Noy signs condolence book for Mandela

President Aquino signed the condolence book for former South African President Nelson Mandela at the South African embassy in Makati City yesterday.

“May your life truly well-lived continue to shine as the exemplar for all who strive to make this a better world,” he wrote in the condolence book.

South African Ambassador Agnes NyamandePitso welcomed the President, who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

The South African embassy also held a remembrance ceremony at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at the RCBC Plaza in Makati City and made available a book of condolence for the public starting yesterday until Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The President earlier joined world leaders in expressing their grief over the death of Mandela, who credited his late mother, former President Corazon Aquino, for the restoration of democracy in the country.

“My mother admired him; like all of us, she would have been deeply saddened by his passing,” he said in an official statement.

He recalled his encounter with the anti-apartheid icon when the latter visited Manila when he was still a congressman.

“I recall with gratitude and humility the kind words he told me during his visit to the Philippines... He told me then: ‘You chose your parents well’,” he said.

The Nobel laureate died at the age of 95 on Dec. 5. A state funeral will be held in South Africa on Dec. 15.

Mandela was South Africa’s leader from 1994 to 1999, and was the first black South African to hold the office.

He negotiated an end to white minority rule in South Africa after spending 27 years in prison.

“On behalf of the entire Filipino people, I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Mandela, the people of South Africa, and all men and women of peace and goodwill who mourn the passing of a truly great man,” Aquino said.

The Philippines and South Africa established diplomatic relations in November 1993 and the Philippines opened an embassy in Pretoria in June 1994 shortly after Mandela’s inauguration.

Mandela was conferred an honorary doctorate degree by the University of the Philippines during his visit here in 1997.