalled how the Governor General of Canada had commended PNoy for launching multi-year infrastructure projects, “planting the trees knowing you will never sit in the shades of its branches.” PNoy knew this, but was committed to making the right investments for the future nonetheless. These are just some of the lessons we learned from having worked under PNoy’s leadership. I write them in hope that leaders like him will not have to come few and far between in our lifetime. salamat pnoy 175 his cabinet photo pcoo salamat pnoy 176 his cabinet PNoy in Palawan photo pcoo A man of science Mario G. Montejo Former DOST Secretary

s we all mourn the loss of President Benigno ASimeon C. Aquino III, who served the country with humility and integrity, we take comfort in the legacies that he left behind. Innumerable as they are, he carried the nation to a straight path forward with unwavering faith in the ability of the Filipino. President PNoy led with foresight, spoke with clarity, and demanded precise targets from us who had the privilege to work with him closely. His mindset was simple yet profound and powerful. He established truth in numbers and relied on data and science to guide his actions and decisions. As our president, he recognized

salamat pnoy 177 his cabinet the vital role of science and technology (S&T) in saving and improving the lives of Filipinos. During his time, the budget of the DOST tripled, resulting in a significant strengthening of the country's S&T ecosystem, benefiting us beyond his term. A prime example is the Philippine Genome Center he created which is now at the forefront of our war against covid. The PGC provides nucleic acid-based analysis of the novel coronavirus to identify new strains and other variants, providing critical information to the country's overall COVID-19 response. Such was the vision of President PNoy. He enabled critical programs and platforms in genomics and other emerging technologies in fields like: ICT, nanotechnology, and space science. Our leaders can now rely on S&T to enhance disaster preparedness, face crises and pandemics, improve our competitiveness, and uplift lives. May he be remembered as a man of science who championed its renaissance and who pushed for S&T-based approach and solutions to our chronic societal problems and move the country forward. And, may his memory endure and inspire us to work with a sense of urgency like he had, using the tools and the powerful mindset he had bequeathed the nation. salamat pnoy 178 his cabinet Up-close and personal: What PNoy taught me Abigail Valte TAPATan ISAMBAYAN, August 4, 2021

t’s been 42 days since PNoy passed and the days Isince have paved the way for a remembrance of his brand of governance which was marked by transparency, governed by accountability, and with the welfare of Filipinos as his priority. He had a level of discomfort about claiming his own achievements. He always felt, and I think rightly so, that the achievements should speak for themselves. I’m happy to see that there are so many people taking up the cudgels for him.. He shied away from the spotlight after he stepped down, choosing to emerge only when in his view, what he had to say would enrich public discourse. After all, he was among a handful of people who knew and lived through the burden of carrying the entire nation on his shoulders and was the last person to see the country fail. His battle with diabetes was typical PNoy. He grilled his doctors the same way he grilled his cabinet on policies and programs. I remember one of the times that he was in the hospital and he had me called and I was surprised to walk in his room where his doctors were all present. He

salamat pnoy 179 his cabinet introduced me and said, ‘O you have to explain to Abi what’s happening.’ I found it very reminiscent of a cabinet meeting because PNoy engaged them in discussion. He sought to clarify one particular point. He asked about any test result, every protein finding. All of this, he dissected every step of his treatment. But you know, that was just the way he was away from the public eye. One of things I will always remember about him is how he had so much respect for our public institutions. I remember that I went with him twice, once to the DOJ to subscribe to his Sinumpaang Salaysay for one of the cases that was filed after his term, and the second to the COMELEC, again to do the same thing, for electioneering, or something of that sort, I fail to remember accurately now. But he showed up on time and both times the people at DOJ and COMELEC were very surprised to see him there. He came early. He sat in the visitor’s chair to wait for the officer to administer the oath. I think the people there were more embarrassed that he arrived on time, that he just waited like anybody else. I remember thinking that we were all cramped into a small room. He could sense their discomfort that they were very, “Sir, pasensya na, magulo yung office, pasensya na.” And he just said, “Okay lang po, huwag po kayong mag abala”. It was a small room really. Parang 10 people inside salamat pnoy 180 his cabinet that room would be standing room. And I think, again, they were more uncomfortable that he was just there waiting for them. I remember one of the petitioners, well not one, but a lot of the petitioners also went to face him. He did not back down. Ok, maliit yung kuwarto, tuhod sa tuhod tayo dito, pwede nating pagusapan kung ano yung mga sinasabi nyo. Duon ko na sense yung tapang niya kase whether senado, Sandiganbayan, dadating iyan. Hindi nya yan aatrasan. He could have thrown his weight around as a former president but, my colleagues here will attest na, hindi nya kasi gawain yon. As one of the many young people who entered public service during his administration, Sir set the example of how we should serve our people. Whatever your job was, whether you were a researcher, a writer, a graphic designer, an IT person, an executive assistant, this was how you serve them, with all your talent, with all your skill, with all your heart and to never ever short change them. Our primary duty was to serve and we tried our best to do this as he did for the entire six years of his presidency. Ang biruan nga namin dyan, kapag tinatanong ka ni sir, kapag mayroon syang mga tanong na hindi mo masagot or mayroong kang pagkakamali tas kailangan ka nyang sabunin, ang tawag naman salamat pnoy 181 his cabinet dyan, character building. And it’s true, it was a private joke back then, but everybody who served with him realized that he made us all better— better public servants, better professionals with the way that he set the example for us. Beyond his passing, I am certain that his legacy will remain indelibly in the hearts and minds of those of us who served with him, especially the women staffers and the women in his cabinet whom he always treated as equal partners and equally-abled public servants. On PNoy’s biggest accomplishments There are so many things but on top of mind, he really believed in investing in the Filipino family. Sa akin, yung hanggang ngayon ay nararamdaman pa rin natin is yung ginawang investment ng administrasyon ni PNoy sa pamilyang Pilipino. Duon mo nakita e, diba mayroon tayong 4 Ps na support. Tinutukan nya yung pag improve ng education through K-12 and through catching up yung backlog sa classroom na inabutan natin. Actually, at the end of the term of his administration, he was able to build 185,000 classrooms. If you think about it, that’s 85 classrooms per day ang nagawa. Si Pnoy kasi hindi sya pang short-term win. Ang inaalagaan nya is yung pangmatagalan. Ano yung long-term victories na kailangan nating

salamat pnoy 182 his cabinet gawin. Ang paniniwala nya ay kailangan mong mag invest in the Filipino family. You have to make sure that you give them provisions for their health at nakita natin dun sa pagpapalakas ng Philhealth. Kailangan mong pagbigyan sila ng ayuda para matulungan... yung pang-araw-araw nung kanilang pamilya, kailangang makapag-aral ang mga bata, very important yan sa kanya. Sa pag-aaral nila, kailanagang bigyan natin sila nung capability. Kailangan ng classrooms, ng libro, ng upuan. Kung iisipin mo, very basic ,but PNoy was about giving everybody the same start. Hindi porke mayaman, hindi porke mahirap, ang gusto nya, lahat magkakaroon ng tool kit para makagaan at maka-angat sa buhay and his administration was all about that—long-term gains. Talagang hindi kasi sexy yung mga ginustong gawin ni PNoy e. Parang very long-term yung inisip nya and until now, we see the benefits of that especially in Mindanao, yung pagbuo ng BARMM. Ilang pamilya yung kaya nang mamuhay ng mapayapa dahil nagkaroon na tayo ng way forward duon after 70 years of conflict in that area. On ‘lack of communication’ of what PNoy accomplished Very early on, PNoy issued an AO, if I’m not mistaken, to all government agencies, not to put his name or his face on any project board salamat pnoy 183 his cabinet or tarpaulin, so wala siyang mukha, ayaw nya ng ganon. I think that most people did not know about is that he also prohibited government agencies from running public advertisements with his name and his face because his point was, the money that you spend buying those ads would be better put in programs that will directly benefit Filipinos. Hindi kasi mahilig magbuhat ng sariling bangko si PNoy. To him, accomplishing the project was the more important part of it. He did not do things for vanity, para masabing sya yung gumawa. In fact, if you look at his programs, a lot of them are continuations from previous administrations. Hindi sya self-centered that way. Just because it was started in the previous administration or the one before that, hindi nya gagawin. He wasn’t that kind of person. To a certain extent that also limited very much what people around him could do. Anong gagawin mo kung ayaw ng Presidenteng lumabas at ipag yabang yung mga ginagawa nya, sya ang principal diba? Again, he thought that government money and government resources could be better directed to projects that would actually benefit Filipinos and not just for his own survey. Actually, if you go back, he had good survey ratings during his presidency. That is something that we should not forget. I think we really just dealt with a different kind of propaganda when he stepped salamat pnoy 184 his cabinet down from office. There was really a concentrated effort to demonize the former president. I think people have consciously pushed back that particular machinery now. Among the many things that PNoy taught me—you must have pride in your work. You must be willing to put your name and your face to your work. Kumbaga, lagi nyang sinasabi, basta may pride ka in your work, kaya mong ipagtanggol yan kahit saan, lalo na sa Plaza Miranda. Pangalawa, there is no job too big or too small in government. Everybody is an individual contributor to how government can make the lives of Filipinos better. Pangatlo, and yung pinaka importante, whatever it is that you do, if you are in government, laging tatandaan, hindi yan para sa iyo, para sa bayan.

