Noynoy Aquino loves tender women
August 18, 2003 | 12:00am
At the age of 12, Noynoy Aquino saw his father Ninoy Aquino dragged off to prison. When he was 23, his dad was assassinated. His mother Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino became president of the Philippines when he was 26. Today, Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III continues to feel the effects of politics in his life.
As congressman of the 2nd district of Tarlac, our bachelor is keen on working for reforms. This year, in spite of objections by leaders at the Department of National Defense, Noynoy, 43, made sure that there will be public bidding on the purchase of petroleum, oil and lubricants for the AFP. Petron used to be the only supplier of POL. Noynoy estimates government savings to be P200 million per year when purchasing is done through an open bid.
This 5’9" Atenean reflects on practical shooting, his CD collection and instant gratification.
Name a moment that brings back happy memories.
The night Marcos left and everyone was celebrating. Also, those pre-martial law days when my dad would bring us to the movies after Mass at Sto. Domingo Church. The Masses there were traumatic – people would faint from the heat!
What sports do you do?
Practical shooting and billiards.
What film influenced your life?
One of them would be Les Miserables, especially the character of Inspector Javert who was raised in prison as an orphan. To him, everything was black and white yet in the end he had an awakening. Also Jean Valjean who was just trying to survive and was basically a decent man.
What book influenced your life?
I am passionate about reading. George Orwell’s 1984 shows the lure of a dictatorship and trading civil liberties for economic prosperity.
Which hero of fiction can you most identify with?
D’Artagnan of The Three Musketeers. He was very clear about what he should do.
What is your greatest fear?
That all my efforts will amount to nothing.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Lack of energy as opposed to my father being full of energy all the time.
How do you start your day?
First, I have to be aware of everything through reading the newspapers. Many times I have radio interviews at 5.30 a.m.
What is your motto?
"At the end of the day, it will be better."
What do you most value in your friends?
Most of my group mates from Ateneo are still my friends now. Even their children feel that I am part of their family.
What is your greatest extravagance?
My stereo set in Tarlac. I have been into music for a really long time. I am an audiophile and my CD collection numbers in the thousands.
Which historical character would you like to have been?
Nelson Mandela although I would not like to go through 27 years of confinement. I admire him because he has no bitterness in his heart.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
At the Shell Station on EDSA corner Buendia when a Makati rally was being held, a fire truck came to hose us down and disperse us but I stood in front of the truck. Also all the coup attempts when my mom was president, and I played a role on her behalf. How about during Erap’s impeachment, when Butch Abad and I were the first to abandon the administration block?
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Resting in a cool mountainside place, listening to music.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
When I could not understand why we were in exile. This sorrow was most severe during the Christmas season. If we were doing the right thing, why were we the ones suffering?
What did your dad often say to you?
He wrote me a letter about the values of education. He kept saying that he was an ordinary individual caught up in an extraordinary struggle.
What is your favorite occupation?
Being on the firing range where I can work on a particular skill and see improvement. Instant gratification. Billiards, too.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Tenderness. Loving disposition.
Name an embarrassing moment at work.
During a campaign in 1981, I could not remember who the third candidate in my party was. We went to three rallies thinking that chairman Abalos was our candidate. He was surprised that I was in his rally because he was not our candidate.
How do you see life?
Lots of struggle. Periods of happiness are only times to recharge for the struggle.
E-mail babycamp2 @yahoo.co.uk
As congressman of the 2nd district of Tarlac, our bachelor is keen on working for reforms. This year, in spite of objections by leaders at the Department of National Defense, Noynoy, 43, made sure that there will be public bidding on the purchase of petroleum, oil and lubricants for the AFP. Petron used to be the only supplier of POL. Noynoy estimates government savings to be P200 million per year when purchasing is done through an open bid.
This 5’9" Atenean reflects on practical shooting, his CD collection and instant gratification.
Name a moment that brings back happy memories.
The night Marcos left and everyone was celebrating. Also, those pre-martial law days when my dad would bring us to the movies after Mass at Sto. Domingo Church. The Masses there were traumatic – people would faint from the heat!
What sports do you do?
Practical shooting and billiards.
What film influenced your life?
One of them would be Les Miserables, especially the character of Inspector Javert who was raised in prison as an orphan. To him, everything was black and white yet in the end he had an awakening. Also Jean Valjean who was just trying to survive and was basically a decent man.
What book influenced your life?
I am passionate about reading. George Orwell’s 1984 shows the lure of a dictatorship and trading civil liberties for economic prosperity.
Which hero of fiction can you most identify with?
D’Artagnan of The Three Musketeers. He was very clear about what he should do.
What is your greatest fear?
That all my efforts will amount to nothing.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Lack of energy as opposed to my father being full of energy all the time.
How do you start your day?
First, I have to be aware of everything through reading the newspapers. Many times I have radio interviews at 5.30 a.m.
What is your motto?
"At the end of the day, it will be better."
What do you most value in your friends?
Most of my group mates from Ateneo are still my friends now. Even their children feel that I am part of their family.
What is your greatest extravagance?
My stereo set in Tarlac. I have been into music for a really long time. I am an audiophile and my CD collection numbers in the thousands.
Which historical character would you like to have been?
Nelson Mandela although I would not like to go through 27 years of confinement. I admire him because he has no bitterness in his heart.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
At the Shell Station on EDSA corner Buendia when a Makati rally was being held, a fire truck came to hose us down and disperse us but I stood in front of the truck. Also all the coup attempts when my mom was president, and I played a role on her behalf. How about during Erap’s impeachment, when Butch Abad and I were the first to abandon the administration block?
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Resting in a cool mountainside place, listening to music.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
When I could not understand why we were in exile. This sorrow was most severe during the Christmas season. If we were doing the right thing, why were we the ones suffering?
What did your dad often say to you?
He wrote me a letter about the values of education. He kept saying that he was an ordinary individual caught up in an extraordinary struggle.
What is your favorite occupation?
Being on the firing range where I can work on a particular skill and see improvement. Instant gratification. Billiards, too.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Tenderness. Loving disposition.
Name an embarrassing moment at work.
During a campaign in 1981, I could not remember who the third candidate in my party was. We went to three rallies thinking that chairman Abalos was our candidate. He was surprised that I was in his rally because he was not our candidate.
How do you see life?
Lots of struggle. Periods of happiness are only times to recharge for the struggle.
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