President Benigno “Nonoy” Aquino III made his final commencement address as the leader of the nation at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) in Quezon City on June 25, 2016.
Exactly five years later, the Ateneo community welcomed home Aquino as the university hosted a one-day public viewing of the late president’s cremated remains on Friday, June 25.
“On this day, exactly five years ago, Noynoy came home to Ateneo for his final public address as the leader of our nation, calling on the youth to serve our beloved country,” the university said in its Facebook page.
“Today, he comes home to Ateneo for one final time, surrounded by loved ones and by the people whom he called his ‘boss,’” it added.
A scion of the democracy icons in the Philippines, Noynoy, as he was fondly called by many, died on Thursday, June 24, “due to renal disease secondary to diabetes,” according to the statement released by the Aquino family.
2016 commencement speech
Even half a decade has already passed, Aquino’s words during his 2016 commencement speech are still relevant, especially in this time of an ongoing global pandemic where over a million Filipinos have been affected so far.
In his speech that lasted for 19 minutes, Aquino told Ateneo graduates to care for others and be “men and women for others” as they go along their journey outside the walls of Ateneo.
“Nawa’y humayo kayo at maging ‘Lux in Domino,’ taas-noo kayong maging Men and Women for others, at maging mga exemplar ng sigasig, malasakit, at integridad sa mahaba ninyong paglalakbay ‘down from the hill’ (May you go forth and be ‘Lux in Domino,’ be proud to be Men and Women for others, and be exemplars of enthusiasm, devotion, and integrity in your long journey ‘down from the hill),’” he said.
‘Government for others’
Aquino said that his administration was doing its best to become a government for others—a government that cares for the welfare of its people especially for those in the margins of society.
“Malinaw naman sa ating kasaysayan: Walang problemang nalutas dahil sa mga taong walang pakialam (Our history is clear: No problem is solved because of people who don’t care),” he said.
“Ito nga ang dahilan kung bakit namin sinikap na maging government for others. Para sa kahit sinong sisipat nang patas sa ating mga nagawa, malinaw: Itinuon natin ang gobyerno sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan (This is why we try to be a government for others. For anyone who looks fairly at our achievements, it is clear: We have focused the government on the welfare of our countrymen, especially those in the margins of society).”
‘Straight to heaven’
Aquino also recalled his exchange of text messages with former ADMU president Fr. Jose Ramon “Jett” Villarin, who was then the president of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro.
The president remembered that he was apologizing to Villarin after he declined the later’s offer to visit the university due to his tight schedule.
“Napaisip po ako sa sumunod niyang reply. Sabi niya: “Nauunawaan kita. Talagang mahirap iyang napasukan mo. Siguro diretso ka na sa langit (I thought about his next reply. He said: “I understand you. It’s really difficult what you got yourself into. Maybe you're going straight to heaven,” Aquino said which elicited laughter from the audience.
“Sabi ko, baka naman may nalalaman si Fr. Jett na hindi ko alam, bakit naman kaya diretso na sa langit? Tanong ko po, bakit kaya niya nasabi ‘yun? Ang tugon niya: Kasi daw, parang nasa purgatoryo na ako dahil sa pinagdaraanan ko bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas. Ipagdarasal niya raw ako palagi (I said, maybe Fr. Jett know something that I don't know, why is it straight to heaven? I ask, why did he say that? His response: It's because I feel like I'm in purgatory because of what I'm going through as president of the Philippines. He said he would always pray for me).”
When Villarin became the president of Ateneo in 2011, Aquino said he messaged the priest to congratulate him.
“Sabi ko, ‘Pre, congratulations. May kadamay na ako sa purgatoryo. Pero ipapaalala ko lang: Anim na taon lang ang sa akin, yung sa ‘yo puwedeng umabot ng 18 taon. Ipagdarasal rin kita palagi (I said, ‘Pre, congratulations. I now have a companion in purgatory. But let me just remind you: I am only here for six years, yours can be up to 18 years. I will always pray for you, too).”
Ninoy’s death
Noynoy also recalled the death of his father, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., which paved the way for the People Power Movement that led to the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Moments after deplaning at the Manila International Airport in 1983, Ninoy, 50, was assassinated following his return in the country after years of being in exile in the United States.
“Kung tutuusin, kahit papaano ay masuwerte pa rin kami dahil nakita pa namin ang aking ama. Malawakan ang pagyurak sa karapatan noong mga panahong iyon (After all, somehow we were still lucky because we even saw my father. There was widespread abuse of rights in those days),” he said.
Senador ang tatay ko, pero ganoon na ang nangyari sa kanya. Paano pa kaya ang iba. Marami po ang pinaslang. Ang masaklap, hanggang sa ngayon ay hindi na nalaman kung ano ang nangyari (My father was a senator, but that's what happened to him. How else for others. Many were killed. Sadly, until now it has not been known what happened),” he added.
Last days as president
During his remaining days as the nation’s leader, Aquino recalled people asking him what to do after his term ends. He also shared that a president of a federation of businesses once asked him what position he was eyeing in 2019.
“Sa loob-loob ko po, teka, kulang pa ba ang naibigay at pinagdaanan ko nitong nagdaang anim na taon? (In my heart , wait, have I not given and gone through enough for the past six years?),” he said.
“Nagtataka rin ako kung bakit marami ang nagsasabing, ‘We will miss you.’ Kung minsan po ay napipilitan tayong sumagot ng “Sandali lang nandito pa ako, bakit na ninyo ako nami-miss? At pagkatapos po ng termino ko, sa Times po ako titira. Hindi naman ako aalis (I also wonder why so many say, ‘We will miss you.’ Sometimes I am forced to answer ‘Wait a minute, I'm still here, why do you miss me? And after my term, I will live in the Times. I'm not leaving).”
While having dinner at a shopping mall on Fathers’ Day, he also remembered an instance when people suddenly burst into a round of applause when they saw him.
“Napatanong po ako sa sarili: Nagpapalakpakan ba sila dahil sa tuwa sa akin, o masaya silang aalis na ako? (I asked myself: Are they applauding for joy because me, or are they happy that I'm leaving?),” Aquino said.
“Palagay ko po ang tamang sagot: Sa dami ng nagpapicture, malamang naman natuwa naman po sila sa atin (I think the correct answer is: With the number of people taking pictures, they were probably happy with us),” he added.
Lord's beautiful plan for all
Aquino, a Catholic, said he drew his inspiration and strength from the experiences that his parents went through, as well as from the faith that God has a plan for everyone.
“Sa buhay ko po, marami akong hamon na pinagdaanan. At isa sa pinaghuhugutan ko ng inspirasyon ang nangyari sa aking mga magulang (In my life, I have gone through many challenges. And one of the things I draw inspiration from are what happened to my parents),” he said.
“Ano ba naman itong pinagdaanan ko kumpara sa nalampasan nila? Ang pinaghuhugutan ko ng lakas ay ang pananampalataya sa magandang plano ng ating Panginoon para sa atin lahat (What did I go through compared to what they went through? Where I draw me strength from is the faith in our Lord's beautiful plan for all of us),” he added.