photo pcoo salamat pnoy 185 his cabinet photo official gazette

salamat pnoy 186 excellence 4 in praise of excellence

salamat pnoy 187 excellence Towards the last days of his presidency, President Aquino in his office: He lifted seven million Filipinos out of poverty and left more than a trillion pesos in the treasury. photo malacañang photo bureau/ joseph vidal

salamat pnoy 188 excellence PNoy walks from the Malacañang Reception Hall to Rizal Hall photo official gazette Aquino’s death: The haunting It constituted media’s neglect to serve the people’s right to know

Vergel O. Santos TheDiarist.ph, July 2, 2021

he death, last week, of Benigno Aquino III Tcaught everyone unawares not because it came suddenly but because the two years of illness leading to it—diabetes, a bad heart, and terminally diseased kidneys, not to mention their complications—had gone unrevealed. The default

salamat pnoy 189 excellence had in fact persisted through his five years in retirement from the presidency. For that, the news media bear no small responsibility, and they cannot blame Aquino’s adamant reclusiveness, as they tend to do; they were bound by professional duty to watch and report. To not bother at all was not considerate, but merely convenient, in obtrusive disregard of a simple, sensible, and unobtrusive option—to keep tabs from a distance. It constituted neglect to serve the people’s right to know, as it concerned in particular those who feel orphaned by Aquino and, themselves feeling guilty for having shortchanged him, wish now to atone for it, by saying their own sorrys and thank-yous, at least. But never mind praise and respect and gratitude as a matter of propriety. Being no less than the standard for public service and leadership, Aquino definitely deserves post- term and post-mortem notice. Nay, he deserves historical enshrinement. If it’s true, as they say, that the ultimate toll on one’s health is traceable to the accumulation of pressures on one’s life, the correlation is well defined in Aquino’s case. An only son and just 13, he had to take up paternal duties delegated to him by his father, Benigno Jr., a prisoner of Ferdinand Marcos’s martial-law regime. After the father’s assassination, 10 years later, in 1983, the surrogacy salamat pnoy 190 excellence PNoy visits his father's cell in Fort Bonifacio photo official gazette became a complete, lifelong duty, and one of its demands was for the son to defend his mother and her democratic presidency against a coup after it had succeeded the Marcos dictatorship upon its dismantling through a bloodless people- power revolt, in 1986. President Cory and her government survived, but her son paid a personal price, taking a plotter’s bullet. Fragments of it would remain lodged in his neck, causing sufferance he would have to endure for the rest of his life as a safer option than further surgery. His mother’s retirement, unlike his own, was hardly quiet. Calls to national matriarchal duty summoned her for inspiration and leadership. One of the more significant of these came from civil society when it constantly called out Gloria Arroyo salamat pnoy 191 excellence for a corrupt and high-handed presidency and, also and in the first place, for rigging her own vote. Cory died of cancer, herself a case that fits the theory that terminal afflictions result from living under pressure. As family fate would have it, her death came around the beginning of the electoral season, as the nation hit another crossroads in its generally rough life: the prospect of a friendly successor to Arroyo loomed. Cory’s son, a last- minute opposition draftee, frustrated it. PNoy (as he was called in that familiar tone of address the family inspired—Ninoy, Cory) immediately established a cleanup presidency. Arroyo and comrades were taken to court for plunder and detained while on trial and Arroyo’s appointed Chief Justice was impeached, found guilty, and removed. At the same time, PNoy served ringing notice that public office exists for service and reserves no privilege whatever for the officeholder. PNoy racked achievement after achievement to a record that could not be remotely matched. He grew the economy steadily and at its highest rate and lifted seven million Filipinos out of poverty. Apart from an economy not only stronger than ever but showing even further promise, he left, for a head start, more than a trillion pesos in the treasury and civil works prefunded and laid out, waiting only to be launched. He got an arbitral salamat pnoy 192 excellence court to dismiss China’s fraudulent claim on our western sea, a wellspring of marine species and minerals. He made people feel ever safer against crime, as they themselves acknowledged in a poll when polls were still credible because, unlike now, they were done in an atmosphere of freedom. He earned the respect of foreign leaders such as no other Philippine president has done—except his mother, whose own singular achievement was the rebuilding of the institutions of democracy that Marcos had brought to absolute ruin. If the news media were looking for ugly truths, there were not enough to suit their wont. On balance as a result, PNoy got himself either a bad press or an indifferent one. What makes the dereliction aggravating is that it helped an errant presidency succeed on an uninformed vote and consequently squander, through corruption and incompetence, the gains made by its predecessor. And what is ironic is that, all these five years after PNoy, the media have had more and uglier ugly truths than imaginable stare them in the face, but are too afraid to have anything to do with them, not even look at them. Anyway, dying to an Aquino is by no means a final act; it is only the beginning of retributive haunting. salamat pnoy 193 excellence Entrepreneurs, investors, and the business community will remember the late president Benigno Aquino III as the chief executive who steered the Philippine economy through six years of consistently high economic growth, finally allowing the country to shed its label as “the sick man of Asia.” “The PNoy-era economic high” Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 28, 2021 Read the full article at inquirer.net

salamat pnoy 194 excellence Remembering ‘Aquinomics’ Cielito F. Habito Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 29, 2021

n economist like me would naturally best Aremember the late president Benigno Simeon Aquino III, aka PNoy, for what his leadership of the country achieved for the economy. We called it “Aquinomics” then, to describe his administration’s approach and strategy in steering and managing the economy. They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and from where I stand, I can assert that no other Philippine president in recent memory matched the positive economic advances achieved under PNoy’s six-year leadership in 2010-2016—not even the president in whose Cabinet I served, proud as I am about the economic dynamism the Ramos presidency achieved in the 1990s. Read the full article at inquirer.net

salamat pnoy 195 excellence How did PNoy fare? Solita Collas-Monsod Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 26, 2021

Noy was not my candidate for President Pin the 2010 elections, but he was certainly head and shoulders above the rest of the “frontrunners”—former president Joseph Estrada and Sen. Manny Villar. The smell of corruption surrounding these two were enough to make one’s head turn away. So when he won, I derived some comfort from the fact that at least the Philippines was spared from a more miserable fate. And he had two things going for him: (1) He was unencumbered by a potentially exploitative wife and/or greedy offspring, which from bitter experience, would have a deleterious effect on the country; and (2) he had a degree in economics, which I think equips one to make better decisions than most. I can hear your reaction, Reader: Gloria Arroyo had a PhD in economics, for heaven’s sake. And where did that leave us? I can only say that she was, unlike Aquino, encumbered. Well, how did PNoy fare? Read the full article at inquirer.net

salamat pnoy 196 excellence PNoy at the Makati Business Club 30th anniversary celebration on December 1, 2011 photo official gazette He served our country well Ramon R. del Rosario Jr. Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 26, 2021

e was an honest, decent, and very private Hman. He was also one of our most effective presidents. salamat pnoy 197 excellence President Noynoy Aquino did not have a remarkable stint in Congress prior to his landslide election as president. He won mainly as a result of our country’s outpouring of love and sympathy on the passing of his mother, our beloved President Cory. He was elected by a people eager to regain their faith in their leaders after 12 years of division amid corruption in government’s highest levels. Filipinos gave him their trust, which he reinforced by forming a Cabinet made up of men and women of very impressive competence and integrity. President Noynoy’s leadership was quiet, humble, and respectful, and it was effective. Through his personal integrity and his administration’s credibility, diligence, and competence, he gained the confidence and support of the majority of Filipinos, not the least of whom was the business community. Read the full article at inquirer.net

