Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, the eldest sister of the late President Benigno Aquino III, on Saturday, June 26 became emotional in her message for her brother, saying that the former Chief Executive was the one who fulfilled their parents’ unfinished business.
“Si Noy ay pinili ng ating mahal na Ama na mauna sa aming lahat na makapiling muli ang aming mga magulang kasi siya ang nagpatuloy ng kanilang mga hindi natapos (Noy is chosen by our Father to go before all of us to be with our parents because he was the one who continued what they didn’t finish),” she said after the funeral mass for the former President at the Church of the Gesu in Ateneo de Manila University.
“To the man we are so blessed to be our brother, habang buhay ka namin ipagmamalaki, pasasalamatan, hahanap-hanapin at mamahalin (we will forever be proud of you, thankful to you, long for you, and love you),” Aquino-Cruz added.
She said her brother did not want to be a burden and hated seeing them worry and lose sleep because of him.
“Tinupad niya ‘yung pangako niya sa aming ama noong siya ay nakakakulong sa Laur, Nueva Ecija na aalagaaan niya ang aming ina at kaming apat na tawag nga ng karamihan—mga witches (He made true to his promise to our father when he was incarcerated in Laur, Nueva Ecija that he will take care of our mother and the four of us—who many call—are witches),” she shared.
“Ngayon, nabutas na iyong aming pagsasamahan. Nawala na iyong gitna. Hindi na ulit kami magiging kumpleto (Now, our family has a hole. The middle is gone. We will never be complete again),” Aquino-Cruz told an audience that included Vice President Leni Robredo and opposition Senators Franklin Drilon and Risa Hontiveros, Aquino’s partymates.
The late former President is the third out of the five children of democracy icons, former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino and former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
Aquino died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, June 24, because of renal failure secondary to diabetes. He was 61.
READ: Former President Aquino passes away at 61
As a bachelor, he left behind his four sisters—Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, and Kris.
Aquino-Cruz said nobody is ever prepared to lose someone, but that “God gave us a little over a year and we were able to say our goodbyes.”
Aquino allegedly fell sick in mid-2019 and received dialysis treatment throughout the past year, as well as underwent heart surgery in May.
His sister wished that similar to the time when Aquino told them that he will run as president, he was at peace.
“Napag-isipan mo na lahat. Nadasalan mo na (You have thought about everything. You prayed for it),” she said.
Aquino-Cruz recalled promising their mother when she fell sick that all she can promise was to ensure that they will always be there for each other.
READ: Aquino sisters: 'Mission accomplished Noy, be happy now with Dad and Mom'
“Sinuwerte kami na naging mga anak kami ni Ninoy at Cory. Pero gusto naming magpasalamat sa mga nagmahal kay Noy kahit hindi n'yo siya kamag-anak o kadugo (We were lucky to be the children of Ninoy and Cory. But we want to thank everyone who loved Noy even if he was not your relative or family),” Aquino-Cruz said.
A funeral mass was held at the Gesu Church in Ateneo at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The mass was attended by Aquino’s former Cabinet officials, Liberal Party partymates, friends, and family.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas, a friend of the Aquinos, delivered a moving homily, remembering the former President as a decent leader.
After the mass, the urn containing Aquino’s ashes was brought to the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Paranaque where he will be laid to rest beside his parents.