Daghang salamat, President Noynoy!

There were family and friends who knew PNoy was not well. With PNoy, they all believed that, in time, his health problems could be treated.

Imagine their disbelief last Thursday, June 24, when they learned about PNoy’s death.

Imagine how much more surprised the rest of the unknowing Filipinos were to learn about PNoy’s death.

Tears and grief followed another Aquino death.

“What a big loss for us, for Pinas!”

“Why are the good gone so soon, Lord?”

After some time and tears, this prayer, “Your will be done, dear God, our loss, heaven’s gain.”

Daghang salamat, President Noynoy! Thank you for your sincere love, dedication, and service for God, our Filipino people and our nation.

Low-key, a very humble person, a reluctant candidate who turned out to be the best president ever, a very hardworking, diligent servant leader who genuinely loved the Filipinos, PNoy joined his father Ninoy and mother Cory as the third Aquino who believed that “Filipinos are worth living for, dying for, fighting for.”

Known for walking his talk, during his leadership, there was no wangwang, no special privilege for him or any other government official out in the streets and traffic. Incorruptible and honest, he led the nation towards his main policy objective; “daang matuwid - walang mahirap kung walang korapsyon.”

VP Robredo remembers Ninoy as always having a copy of the Constitution with him. PNoy did his best to protect democracy and will now be remembered in our history, like his parents, as an icon of democracy.

We mourn the loss of a leader who always insisted on the truth, on reliable and complete data and information to guide decisions and policies during his administration. A big contrast to the present prevailing environment of lies, fake news, and sloppy information and intelligence reports.

An economist by training, he carefully guarded public funds and diligently insisted on budget updates and transparency from all his administration officials. He ran after plunderers and relentlessly worked to lift the country’s economy, to decrease poverty most especially.

He left trillions of public funds saved for our people and our country and 7 million poor assisted when he stepped down after six years as president. He and his team completed and initiated many infrastructure projects, many of which are unfairly, dishonestly, and selfishly claimed as achievements by the present dispensation.

He valiantly, peacefully challenged China and legally defeated this giant in the international stage, gratefully saving and protecting Philippine territory for the Filipino people during his term. The Philippines regained the respect of the global community during his presidency.

Sadly and unfairly, his efforts to leave funds, a legacy of economic/territorial stability, democratic, honest, transparent governance for our people and our country were wiped out so quickly by the greedy and selfish after his term

Sadly and maliciously, even unto his death, PNoy’s political insecure rivals continue to focus on the 44 killed in the Mamasapano tragedy, rather than the thousands of lives lost to EJKs or on the Yolanda blunder instead of the unattended situation of Marawi years beyond the siege.

Every Aquino death, observers note, is followed by political revolution: After Ninoy, People Power, and after Cory, reluctant PNoy’ presidency. After PNoy, will Filipinos be able to dream again of positive change for the country?

With his death, may Filipinos find their way back to PNoy’s daang matuwid and remember what PNoy, who never aspired but became president, selflessly offered; dignity, decency, diligence, honesty, simplicity, humility, and genuine, dedicated service for God, the Filipinos, and this country.