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salamat pnoy 198 excellence President Aquino called the people his Boss; these laws show he meant it Coco Alcuaz Businessworld, June 28, 2021

s a business reporter during President ANoynoy Aquino’s term, my colleagues and I talked a lot about rising revenue, narrowing deficits, and debt rating upgrades. Infrastructure too. But in government—as in life and in the Parable of the Talents—the goal is not to hoard cash but to use it for good. I believe history will judge President Aquino well not because he fixed our finances but because he supported three costly social programs: Pantawid Pamilya, K-12, and the Reproductive Health Law. And in a challenging time, they remind us to have faith in democracy and the Filipino people. Read the full article on Businessworld

salamat pnoy 199 excellence FILIPINO WORLDVIEW Stark comparison Roberto R. Romulo The Philippine Star, July 2, 2021

he tenure of the late president Benigno S. TAquino III can be likened to a painting. His manner of leadership and his goals reflect his life experience, which in turn shaped his feelings, emotion, character, attitude, and how he handled himself. And like a painting, his tenure cannot satisfy every viewer. Some will interpret it one way, others in another way. Some will like it, some will not. But it is when the artist has passed that one gets to evaluate his painting more objectively, and then hopefully secure the appreciation it deserves. Read the full article at The Philippine Star.

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salamat pnoy 200 excellence INTROSPECTIVE PNoy and inclusion Raul V. Fabella Businessworld, June 27, 2021

ne of the few experiences of pure Oexhilaration and hope at the start of 2021 was negotiating the newly opened Skyway 3. Those of us who have suffered through the travails and tribulations of the old normal EDSA on our way to south Metro Manila and NAIA feel like we are being teleported to the highways and byways of more affluent countries where these amenities are a common sight and which we, perhaps, sometimes and with reason, despaired of ever having. In my own mind I associate these amenities with economic abundance; which is why driving through Skyway 3 makes me feel like being at the door of similar abundance. Such buoyancy and exhilaration are becoming a more common experience, thanks to the presidency of Benigno Aquino III, popularly called PNoy. Read the full article on Businessworld.

salamat pnoy 201 excellence A prophet among us Andres Bautista Rappler, July 8, 2021 My fearless forecast is that when the trolled hate has dissipated...a clear-eyed assessment of [PNoy's presidency] will reveal it as one of the best (if not the best) in Philippine history. Read the full article on Rappler. photo pcoo

salamat pnoy 202 excellence This photo, displayed at SWS these past 10 years, recalls the courtesy call of the SWS Board of Directors on PNoy in Malacañang on July 27, 2011 photo sws.com.ph A very good President Mahar Mangahas Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 26, 2021

ocial Weather Stations expresses its deepest Scondolences to the Aquino family on the passing of former President Benigno S. Aquino III. For the past 10 years, SWS has proudly displayed a photograph of the courtesy call of its board of directors on PNoy at Malacañang on July 27, 2011, to present him with two mementos of Philippine opinion research: The First SWS Public Opinion Report (June 1986)—which found 64 percent saying they voted for Cory Aquino,

salamat pnoy 203 excellence and only 27 percent for Ferdinand Marcos, in the February 1986 snap election—and A Social Weather Report: Public Reaction to the August 29, 1987 Coup Attempt—which found President Cory Aquino’s stalwart resistance to the rebels strongly supported by the Filipino people. The courtesy call was the culmination of SWS’ Silver Jubilee celebration that year. We paid tribute to President Cory Aquino for providing the democratic space under which open opinion polling began to flourish, and expressed appreciation for the citation of SWS hunger statistics in PNoy’s 2011 State of the Nation Address. PNoy is smiling very cheerfully in the photo. Public morale was very high under PNoy. Five years later, at the 2016 SWS Survey Review, I reported that the most important news was the exceptionally high morale of the Filipino people. This was based on our surveys of optimism about personal quality of life, optimism about the economy, gaining in quality of life, and satisfaction with life (“Exceptionally high public morale,” inquirer.net, 1/30/2016). The surplus of personal optimists over pessimists in the final 2015 SWS survey was

salamat pnoy 204 excellence a new all-time record +40. It was the seventh consecutive quarterly Very High (at least +30) personal optimism. The surplus of economic optimists over pessimists was +30. This indicator, which started in 1998, is often negative; it had been positive only 3 times in Estrada’s time and only 6 times in Arroyo’s 9-year period. In PNoy’s time, however, it was always positive, and Very High 15 times in 22 surveys. In all SWS surveys from 1986 to 2014, there were almost always more people getting worse off (losers) than better off (gainers). The two exceptions were May 1986 and March 1987. Then, starting 2015, gainers began to exceed losers. Adults satisfied with their lives were 88 percent in September 2015, the highest point since 2002, when it was only 61 percent. The 2016 SWS Survey Review was mainly favorable. Long-term trends of poverty and hunger were downward. The people’s reports of victimization by crime were falling. As rated by businessmen, government corruption was dropping. PNoy set a new standard. My final column during his term was on PNoy’s personal survey ratings and his administration’s report cards (“PNoy raised the bar,” 6/25/2016). PNoy’s average Net Satisfaction Rating was +45 (Good) for his salamat pnoy 205 excellence entire term. His final +29 (Moderate) broke Fidel Ramos’ +19 as previous best finisher. Average satisfaction with his administration bested all previous ones. On the critical issue of fighting inflation, the PNoy admin scored an average Neutral +1, whereas all previous ones had negative averages. On eradicating graft and corruption, its average was Moderate +15, whereas previous ones were mostly Poor. On fighting crime, its average was Moderate +19, whereas earlier ones were at most +4. On foreign relations, it had a Good +42, while earlier ones had at most +28. On helping the poor, it had a Good +46, while earlier ones had at best +32. On fighting hunger, graded since 2004, the PNoy admin’s average was Neutral +5, compared to the Arroyo admin’s Poor -23. Considering also the six years of Conditional Cash Transfer, the forging of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and most of all the smashing victory at the Arbitral Tribunal regarding the West Philippine Sea, there is no doubt that Benigno S. Aquino III was a very good President of the Philippines.

salamat pnoy 206 excellence photo official gazette

PUBLIC LIVES The outside of politics Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 27, 2021

n deference to the dead and to those in Imourning, propriety demands that the community avoid talking in public about the possible impact that someone’s death may have on the world he or she leaves behind. This is not easy to follow, especially when the death is untimely, and the deceased has been a public figure. It is the elephant in the room. Every meaningful tribute or eulogy that is given in honor of the dead recognizes its presence yet

salamat pnoy 207 excellence leaves it unmentioned. The speaker might recall the dying person’s last days and final words, and the serene irony with which he looked upon his life and the unexpected turns it had taken. But it is up to the knowing listener to supply the omitted referents and the missing meanings. No matter how much we may avoid talking about it, death has always played a significant role in our national life. Ninoy Aquino’s tragic assassination in 1983 sounded the death knell for the Marcos dictatorship, and the rise of his widow Cory to the presidency. The late President Cory Aquino’s death from cancer in 2009, in turn, triggered a public clamor for her son, Noynoy, then a senator, to run for president the following year. Now, in the wake of former President Noynoy’s unexpected death from kidney failure, people wonder how his passing might affect the political climate in view of next year’s presidential election. It is neither an irreverent nor an irrelevant question to ask. Listening to the outpouring of grief, lamentation, and praise for this quiet and self- effacing president on his death, one cannot help but ask if the electorate in 2016 saw things differently, so much that they threw all caution to the wind and picked someone who was his antithesis to succeed him. What was it they were salamat pnoy 208 excellence looking for at that time which they thought had been lacking in Noynoy Aquino? And what is it they may be seeing today, in the light of his sudden death, that they have missed in a president? Perhaps if the death of a leader serves any purpose at all in the nation’s life, it must be as an occasion for collective soul-searching. “Though I was far from perfect, I did my best while in public office,” he seems to be saying. “I defended the rule of law and looked after our country and its interests under my watch. Each one of us is called to service at one time or another—and this begins with the responsible exercise of the duty to elect good leaders. What have you done?” To provoke such reflection is part of the power of the dead, wrote Elias Canetti. So powerful has been the role of the dead in the world of the living that there was a time when some observers of our political life thought this was what the word “necropolitics” was about. Unfortunately, that is not at all what it means. It refers rather to something else: the power to decide who lives and who dies. In its original sense, therefore, “necropolitics” might more accurately be applied to the current administration’s murderous war on

