On his first death anniversary, former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III was remembered by his loved ones as a competent leader who "gave his all without fanfare."
On Friday, a mass officiated by Ateneo President Fr. Bobby Yap was held at the Church of Gesu inside Ateneo de Manila University's campus in Quezon City.
Aquino succumbed to renal failure as a result of diabetes on June 24, 2021, nearly 5 years after he stepped down as the 15th President of the Philippines. He was 61.
Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, the late president's older sister, reminisced the time their "hearts fell apart when Noynoy breathed his last."
"We returned him to our creator with gratitude for the blessing that he was: a simple, honest, self-effacing, and decent Filipino who gave his all without fanfare when he was tasked to serve his bosses," she said, referring to the Filipinos whom his brother have called his "boss."
The only son of democracy icons late President Corazon Aquino and Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was elected as the 15th President of the Philippines on June 30, 2010, succeeding Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
In the same speech, Aquino also thanked the "true friends" who attended the mass for her brother at his alma mater, the Ateneo de Manila, as well as those who graced the event.
"Kayo ang tunay na mga kaibigan. Wala pang naimmbentong pang-uri para maisalarawan sa inyo ang galak ng aming mga puso sa pakikiisa niyo sa amin ng araw na ito," Ballsy said.
"We learned the hard way that anyone can show up and celebrate with you when you are up there. But the ones who stay by your side when things are not going your way, they are your genuine friends," she added.
Among those who attended the Mass were Vice President Leni Robredo, Liberal Party members Senators Franklin Drilon and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, former presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and his deputy Abigal Valte, former Bureau of Internal Revenue Chief Kim Henares, and the Aquino household's longtime staff Yolly Yebes.
His sisters Viel and Pinky Aquino were also in attendance. Their youngest sibling, TV host-actress Kris Aquino was not present.
Aquino-Cruz also borrowed the words of her brother to urge those in attendance to keep fighting.
"May I ask you to join me in considering what he said: And I quote, ‘May you always believe, just as I do, that the Filipino is really worth fighting for. That the Filipino will indeed rise up to the occasion, that God has a good plan for all of us and this will take place in his time. Keep the faith, know that this is just a phase,’" she said, quoting a letter from her brother.
