A man of honor
Personal stories and previously unpublished accounts of people who knew President Noynoy Aquino have been coming out since he died four days ago on June 24. Most of these are stories that show President Noynoy’s positive traits and virtues. There are a few who try to downplay his achievements and insist on painting a damaging picture of the former president, but these are insignificant amid the tribute and praise. About five years after his presidential term ended, many of us are hearing these heartwarming stories only now. It makes us look back to the past with pride and appreciation for the many things he did for the country, which were not publicized and many people did not know about.
That is a breath of fresh air because we are used to propaganda among many of our politicians. We are used to politicians who bicker and fight with critics and use their influence and power to put “enemies” in their place. President Noynoy Aquino, the perfect gentleman that he was, did not resort to
such cheap tactics. His presidency was dignified; his leadership was grounded on integrity. He was compassionate, practical, and respectable. He left his post with his head held high, satisfied about his accomplishments. More than anything, he knew that he did his best to serve rightly, and that was enough.
He gave us the service that we Filipinos deserved. It was a presidency that we will remember with fondness and gratitude for a very long time. The 15th president of the Philippines, Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, will go down in history as a just and able leader. We can only be grateful to you, President Noynoy. Farewell, dear sir. May your soul rest in God’s peace.
During his presidency, he strengthened the Philippines’s social service programs and led the country towards economic success. He reformed the country’s education system by shifting to K-12 education; built classrooms, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure; defended the country against China; stood up against and pushed for the investigation of former leaders Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-arroyo, and Juan Ponce Enrile; solved the country’s power crisis; and broke up monopolies in various industries, including the telecommunications industry. To be sure, these are just some of the highlights of the former president’s great achievements. The list is very long.
President Noynoy started with a call to end corruption: Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap. He put a stop to under-the-table deals and public officials’ use of wangwang, sending the message that public servants don’t get to enjoy privileges. To my mind, he did his best to protect the legacy of the Aquino family name and to become the leader that his famous parents Ninoy Aquino and former President Cory Aquino would be very proud of.
He gave us the service that we Filipinos deserved. It was a presidency that we will remember with fondness and gratitude for a very long time. The 15th president of the Philippines, Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, will go down in history as a just and able leader. We can only be grateful to you, President Noynoy. Farewell, dear sir. May your soul rest in God’s peace.