salamat pnoy 209 excellence drug suspects, which has targeted mainly the poor, than on the way death shapes political fortunes. How death affects politics belongs to the “outside” of politics—i.e., the contingent and the imponderable. It is one of those things that people engaged in politics, whether as participants or as observers, typically do not consider when they define the boundaries of the system with which they are dealing. Access to this “outside”—for example, the shifting public mood, or the volatile forces and emotions that are unleashed by economic changes or catastrophes like pandemics and weather disturbances, etc.—has been the abiding object of empirical studies in the various sciences. In politics, this is the “reality” that opinion surveys, for example, have tried to capture with varying success. We are dealing here with a very complex phenomenon. We are limited by the questions we ask of reality, which are inescapably self-referential. Opinion pollsters can only get responses to the choices they pose to their informants, who usually are not afforded the chance to explain their answers. Even if they are, they may not exactly be able to communicate their own feelings properly. In any case, when reduced to numbers, survey responses all appear uniform. salamat pnoy 210 excellence The German sociologist Niklas Luhmann describes this paradox thus: “Cognition deals with an external world that remains unknown and must, as a result, come to see that it cannot see what it cannot see.”Reality is that which we cannot see when we are looking, limited as we are by the observational tools we use. It is what may explain the rise of Donald Trump right after what is supposed to be the successful two-term presidency of America’s first black president, Barack Obama. It is also what may account for the startling rise of Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippine presidency soon after the dignified, incorruptible, and relatively uncontroversial tenure of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. It is the outside of politics. One can never truly know what surprises the world is capable of throwing our way. The surge of populist authoritarian leaders in recent years is one of these.

salamat pnoy 211 excellence photo franciscan missionaries of mary PNoy among the Mangyan Ma. Ceres P. Doyo Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 1, 2021

verybody and his/her cousins are trotting out Evignettes about the recently departed former President Benigno Aquino III to show their, alas, belated and posthumous gratitude for his brand of leadership and accomplishments. Many of these were set on the world stage and amid critical defining moments. Here, let me bring out a little- known presidential moment in the lives of the marginalized. Something groundbreaking and historic happened on Dec. 15, 2010. But there was no

salamat pnoy 212 excellence mention of it in the national media. No news stories, no photos, no TV coverage. I did write about it much later. For the community of Hanunuo, Gubatnon and Ratagnon (Hagura) Mangyan of Occidental Mindoro, it was a day they will never forget. PNoy flew to Magsaysay town to make the day very special. The Mangyan awaited his coming with bated breath and the sight of the descending helicopter with the President on board added to the excitement. PNoy was going to award the certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT) which the Mangyan and their supporters, particularly the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM), had awaited for the last 15 years. The long and arduous struggle began in 1995 and many living Mangyan elders did not think they would live to see the day. Many of the elders who had presented proofs of their ancestral domain claim had either died or were sickly. Hagura is the organization to which three Mangyan tribes belong. It covers 14 sitios in Magsaysay and three in San Jose. It was set up in 1995 to consolidate efforts to acquire legal rights and develop the ancestral domain of the three tribes. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples processed the claims while the FMMs assisted in the surveys and explained the salamat pnoy 213 excellence Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act to the Mangyan. The nuns climbed mountains, crossed rivers, slept in the open, ate what the Mangyan ate and, most of all, listened to the people’s sentiments. When the Mangyan learned that the CADT would at last be awarded to them, they made a request that would be rebuffed again and again: for the President to come and hand over to them the CADT and for him to behold the joy on their faces. Well, as the cosmists would say, when you desire something good so intensely, the universe will conspire to make it happen. An FMM, Sr. Cho Borromeo, had saved the phone number of then presidential candidate Noynoy in her cell phone’s contacts. (Sr. Cho and I became close friends while spending months together and experiencing Asian spirituality in India many years ago. She gives spiritual retreats around the world. Her heart belongs to the forlorn and forgotten.) Upon learning from her fellow nuns that the Mangyan had been rebuffed, Sr. Cho called the number that she had saved. It was suntok sa buwan. No answer. Again and again she called. Then someone answered the phone. “Is this the President?” she asked. “Yes,” the President answered. Sr. Cho shook in her shoes. The President said, yes, he will come, but could the awarding be moved a day later? PNoy flew salamat pnoy 214 excellence by helicopter to Magsaysay town and was met by Mangyan elders wearing G-strings and head gear. Addressing the Mangyan, he said: Sa paggawad natin ng CADT sa grupong Hagura ngayong araw, hindi lamang lupang ninuno ang ibinabalik natin sa kanila. Higit sa lahat, patunay ito sa pagkilala natin sa lahat ng Mangyan bilang mahalagang pangkat ng ating lipunan; makabuluhang bahagi ng ating kultura at kasaysayan. Tulad ninyo, naniniwala rin akong hindi lamang ito isang paggawad. Isa itong pagpupugay sa inyong tapang upang maibalik sa inyo ang lupang ipinagkait sa inyo nang mahabang panahon. Ngayong hawak na muli ninyo ang lupang ipinamana ng inyong mga ninuno, umaasa akong patuloy kayong magiging katuwang ng pamahalaan upang pangalagaan ang kinabukasan ng mga susunod na Mangyan; ng mga sumusunod ring mga Pilipino. (PNoy often delivered speeches in fluent Filipino in his husky baritone, sometimes laced with stinging sarcasm aimed at the corrupt.) A battle had been won, but the Mangyan do not rest easy because of threats to their domain, among them, illegal logging, commercial mining, creeping pasturelands, and fighting between the military and the communist rebels. PNoy admitted in his speech that it was a nun’s persistence that brought him into the midst of the men and women of the great forests. And so it was that PNoy was among the Mangyan on that auspicious December day written in the stars.

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salamat pnoy 216 excellence Mula sa taumbayan, maraming salamat, PNoy! Rappler Editorial, June 28, 2021

his is not to romanticize Noynoy Aquino’s Tdeath. This is to tell it like it is: we did good once upon a time. And we can—no, we must!—do good again. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III died from bad kidneys and a sweet tooth, and from heartbreak—the kind that fractured his soul each morning he woke up to a nation that was soaked in blood, choked with anger, paralyzed by fear. And one that barely remembered him. This is not to romanticize Aquino’s presidency or his death. This is to tell it like it is: in the five years since he left office, Noynoy Aquino suffered what would be worse than a house arrest (like what his two predecessors had gone through).

