PNoy vows to follow in Cory's footsteps

Former President Corazon Aquino had already charted unknown territories that her son, incumbent President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III, said he only needs to follow—and vows to follow. In a ceremony at Malacañang to commemorate the 78th birth anniversary of the country’s acclaimed icon of democracy, President Aquino acknowledged that his mother became president “without a blueprint" but nevertheless emerged victorious. Affectionately called “Tita Cory" by Filipinos, Mrs. Aquino was catapulted to the presidency following a popular revolt that ousted then President Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986. She succumbed to cancer in August 2009. The public sympathy generated by her death is seen as one big factor that prompted her son to join the presidential race in 2010. “So ‘pag ako po ay hinaharap ng kaliwa’t kanang problema at kaliwa’t kanang kabuwisitan, parati hong bumabalik, nanay ko pumasok sa trabahong ito kumbaga walang blueprint," Noynoy said. (So when I’m assailed left and right by problems and headaches, I always recall that my mother assumed this same task with no blueprint as it were.) President Aquino said his mother succeeded because she listened to the people and respected them. He promised to continue building on the foundation that his mother started. “Mula Martial Law ibinalik ‘yung demokrasya. Paano tayo bumalik sa sistema? Mandato ng taong-bayan ang kailangan para may karapatan mamuno at tumahak sa landas na dapat tahakin," he said. (From martial law, democracy was restored. How were we able to restore the system? The people’s mandate is what we need to gain the right to lead and to pursue the rightful path.) “May narating po ang bansa natin dahil tama po ‘yung pundasyon kaya ho, mga parehong problema meron po naman akong sinusundan na halimbawa, meron po akong sinusundan na paraan ng pamamalakad," he said. (Our country advanced to a certain degree because we had a right foundation. That’s why in tackling similar problems, there are examples I can follow, there are methods of governance I can observe.) “Sa aking palagay, siya ay nag-chart to unknown territory. So susundan ko po ‘yung formula na ‘yon to a large degree—klaro naman po ‘yung pilosopiya at ideolohiya, pareho po kami," Aquino said. (In my view, she had charted unknown territory. So I will follow that forula to a large degree—it’s clear that she and I have the same philosophy and ideology.) The President admitted that there were days when he missed his parents. “There are days I would miss one more than the other. Minsan talaga ay medyo sad kaya (There are really moments of sadness, so] when I go to Times [street in Quezon City] I avoid the areas associated with them, the kitchen in particular," he said. Aquino added that he has not been to his mother’s bedroom since the last time that he and his sisters tried to put her things in order. Tribute to Cory The President said he was glad that a ceremony was held in tribute to his mother. During the ceremony, aired over state-run television station NBN 4, former Cabinet members and other top officials of Mrs. Aquino were given opportunity to share their memories of her. Among those who give shared their stories were:

• former spokesperson Deedee Siytangco,
• former environment secretary Fulgencio Factoran,
• Socio-economic and Planning secretary Cayetano Paderanga,
• Manila International Airport general manager Angel Honrado,
• former Presidential Management Staff head Efren Cfruz,
• Transportation and Communications secretary Jose de Jesus,
• Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin,
• Philippine Charity Sweepstakes chairperson Margie Juico, and
• Senator Franklin Drilon.

Mr. Aquino thanked her mother’s former officials, some of whom are also part of his administration, for “all the help that you gave and extended to my mother and all the hardships that you had to undergo." “[This ceremony] reinforces my belief that … we can really transform the country. She did it because there were people like you who helped her and you gave your all," he told her mother’s officials. Earlier in the day, President Aquino and his siblings attended a private mass in Quezon City, which was closed to media coverage. The Aquinos had lunch after the mass.—JV, GMANews.TV