What drives P-Noy?

The last three years were not easy for President Benigno S. Aquino III. His presidency has had to surmount natural and man-made catastrophes of historic proportions, from typhoon Yolanda to Superstorm Janet (Napoles).

So on bad days when, just like any human being, he would rather just chill, what gives him the strength to get up and get going?

“I have a mantra,” he said at last Tuesday’s Bulong Pulungan at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, where he was given the “Man of Steel” award by the forum’s core group.

 â€œPag iyong talagang ayaw mo nang bumangon, lalo na bago ipasok iyong diyaryo na naghahanap ka ng good news, ang mantra namin ay, ‘Para sa bayan (For the country)’.”

The President stressed that his responsibility to the Filipino people is his tonic.

“At the end of the day, all these is for the country and the country has faces. There are people who are directly affected by our acts and by our omissions.”

He said if he shirks from the challenges of the job and the slings and arrows that come with it, “Parang, papatalo ka, ‘di ba, (parang) pinabayaan mo iyong bayan.”

“Bottom line, everything we do affects so many people, and there is no time like the present,” he added.

P-Noy said his presidency would be measured by several new infrastructure and by the new “can-do” attitude of the Filipino people.

The other “exemplars” honored at the forum were Gawad Kalinga led by founder and chairman Tony Meloto, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo, Commission on Audit chief Grace Pulido-Tan, Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Ombudsman Chita Morales, Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Kim Henares, GSIS president Bernie Vergara and PAGCOR chairman Bong Naguiat.

Asked by Jullie Yap Daza what would be his most concrete (literally) legacy when he steps down in 2016, the President said, “NAIA Terminal I, I think, will be finished — the refurbishing  — by that time.”

 â€œHopefully, NLEX and SLEX, the connector will also be up and running by that time, and the TPLEX. More importantly is the airports will be substantially finished — airports, plural — Panglao, Mactan, and so many others. And also at least the start of the light rail systems.”

 Aside from these concrete and measurable accomplishments, the President said his other major legacy would be the transformation of the mindset of the Filipino people.

“More importantly, is, I really want an expression — to see the expression on the faces of our people the ‘can-do’ attitude, that nothing is beyond our grasp and our reach. That is what I am hoping to see, hopefully, not just the day before I leave, but more importantly after I leave, that it continues and becomes stronger,” he stressed.

He said his best day in 2013 was the day he returned to Bohol about a month after the killer quake struck. He saw resolve, not defeat in the people’s eyes.

“I think that tells us really of the resilience of our people, but more importantly, the seeming wellspring, or bottomless wellspring of hope, and more importantly, that acting on that hope — to really improve their lot in life.”

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Asked by Chay Santiago if he could turn back the hands of time, given all the burdens of presidency, would he still have run for the post?

Noynoy Aquino harked back to what his late parents, martyred opposition leader Sen. Ninoy Aquino and former President Cory Aquino, always used to say: “That, if they could have done something (for the country) and they chose not to, then they would not have been able to live with themselves.”

President Aquino looked confident and relaxed — grateful even — during the forum, which was a Christmas party.

As writer Chay told P-Noy, “You did not plan to be President, but now I see you as very much more comfortable with the position.”

Indeed, he was — is — comfortable even on the hot seat. He rewrote his prepared speech before the forum and said its main theme was, “Thank you.”

 Sandee Masigan asked the President what makes his work all worthwhile, even when it is usually a case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” (The President said he prays for his critics in media, and stressed he was not joking.)

 There are moments, he replied, that really warm his heart. “Again, I go back to the most recent example, Bohol. If they were looking for someone to blame, since I am the Chief Executive, they would put the blame on me. But I didn’t feel that in Bohol.”

“I guess, at the end of the day, I am confident because I rely on our people and the people will always be true to me.”

 In fact, the President told Thelma San Juan that he would not really be saddened if his approval ratings decline in the aftermath of Yolanda.

“You know, at the end of the day, the only criteria I have is: Did I do right? And sometimes the right decision may be unpopular. Sometimes, conversely, the wrong decision is immensely popular.

 â€œBut I really have to stick with doing what I believe is right. So our people, I believe, are fair judges. They have been a constant source of support all throughout, even when we had nothing…”

The President expressed optimism that if his ratings indeed decline, they would, “rebound.”

“I expect that the numbers will rebound, in case they do go down, but that is not the important thing. The important thing is: Will our people see me as doing that which is right? And that is what is important to me.”

Deedee Siytangco, Bulong Pulungan founder and its prime mover for past 27 years now, closed the free-wheeling open forum with a simple question: What is the President’s Christmas wish?

 P-Noy said he wished for peace, and a respite from calamities.

“Siguro lalo na ngayon, ‘di ba, parang kapayapaan talaga? Sana matapos na iyong libro ng problema natin itong taon na ito… So the wish really centers on, hopefully, there are no more challenges of this magnitude this coming year.”

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