salamat pnoy 217 excellence The Aquinos’ democratic legacy was sullied by the efficientDuterte-Marcos revisionist machine. His political party was blown to smithereens, further deepening the divide between party moralists and deal-makers. His administration’s ambitious transparency-and-accountability project was buried deep by hungry fiefdoms from the South. And the West Philippine Sea—for which he brought China to court—was left to be swarmed by a fleet of invaders. We should leave the country better than when we found it, was what the late Aquino often told Malacañang staffers who worked for a president who did his own math faster than any of them, and poked into their misplaced footnotes. Well, this country was in a rut when he died. How could he have mitigated this? What did he miss? Where did his leadership do wrong? How could Daang Matuwid be so broken as to be rejected—not once, but twice—by millions of Filipino voters who, tired and weary, embraced the quick fixer, the profane, the killer? Surely these thoughts must have kept him restless since 2016—much more than the pain that gnawed at his stomach? Perhaps these gave

salamat pnoy 218 excellence him little hope and made him wish—despite the will to fight to the end—to not live long enough to see the day when we would lose it all? This is not to romanticize him or his death. This is to tell it like it is: Every leader is burdened with a massive baggage of “what ifs” after they leave office. Yet, Noynoy Aquino would not even be allowed to weigh his own baggage. For in an instant and with bullseye precision, his successor wiped out the institutions he sought to strengthen and the processes that his team tried to fix; imprisoned hisfiercest alter ego and mocked his generation’s—and his family’s— sacrifices for this country’s freedom; flooded the bureaucracy with the sloppy and the mediocre; promoted propaganda and dishonored facts; and unleashed the resources and weapons of the state against his own people. And called him…“gago (idiot).” To the last person who had worked with him, Aquino was far from being gago, both in the nitty- gritty of governance and the major road ahead. On the big things that mattered, he decided against self-interest—dwarfing the many times he was called to task for protecting his bumbling friends. A true-blue Catholic who grew up in a Catholic home and was educated in a Catholic school, he battled his own Church as he steered the passing of the Reproductive Health Law that salamat pnoy 219 excellence upset the backbone of the Aquino family: the Catholic bishops. In moments of reflection that visit only those who truly lead, he questioned his faith, questioned his God, and wrestled with his “problems with the Church,” as recalled by Father Albert Alejo in his eulogy. In another instance, when Aquino was finally convinced that taxing cigarettes and alcohol would benefit the public, he used all his powers to overcome a fierce industry lobby and whip the bastions of vested interest, the House and the Senate, to pass the sin tax law. These landmark moves, among others, “ay hindi kayang isulong ng all-bluster governance,” as put aptly by one of his former speechwriters. This is not to romanticize Aquino’s death or obfuscate his weaknesses. This is to tell it like it is: a president’s basic job is to serve the public by working the hours and making judgment calls given the facts at hand and the political instincts he has honed. Aquino certainly did make bad calls in the six years he was in Malacañang, but we can be sure he made them after crunching the numbers and weighing the scales, a copy of the Constitution at hand—unlike the bang-bang that we suffer every day now. After he died on June 24, 2021, could anyone be blamed for asking how any decent predecessor could have survived the last five years, anyway? salamat pnoy 220 excellence “Bumaligtad ang mundo,” he told Rappler a year after retiring from Malacañang. True. We live our own daily nightmare under this incumbent regime. But we reckon the late president’s nightmare was worse, because, thinking we had long buried the killing state for good (the kind of state that gunned down his father), what he had focused on was to plug the loopholes that corrupted and slowed down the bureaucracy and the economy, to stand up to our real—not imagined—enemies, and to forge peace with those who valued it. The prolonged nightmare must have consumed him up to his last hours, when he was found breathless, slumped in his chair, alone, his food— much like what he set out to do as a president— unfinished. Aquino died a brokenhearted man. In a broken nation. At a broken time. On June 24, 2021, this nation needed reminding. Of what it used to have and what it has lost big time: decency that emanated from a presidential podium, hard work that flowed from the Pasig River, a world view that attracted the young, and power for the greater good—warts and all.

salamat pnoy 221 excellence photo pcoo How did President Aquino stand up against China? Renato Cruz De Castro Philippine Star, July 10, 2021

ilipinos remember the late President Benigno FSimeon Aquino III as an honest, decent, private, and one of the most hardworking and effective Philippine presidents. His leadership style was characterized by subtlety, humility, credibility, and most importantly, respect for human rights and the rule of law. Internationally, the Philippines, under the administration of President Aquino, was seen as the Asia-Pacific David standing up to the Chinese Goliath in the West Philippine Sea. Early on, President Aquino attempted to curry favor from China. In late 2010, the Philippines

salamat pnoy 222 excellence joined a 19-state coalition led by China that did not send any representative to the awarding ceremony in Oslo, Norway for Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Liu Xiaobo. In March 2011, the Aquino administration pleaded with Chinese authorities to grant clemency to three Filipinos sentenced to death for drug-trafficking but were eventually executed. Unfortunately, President Aquino realized too late that appeasing China carried the risk of being singed by an emergent and assertive power. On March 2, 2011, the diplomatic friction evolved into a serious geopolitical conflict when the Chinese embassy outrightly brushed aside the first Philippine diplomatic protest that the Aquino administration fired off immediately after two Chinese patrol boats vexed a survey ship authorized by the Philippine Department of Energy. The Philippine ship was conducting gas exploration in the Recto Bank (Reed Bank) within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Chinese Embassy in Manila argued that China has territorial jurisdiction over the so- called Nansha Islands and the nearby territory, conjointly referred to as the Spratlys. The eye opener: The Scarborough Shoal stand-off The other altercation in the disputed waters, and again within the Philippine EEZ, was the attempt salamat pnoy 223 excellence by the Philippine Navy (PN) to arrest Chinese fishermen who were hauling corals, clams and live sharks in the Scarborough Shoal area. However, the arrest was botched when two Chinese maritime surveillance vessels intervened which sparked a two-month stand-off from April 9 to June 18, 2012, between the PN’s BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the Chinese fishing vessels. Arranged by the US, the stalemate was resolved with China and the Philippines amicably removing their respective vessels in the area. However, betraying the agreement, the Chinese repositioned its maritime militia vessels to cordon the shoal blocking Philippine access to protect their fishing boats within the Philippine EEZ. Challenging the Chinese Goliath In April 2012, the Philippines prompted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to support its proposal of establishing a “Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship, and Cooperation.” This diplomatic action aimed to delineate the maritime boundary claims of littoral states in the South China Sea. However, the South China Sea dispute was not included in the agenda. Dissatisfied with ASEAN’s disappointing response to its modest proposal, the Philippines decided to enhance its security ties with the United salamat pnoy 224 excellence States—the country’s long-time strategic ally— and to foster a security partnership with Japan. In mid-June 2011, the Aquino administration publicly acknowledged the exigency of US diplomatic and military support. Aware of its military limitations, Manila asked for an unequivocal US commitment to Philippine defense, and security as provided for in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, specifically American naval/air support for Philippine forces based in the Spratlys. The Aquino administration also forged closer security relations with Japan, another US ally and China’s rival in East Asia. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe committed to provide 10 patrol boats to enable the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to safeguard the Philippines’ maritime territory. President Aquino then endorsed Prime Minister Abe’s move to reinterpret the 1947 Japanese Constitution allowing the Japanese Self-Defense Force to assist allies like the US and possibly, the Philippines in case of an armed confrontation with China in the South China Sea. The Philippines also challenged China to bring the dispute for arbitration by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China rejected Manila’s plan to resolve the issue before the arbitral tribunal of the UNCLOS insisting that the dispute be settled through diplomacy and bilateral negotiations. salamat pnoy 225 excellence In filing the arbitration case against China, the Philippines sought a multilateral and legal solution to the maritime dispute in which the interests of the international society are at stake. On July 12, 2016, the arbitral tribunal delivered its long-awaited ruling on the protracted and tense maritime dispute between the Philippines and China. Remarkably, the tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in 14 of its 15 claims against China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea. The court declared that China’s so called “nine-dash line” defies and violates international law. President Aquino’s crowning achievement The world will remember President Aquino for his courage in standing up against an Asian Goliath, and for his crowning achievements of obtaining an important legal victory from the arbitral tribunal that rejected China’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea. President Aquino showed the world how courage, confidence, decisive, and principled foreign policy actions can enable international law to prevail over raw power and might in the 21st century global society.

