Noy, ex-Cabinet members pay tribute to Cory

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino led the nation in paying tribute to his late mother, President Corazon Aquino, on her 78th birth anniversary yesterday.

“She planted the seeds that we are harvesting now,” he said, vowing to emulate her good example, especially in refusing “to get drunk with power.”

Aquino, along with his mother’s former Cabinet, other officials and some members of the Malacañang press corps that covered her presidency, remembered her as a mother and friend, aside from being an astute leader and democracy icon.

“We had a leader who had all the opportunities but did not abuse her power,” he said.

“There was someone who told her that if she steps down she will be sorely missed. She sometimes even made it difficult for herself to run the government.

“During her watch there were 28 newspapers that wallowed in real freedom and somebody suggested, ‘Maybe we should impose developmental journalism,’ but she answered ‘No.’”

Aquino said the freest press even pinned all the blame on his mother for the coups, the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, several earthquakes and natural calamities and so many other misfortunes.

Aquino said like his mother, he was a reluctant candidate.

“When faced with lots of problems, I revisit how my mother coped with such difficult situations,” he said.

“She worked on all the country’s problems then with the barest minimum of foundation on how to face such problems.

“She is my model in charting unknown territory, when handling difficult problems.”

Aquino said his mother transformed the nation into hardworking people, like those in her Cabinet.

“Thank you for all the hardships you had to undergo under her,” Aquino said, adding that, like his mother, he was not getting stressed out despite the many problems he inherited.

“I miss my parents,” he said. “There are days when I miss one more than the other. We have witnessed the full transformation from dictatorship to democracy. I have learned from those lessons.”

Former Cabinet members of Mrs. Aquino also had the chance to extol her virtues as a leader and as a private person.

The “sharing session” was hosted by Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, himself a former undersecretary for the Presidential Management Staff during the time of Mrs. Aquino.

Former press undersecretary Deedee Sytangco, who later served as Mrs. Aquino’s official spokesperson until her death in August 2009, felt nostalgic returning to the Palace.

“When she left government, she was really very happy,” she said.

“She was my friend and mentor. I accompanied her in two travels abroad when she was no longer president.”

Mrs. Aquino’s environment secretary Fulgencio Factoran Jr. described the sharing as a joyful reminiscence of the late president.

“In this Guest House, we never went hungry because Tita Cory always served us some chocolates and sandwiches,” he said.

Mrs. Aquino’s socio-economic planning secretary Cayetano Paderanga, who is now National Economic and Development Authority director general, said Mrs. Aquino was an economic policy maker as she was good in effecting political change.

“She listened and respected our advice and she valued our efforts,” he said.

Mrs. Aquino’s security aide, now general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority Angel Honrado, said Mrs. Aquino treated them well.

“I got a dressing down from her when I did not report immediately the ambush of President Noy near St. Jude School,” he said.

“She told me, ‘How dare you do that to me. Remember, I am not just President but also mother.’”

Former presidential management staff secretary Efren Cruz spoke of Mrs. Aquino’s ability to always “empathize with the people” as the great trait of a leader.

Former public works secretary Jose de Jesus, now transportation secretary, recalled his first job with Mrs. Aquino as undersecretary of education.

“After briefing her for half an hour on the agenda, she asked me, ‘Ping, where are you from?’ I answered, ‘Ma’am I am from Pampanga,’ to which the late president replied, ‘No wonder you talk like Ninoy.’”

Former presidential security group commander Voltaire Gazmin, now defense secretary, said Mrs. Aquino exemplified the Constitution’s definition of “public office is a public trust.”

“She always tried to get our re-assurance that she is doing the right thing,” he said.

“She was a very caring leader to our nation. She always crossed the Pasig River and checked the condition of PSG personnel.”

Mrs. Aquino’s former appointments secretary, Margie Juico, now chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, said she was blessed to have worked with Mrs. Aquino.

“She has protected me when I was in an uncompromising position, like when I was being accused of providing a cordon sanitaire,” she said.

Sen. Franklin Drilon, Mrs. Aquino’s last executive secretary, said he is proud that in the Senate he is the “only remaining bata ni Cory.”