280 billion reasons to celebrate

It was forecast to be a rainy day, but the heavens gave the Philippines a reprieve from the downpour as its 15th President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III took his oath before hundreds of thousands of Filipinos at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

I remember where I was when Ninoy Aquino was assassinated, where I was when I learned Cory had cancer. I knew I would remember forever where I was when their son Noynoy took his oath as president — and I wanted to be right there.

This obsession with having a front-row seat to history isn’t entirely misplaced. Those who went to EDSA in 1986, those who voted for Noynoy and are now buying souvenirs of his inauguration like they were going out of style, know history is being written, and they want their hand on the pencil — or the keypad — that records it.

So as not to be late with my own date with destiny — it was the first inaugural I witnessed in person, not through television, since I first voted in 1986 — I checked in at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, which was also the temporary home of several delegates to the inauguration, including the only head of state in attendance at the Quirino Grandstand — East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta.

My invitation said guests were to be seated by 10:30 a.m., so I left the hotel at 9:15 a.m. for the trip to the Quirino Grandstand about three kilometers away. Traffic management was organized but not elitist — if you had a pass, your car could drop you off right in front of the Grandstand, whether or not you were a top government official, a diplomat, or simply Juan de la Cruz with a genuine invitation. Walk-in guests who simply wanted to witness history were allowed in the vicinity, on the lawn fronting the Grandstand.

If you had thought that the inaugural was going to be a logistical nightmare, no, it was not. That is, because the inaugural committee led by Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa and noted director Maria Montelibano did their job so well the nightmare was theirs — not ours, those who trooped to the Grandstand to be part of history.

I’m glad I didn’t follow the 10:30 a.m. reminder on the invitation because then President Arroyo and President-elect Aquino arrived at 10:33 a.m. — about 10 minutes ahead of schedule. They were so early, in fact, that then Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay arrived “late,” when everyone was settled in the Grandstand. But supporters of Binay, who arrived aboard an electric jeep, said he wasn’t late — his jeep was said to have been asked to give way to the ahead-of-schedule Presidential convoy. Just like in the elections, where he surprised everyone with his sudden surge in the last week leading to the elections, he made a grand entrance.

I was privileged to be seated in the same box as ABS-CBN executives Charo Santos-Concio, my batchmate Cory Vidanes and Biboy Arboleda, among other bigwigs, and presidential cousins Rina Teopaco and Lisa Cojuangco Cruz. I was happy to see Judy Araneta Roxas in the Grandstand. She isn’t just Sen. Mar Roxas’ mother. She is the friend of the late parents of the man taking his oath as president. And thought it must have pained her to be there on behalf of Mar, she conducted herself with grace and dignity.

When Noynoy took his oath at 12 noon, I simply choked. It was a triumph for good government because the oath was being said by someone you were sure would live up to his promise, “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

 I don’t know with absolute certainty how P-Noy will fare in Foreign Affairs, Agrarian Reform or Peace and Order, but I know with absolute certainty that he will save at least P280 billion annually (the amount estimated lost to corruption) by simply walking his talk, “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

I covered the inaugural reception at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall, which exuded elegance, not opulence, with its dainty sampaguita flower arrangements, pritchon, kesong puti on pandesal, buko juice and pastillas wrapped in yellow Japanese paper cutouts (catered by Via Mare).

The captains of industry and foreign dignitaries mingled with newly elected and appointed government officials over Cava and buko juice instead of champagne. There was no overflow of anything, only of hope. The new government, we were earlier told by reception organizer Bettina Osmeña, wanted to limit expenses from Day One.

Seeing street children and the homeless on the side streets as I motored back to the office, I knew we all had 280 billion (multiplied by six years) reasons to celebrate. I wanted to give them a high five. A fist bump. Whatever.

A new day has dawned for all of us.

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(You may e-mail me at [email protected])