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salamat pnoy 227 excellence The signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014 between the Philippine government, represented by chief negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer (right, front), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, represented by its peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal (left, front), is among the most important achievements of the administration of PNoy (second from right). LYN RILLON • photo official gazette salamat pnoy 228 excellence Noynoy Aquino remembered for legacy of peace in Mindanao Ryan D. Rosauro Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 29, 2021

n Sept. 3, 2009, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III Omet with a handful of civil society leaders and peace advocates in Davao City. Then a senator, he was still thinking about a possible run for the presidency. Patricia Sarenas of the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks remembers how they impressed upon Aquino the peace and development concerns in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro areas. They asked him to promise them that he would be a “President for Mindanao.” “That day, I believe, was when he first realized how important Mindanao is because until then, he seemed to be uninterested [in the issue] and did not feel it,” Sarenas says. Aquino’s reflection tour took him to Cagayan de Oro City on Oct. 29, 2009, with the Balay Mindanaw Peace Center as host. He wrote on a souvenir of the visit: “So long as we hold on to our hopes and continue to fight for other’s interests, reaching the goal of peace is a certainty.”

salamat pnoy 229 excellence Landmark deal Aquino took these words to heart when he was president. His administration concluded a landmark peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), ending four decades of separatist rebellion that had claimed some 120,000 lives and kept a large swathe of Mindanao, especially the Moro region, mired in underdevelopment. “We would not have the Bangsamoro that we have today were it not for him,” former presidential peace adviser Teresita Quintos Deles told ABS-CBN News Channel in an interview about Aquino’s legacy. Under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed on March 27, 2014, the MILF agreed to drop their arms in exchange for, among other things, redoing the Moro autonomy setup by giving it greater governance powers, conceding to it a fixed share in national revenues that it alone would decide on how to spend, and ensuring funding support for rehabilitating war- torn communities and decommissioning some 40,000 armed fighters. Other key provisions of the peace deal were a recognition of Moro identity and acknowledgment of historical injustices through succession of government actions and policies that disfavored and discriminated against the Moro people. salamat pnoy 230 excellence Birth of BARMM The CAB was the basis for enacting the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the charter of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) which became a reality on Jan. 25, 2019, when the law was ratified in a plebiscite. With the BARMM established, 12,000 MILF combatants were decommissioned. In paying tribute to Aquino, BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, who is also MILF chair, cited his administration’s “efforts in revitalizing the peace talks” and “in laying the groundwork for lasting peace in Mindanao.” Aquino inherited a peace process with the MILF “in shambles,” according to Deles, citing the botched signing of the landmark but controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did not stand up for in 2008. There was a “very high distrust and disappointment” and also “escalated violence” even as the process had already gone on for 13 years by 2010, Deles recalls. “He took positions, he took risks. He understood what the problems were. He understood that this [peacemaking] was a historical obligation,” she says. salamat pnoy 231 excellence But by the time Aquino took power, Deles says he already had a broad blueprint in hand from a policy brief on the peace process and security sector reform she was asked to prepare. He understood that the Moro insurgency was “a problem that was festering and holding back Philippine progress,” says Deles, but his administration made sure that the process built on the gains of the 1996 peace pact between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front. Japan meeting Talks with the MILF under Aquino began in February 2011, and he knew about every meeting of the peace panels. But when the negotiators “could not find a way out,” Deles says Aquino thought that he “should talk to them so [they] can understand where each one is coming from.” This led to the Aug. 4, 2011, meeting between the president and Ebrahim in Narita, Japan. It was a watershed event for the peace talks which, according to the MILF leader, highlighted the sincerity of the Aquino administration in forging peace with his group. In another tribute to the former president, Miriam Coronel Ferrer, a professor at the University of the Philippines who served as the government’s chief negotiator with the MILF, wrote on social media that Aquino “understood

salamat pnoy 232 excellence what had to be achieved to bring peace to Mindanao.” “He brought over the entire government to this goal. He exacted due diligence from all of us, the same rigor he imposed upon himself for any policy decision he had to make,” Ferrer said. “He knew the need to get all around support, telling us to address all the unknowns that create all sorts of fears around the Bangsamoro question. He wanted a just and honest deal. His injunctions: commit to what we can implement, implement what we commit; learn from the lessons of the past,” she said. On Thursday, the interim Bangsamoro parliament passed a resolution honoring Aquino, lauding his legacy of empowering the Moro people. Bangsamoro resolution “The Bangsamoro peace process had its major breakthrough because of his commitment to find a solution to the war in Mindanao. The peace agreement with the MILF was signed while he was the President, and all the gains following it were because of his hard work to make it happen,” the resolution read. One of the most enduring peacemaking images of Aquino is when he announced the forging of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) on Oct. 7, 2012, with his full Cabinet in tow. salamat pnoy 233 excellence The FAB, which now Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen negotiated for the government, served as the architecture of the eventual peace deal. When the document was signed on Oct. 15, 2012, Aquino remarked: “I understand the temptations that can be borne of anger. I myself lost my father to an oppressive system; I myself thirsted for justice and was deprived of it then by the dictatorship. I empathize with our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters, and can only vow to work as hard as I can to see that the culture of impunity is dismantled, and that the foundations of righteousness and cooperation are laid. We will give our people what is truly due them: a chance to direct their lives toward advancement in a democratic, peaceful and safe society.” To this day, Sarenas considers the 2009 Davao meeting “auspicious.” “That day, we believed that he would be president for (my granddaughter) Kyra and all the children born in Mindanao who claim that Mindanao is the land of their birth!”

salamat pnoy 234 excellence photos pcoo

salamat pnoy 235 excellence After he celebrated PNoy’s 9th day memorial mass on July 3, 2021, Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma stops beside a tarpaulin with the photo of PNoy outside the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City photo mindanews/froilan gallardo

salamat pnoy 236 excellence Ave atque vale, President Noynoy Archbishop-Emeritus Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ Mindanews, 4 July 2021

hen Typhoon Sendong struck Cagayan Wde Oro in December 2011, among the first to come and offer aid was the sister of President Aquino, Viel, with a companion from Assisi Development Foundation. Then, Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, Dinky Soliman, also visited the city to help oversee relief operations. These acts represented the extension of President Aquino’s concern for calamity victims. But then a series of other calamities struck the Philippines: Typhoon Pablo in November 2012 that swept across southern Mindanao; the man-made crisis of the Zamboanga siege in September 2013; the Bohol earthquake that demolished six heritage churches in October 2013; Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013 that devastated Tacloban and much of the Visayas; and another man-made disaster of the Mamasapano deaths of 44 special police officers in January 2015 ( just a week after the papal visit). All these natural and man-made calamities happened during the presidential term of Benigno

salamat pnoy 237 excellence “Noynoy” Aquino in 2010-2016. Looking back, one would think that these “acts of God” and men were enough to rock and de-stabilize the ship of state under the helm of Aquino. But over the past few days since his passing away, many voices have been raised by careful observers praising the steady course of daang matuwid charted by Pinoy throughout his presidency. What were some of these accomplishments? At the funeral Mass at the Gesu Church of the Ateneo de Manila University, his alma mater, Bro. Armin Luistro dubbed Noynoy as the “education President.” As his Secretary of Education, Bro. Luistro himself knew the facts. During Noynoy’s six-year term, 185,000 classrooms were built, or an average of 84 classrooms every day; this wiped away the backlog of 66,800 classrooms. Furthermore, 174,000 new teachers were hired; of the 805,000 public school teachers today, one out of five was hired during Aquino’s time. The budget for public education rose from P175 billion in 2010 to P364 billion in 2014, What was more challenging was the implementation of the K-to-12 curriculum, adding two more years of senior high school for every student to make the Philippines competitive with the rest of the world. Where many previous administrations feared to tread, President Pinoy showed the political will to accomplish this. This salamat pnoy 238 excellence same courage and determination he showed in the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Bill, despite vocal opposition from many church groups. Another social measure that President Aquino espoused was the expansion of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) that was started by his predecessor (and former Economics teacher at the Ateneo, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo). Under the guidance of DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, the CCT or 4 P’s (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) was to reach out to 7.7 million of the poorest families, The World Bank cited the 4 P’s as one of the best run programs in the world. On the political front, President Noynoy’s stand for good governance was tested by the Napoles scandal involving millions of pork barrel funds being skimmed off ghost projects. In the process, three sitting senators were put in jail: Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Bong Revilla. Perhaps, one of the longest-lasting legacies of Aquino was the pursuit of the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), ratified in the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in March 2014 in Malacanang. Unfortunately, with the Mamasapano incident, the passage of the salamat pnoy 239 excellence Bangsamoro Organic Law had to await five more years, and with this the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during the time of President Duterte in February 2019. Aquino’s administration also failed to follow up on peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. On the international front, the Aquino Administration can be credited for the landmark decision of the International Arbitration Court in The Hague recognizing the Philippines’ sovereignty over its offshore islands, contradicting the claims of China. This is the crucial bargaining chip of the Philippines in its diplomatic battle with a giant neighbor. Perhaps, President Aquino’s most solid accomplishments were in the steady growth of the macro-economy that turned around the Philippines from being the “sick man of Asia.” Economists like Gerardo Sicat point out that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by an average of 6.5 percent from 2010 to 2015, rivaling and sometimes even surpassing China’s growth rate. The main drivers of growth were OFW remittances and earnings from the expanding BPO industries. Boo Chanco points out: In the Economic Freedom Index of 2010, the Philippines moved salamat pnoy 240 excellence up to 70th place from 115th; in the Global Competitiveness Index, we moved up to 47th from 85th; and in the Global Enabling Trade Index of the World Economic Forum, we moved to 64th from 92nd. Economist Cielito Habito in his column points out the legacy of “inclusive growth” in “Aquinomics” through game-changing legislative reforms like the Philippine Competition Act and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. He initiated the Manufacturing Resurgence Program in 2013 to revive the manufacturing sector. He tripled the budget for education, health care and social welfare. Carlos Dominguez, President Duterte’s Secretary of Finance, credits Aquino for the reforms put in place such as the “Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act” (TINTA) and the “Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises” (CREATE). Much of the infrastructure that the present administration is taking credit for was actually started by Aquino, like the Mactan International Airport. The Philippine Daily Inquirer summarized Aquino’s achievement in its editorial: “At the end of his presidency in 2016, Aquino left the country a stable, thriving economy, ‘the fastest among 11 Asian economies during the year’s first three months’.” In his three decades of giving economic briefings, Habito observed that “no other salamat pnoy 241 excellence Philippine president in recent memory matched the positive economic advances achieved under PNoy’s six-year leadership.” As we bid farewell to President Aquino, how do we assess the legacy he has left behind? “Mission accomplished” was the message of his four sisters; despite their bereavement, they could be proud of their brother carrying on the legacy of his parents, Ninoy and Cory Aquino. But for us, does it mean, as Archbishop Soc Villegas remarked, that the half-mast also signifies the half-mast of a dying democracy in our country? I would venture to summarize PNoy’s character in three words: Honesty (“daang matuwid”); Humility (“walang wangwang”); and Hard Work (“kayo ang aking boss”). His Finance Secretary, Cesar Purisima, points out that “his principled leadership consistently put people over politics, prudence over populism.” In this same vein, columnist Randy David mentions the hope that the nation’s soul-searching over the sudden death of another Aquino may fuel the drive for the “return of decency, dignity and diligence in government.” In his homily alluding to the bare urn containing the mortal remains of President Noynoy, Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, simply states that it is “the wake of a new political era.”

salamat pnoy 242 excellence illustration rappler

PNoy’s legacy: We were no longer the ‘sick man of Asia’ JC Punongbayan Rappler, June 30, 2021

‘Lamentably, many of the gains of PNoy’s administration— from economic growth to unemployment and foreign direct investments—have been reversed by the current one’

Noy was right all along: good governance is Pgood economics.

salamat pnoy 243 excellence There are many ways to remember the legacy of former President Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, who suddenly, shockingly died last Friday, June 24 at age 61. He bravely brought China to court and won. He made significant progress in theMindanao peace process and the transition to Bangsamoro. He led under a distinctive anti-corruption banner that renewed many people’s confidence in government. But in this piece I want to revisit what I consider to be his biggest legacy: revitalizing the Philippine economy and putting it back on track. I’d be the first to admit not everything was perfect. Joblessness and poverty declined slowly, and inequality hardly budged. But PNoy’s leadership inspired confidence in our economy like never before, paving the way for huge waves of spending and investment and growth. I even daresay our economy peaked during PNoy’s time. You don’t have to take my word for it: the numbers speak for themselves. Growth accelerated First and foremost, the Philippine economy flourished during PNoy’s time. Figure 1 shows that the country’s total output, measured by gross domestic product or GDP, grew by an average pace of 6.2% yearly from 2010

salamat pnoy 244 excellence to 2015. That’s the highest average GDP growth rate among the presidents since the 1950s. Although average growth continued to rise in the early years of Duterte, this is chiefly due to the high growth during Aquino’s final years in office— economic “momentum,” if you will. At one point, in the last quarter of 2012, growth even reached a whopping 7.8%—a record still not beaten to this day. More remarkably, yearly growth never fell below 6% for five consecutive years starting 2012—a feat no previous administration since the 1950s was able to achieve. Because of all this, PNoy laid the foundation for the Philippines’ first ever post-war “growth acceleration,” based on criteria set by economists in a 2005 paper. Figure 2 ECONOMIC GROWTH

salamat pnoy 245 excellence People like to diss growth as merely academic, something hardly felt by ordinary people. But high, sustained growth during PNoy’s time was significant in three ways: First, such growth created more opportunities for people to get jobs and earn higher incomes, and for businesses to expand their operations and thrive. Second, on the international stage, more and more people became convinced that we were no longer the “sick man of Asia.” As early as 2012, we were ranked among the world’s “breakout nations.” We’ve come a long way from the economic nadir during martial law. Third, the drivers of growth also shifted dramatically—a fact not many people may have noticed or appreciated. Apart from private consumption by households, investments also thrived—think new machinery, equipment, and construction projects which are crucial for future growth (Fig. 2). At the same time, among the various sectors, manufacturing and services propelled growth like never before (Fig. 3). The business process outsourcing (BPO) sector stood out: over PNoy’s term both its employees and revenues more than doubled.

salamat pnoy 246 excellence Figure 2 industry, services grew

Figure 3 Inflation was low, stable

High growth was accompanied by record low inflation. From an average inflation rate of 9.7% in the 1990s and 5% in the 2000s, PNoy was able to bring inflation all the way down to a little over 1% by 2015 (Fig. 4). Low inflation simply means that prices rose very slowly during PNoy’s time, nearly grinding to a halt. As a result, Filipino households could buy more goods and services with their rising incomes. (Contrast this with the spells of high inflation in 2018 owing to rice shortages and the Train Law, as well as the pork price increases in the middle of the pandemic.)

salamat pnoy 247 excellence Figure 4 Drop in joblessness Joblessness continued its long-run drop during PNoy’s term. From 8% before PNoy took office, the unemployment rate dropped to 6.1% when he stepped down in 2016 (Fig. 5). Conversely, he was able to bring the employment rate to as high as 94.4% in the last quarter of 2015—a record high at the time. Put another way, there were more than five million more people employed when he left office than when he entered it. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate— which comprises people with jobs but want to work more hours or pay—also continued its long- run decline, albeit at a much slower pace than unemployment. Admittedly, gains in the labor sector could’ve been larger: impressive economic growth did not salamat pnoy 248 excellence spur job creation nearly enough. At least, there were no huge spikes of unemployment during PNoy’s term.

Figure 5 Fiscal space expanded PNoy also set the government’s finances in order. His predecessor had planted the seeds of fiscal consolidation with tax reform measures like the Expanded Value-Added Tax Law. But PNoy himself ramped up government revenues with his own policies, like the Sin Tax Reform Law of 2012, which helped expand the Department of Health’s budget fourfold. Said law also passed despite great opposition from the tobacco lobby and other interest groups, and notwithstanding PNoy’s own smoking habit. As a result, government revenues as a share of GDP steadily rose from 13.4% in 2010 to 15.8% in 2015, translating to about a trillion pesos in extra funds. salamat pnoy 249 excellence With more cash in hand, PNoy was able to run smaller and smaller budget deficits, to the point that he pulled off record budget surpluses from 2013 to 2015 (Fig. 6). In effect, government then was earning more than it was spending.

Figure 6 outstanding debt went down Shrinking deficits can be good or bad, depending on how you look at them. But at least they eased pressures on the PNoy administration to borrow. Hence, the country’s outstanding debt went down from about half of GDP in 2010 to a little over 40% in 2016 (Fig. 7). Money intended for repaying past debts was freed up for key programs. To the extent that we still borrowed, we relied less and less on external borrowings and more on domestic borrowings. Increasingly many Filipinos lent money to the government: they had money salamat pnoy 250 excellence to spare (partly due to economic growth) and were confident that government can repay in the future.

Figure 7 Infrastructure spending boomed Significant fiscal legroom allowed PNoy to expand key projects and programs. For instance, his government poured money into long-neglected or long-delayed public works. This is reflected in total infrastructure disbursements as a percent of GDP, which rose by 2.5 times during his term (Fig. 8). At the same time, by pursuing public-private partnerships or PPPs, PNoy also managed to marshal private money to build public works, thus reducing fiscal pressures on the Treasury.

salamat pnoy 251 excellence Figure 8 stock market blossomed I wrote recently that many of the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build projects— such as Skyway Stage 3 and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway—are actually carryovers from PNoy’s time. Of course we all know of the underspending issue that plagued PNoy. The problem was that, despite the availability of more funds, many agencies could not spend fast enough—inducing PNoy to try to hasten disbursements with the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). DAP was eventually struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional, insofar as it allegedly meddled with Congress’ power of the purse. But PNoy learned to accept this decision. To this day, though, chronic underspending continues to afflict government. salamat pnoy 252 excellence Business climate awash with optimism Impressive growth, paired with PNoy’s good governance, boosted confidence in our economy not only among foreigners but also among Filipinos. To begin with, the stock market blossomed during PNoy’s time, reaching record high after record high as measured by the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (Fig. 9).

Figure 9 most credit rating upgrades Numerous credit rating upgrades also happened during PNoy’s time (Fig. 10). In 2013, we earned an “investment grade” rating for the first time ever, thanks to Fitch (from BB+ to BBB-). Credit rating upgrades basically mean that our government was deemed significantly more creditworthy than before PNoy came into office, and

salamat pnoy 253 excellence this has since allowed us to borrow from creditors on easier terms. By former finance secretary Cesar V. Purisima’s count, there were a total of 24 upgrades during PNoy’s time, making us “the world’s most upgraded sovereign back then.” This put enormous pressure on Duterte’s economic managers to achieve credit rating upgrades of their own. But so far, just a year before Duterte steps down from office, they’ve managed just a handful of upgrades.

Figure 10 more foreign direct investments Foreigners, too, were buoyed by economic optimism, and their direct investments in the country grew by nearly eightfold during PNoy’s time (Fig. 11). Since then, however, FDI inflows have languished. salamat pnoy 254 excellence Foreign direct investments flocked into the country

Figure 11 much improved global rankings Finally, the Philippines also improved markedly in various global rankings—be it in competitiveness, ease of doing business, economic freedom, or corruption perception.

salamat pnoy 255 excellence Figure 12 hunger abated In short, a virtuous cycle was at play: economic confidence led to growth, which led to more confidence and more growth, and so on and so forth. Hunger, poverty dropped Stellar growth benefited the poor and marginalized, too, as shown by the declines in hunger and poverty. Before PNoy’s time, the hunger rate rose steadily, reaching about a fifth of households. But this almost halved by late 2015 (Fig. 13).

Figure 13 a drop in poverty As for poverty, more than a fourth of Filipinos were poor in 2009. PNoy was able to bring this down to a fifth by 2015 (Fig. 14). In 2016, they

salamat pnoy 256 excellence reported that 7.7 million people have been lifted out of poverty since 2010. The proportion of poor people went further down to about a sixth in 2018, but that was arguably driven by the growth momentum during PNoy’s time. Indeed, such a poverty drop could’ve been larger had it not been for the anti-poor policies of the Duterte administration.

Figure 14 4ps coverage swelled Admittedly, the drops in hunger and poverty could’ve been larger given the impressive economic growth during PNoy’s term. But besides short-run poverty PNoy was also concerned with long-run poverty, specifically the transmission of it across generations. In this vein, PNoy poured significant sums into the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Under his watch the number of 4Ps beneficiaries

salamat pnoy 257 excellence grew by more than fourfold (Fig. 15). Despite implementation issues and lower coverage of the poor of late, 4Ps has demonstrably improved the welfare of poor children.

Figure 15 Landmark reforms pushed through Besides impressive economic outcomes, PNoy’s achievements are also evident in the landmark reforms he managed to pull off. In 2012, PNoy signed the Reproductive Health Law after it languished in the legislative mill for more than a decade, and amid strong opposition from the Catholic Church which supported PNoy’s mother and his own rise to power. In 2013, PNoy signed the K-12 Law which, among other things, added two years in the basic education system—all in an effort to align salamat pnoy 258 excellence ourselves with other countries’ standards and deepen our investments in human capital. Also in 2013, PNoy through the Department of Budget and Management implemented Bottom- Up Budgeting, which sought to empower civil society to participate in the budget process and mitigate local patronage politics. In 2015, PNoy signed the Philippine Competition Act which, for the first time, significantly empowered government to keep a level playing field across various sectors. The jury is still out on how effective these and many other reform measures have been. Some even continue to be lambasted to this day. But far better to see unpopular measures motivated by sound policy goals than popular measures that undermine our democratic institutions or even kill people. Good governance is good economics It’s quite amazing, really, how much PNoy was able to turn around the Philippines from a veritable “sick man of Asia” to a “breakout nation,” Asia’s next “tiger economy,” and the “Darling of Asia” in his short six years in office. Sure, there were problems in terms of the inclusiveness of growth ( joblessness and poverty didn’t drop fast enough). But don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. No one can deny that PNoy successfully put the economy on a new, salamat pnoy 259 excellence exciting trajectory—one that gave us real hope that we might become a rich (or at least upper-middle income) country sooner than we all expected. Lamentably, many of the gains of PNoy’s administration—from economic growth to unemployment and foreign direct investments— have been reversed by the current one. At present, we’re living in the country’s worst recession since records began after World War II. And it’s not all because of the pandemic. In 2015, during his final State of the Nation Address, PNoy had already worried about the continuation of his government’s legacy. He wondered whether the “transformation” under his watch was permanent or “simply a brief and lucky deviation from a long history of failure.” He posed this question in Filipino: “Will we lose all that we have built—all that we have worked hard for—in one election?” Fast-forward to 2021, our answer to PNoy is: not all of your economic legacy was lost, but, unfortunately, a sizable part of it was. Beyond glowing economic statistics, perhaps PNoy’s true, more lasting legacy is that he proved to Filipinos that—as he and his Cabinet officials would often say then—“good governance is good economics.” May this mantra guide us all as we choose the next set of leaders in 2022 and beyond. salamat pnoy 260 excellence PNoy taking a break during the filming of his EDSA Revolution anniversary message on February 24, 2012, at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang photo pcoo salamat pnoy 261 excellence acknowledgments Bam Aquino, Kaya Natin Foundation Jeremy Barns, National Museum of the Philippines Miguel Belmonte, The Philippine Star Howard M Calleja, iSambayan Ryan Cayabyab Noel Cabangon Ruel de Vera, Philippine Daily Inquirer Regina Sy Co Seteng Bituin Escalante Boboy Garrovillo Glenda Gloria, Rappler Ana Labrador, National Museum of the Philippines Celeste Legaspi, Culturtain Musical Production, Inc. Michelle Loise C. Saquido Marcial Tammy Mendoza, The Philippine Star Jim Paredes Katrina Camille V. Peña Joanne Rae Ramirez, PeopleAsia Magazine/The Philippine Star Wilfredo Reyes, Business World Thelma San Juan, TheDiarist.ph ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra Ateneo Chamber Singers Photo credits Official Gazette • gov.ph • Malacañang Photo Bureau Radio Television Malacañang • Philippine News Agency Presidential Communications and Operations Office Ateneo de Manila University • Aaron Vicencio Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Benhur Arcayan • Froilan Gallardo • Gil Nartea Ding Navasero • Joseph Vidal

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This first volume of Salamat Pnoy compiles testimonies from all around the world and from people from all walks of life, hailing the accomplishments of PNoy, and how these impacted the lives of the most vulnerable Filipinos. The book’s publisher is the Alliance of Women for Action 1Towards Reform (AWARE), founded in 1983 after Senator Ninoy Aquino’s assassination. Narzalina Lim, one of AWARE’s founding members, shares that they aim to ensure that the legacy of PNoy’s presidency is documented and preserved. “It is a gift to future generations of Filipinos, especially the young generation, who we hope will be inspired by and learn from the good governance practices of the PNoy administration,” Lim said. Salamat PNoy Volume 2 will be launched in October 2021 and contains personal memories from family, close friends, household staff, speechwriters, and close-in staff of PNoy. salamat pnbit.ly/salamatpnoyoy 264 god's servant