‘Iba si Sir’—PNoy staff gives the real score

He was funny and old-fashioned. He was exceptionally smart, and for a seemingly reluctant president, Benigno S. “Noynoy” Aquino III dreamed big for the Philippines.

“Darating din tayo dyan, Raf,” PNoy told his then executive assistant, Raf Ignacio, as they looked out the window of the presidential plane, a vintage Fokker F28, to watch the plane of another head of state take off—it was an Airbus. After an Apec meet in a foreign country, the heads of state were departing one after another.

In another recollection, Raf’s fellow executive assistant, Cedrik Forbes, said that in the heavy bag they carried around containing copies of the 1987 Constitution and other important documents, there was also a bottle of coconut water which PNoy showed people he met. He was always eager to promote Philippine-made products.

Raf, 36, and Ced, 34, had been with PNoy since he was senator, with his legislative staff.  They prepared briefers for then Senator Aquino and experienced how the boss focused on details on every subject matter, especially the national budget.

“He didn’t care if you were young. He cared if you performed and you stepped up to the role,” Raf said.

And if the boss was impressed, it meant you always had to level up your game. “Of course, ‘pag na-peg niya ng ganito ang (once he sets your competence level) competence mo, he will expect more. Hindi ‘yan pwedeng sub-par after,” Ced said.

After the Senate, Raf and Ced continued to prepare PNoy’s briefing papers, as part of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS). Eventually, the two men became presidential aides, substituting for PNoy’s long-time executive assistant, lawyer Jun Delantar, on weekends.

“Pag nag-aide kami, we anticipated his needs, including his props (for meetings). Usually, map, pictures. And then, follow-through of his instructions. After a meeting, he had instructions for agencies. Basically, we talked to the agencies,” Ced said.

In 2014, Raf resigned from the Office of the President (OP) to pursue higher studies in the US, where he eventually settled. He is now the sales director of a comparison website and before the pandemic, hosted food tours in New York City. Ced is a freelance consultant to business, the academe and non-profit institutions, providing policy and political analysis.

Devastated and shocked by the sudden death of PNoy last June 24, Raf and Ced find comfort in the memories they have of their former boss and mentor. While the work of a presidential aide was stressful and demanding, there were always moments when they laughed together and felt the world was all right.

There are still days when they can’t believe that PNoy is truly gone. When Ced sees photos of the former President, he hears his voice. There are times when Ced asks himself, “Is he really gone?”

Raf sent PNoy a text message after hearing the sad news in an attempt to convince himself that it wasn’t true. “Sir, salamat sa lahat. Di kita malilimutan (Sir, thank you for everything. I will not forget you),” Raf texted. He desperately wanted to receive a reply. There was none.

Their interview with TheDiarist.ph:

What exactly did you do for PNoy?

Cedrik Forbes (Ced): The same as Raf. We started in the Senate, I was legislative staff. Policy staff, so we prepared briefers for him. My focus was the national budget, covering all agencies. The same as how he ran his Cabinet, details about the budget, projects and all. I think that really prepared him and his staff for when he became President. Briefing papers, but now of course, broader understanding of matters. We also assist him usually on weekends when Atty. Jun, his regular assistant (is not around, to be with his young family).  We anticipated his needs, the props for meetings, usually maps, pictures. After a meeting, he had instructions for agencies. Basically, we talked to the agencies.

Just how thorough was PNoy with the budget? How was it a challenge in your life when you went through his budget?

For him, the budget was not about the numbers, it was about public service

Ced: When I started, baptism of fire. That was what he assigned to me. I told Julia (Abad), “PoliSci major ako, wala akong alam sa Math.” But for him, the budget was not about the numbers, it was about public policy, about public service. So that was what he would scrutinize. What I particularly remember is the Education budget, kasi naalala ko, galit na galit siya (he was so mad) as senator—because of classroom backlog, there was triple shifting. The worst part was, collapse of the subjects, you’re teaching Science and Math together, or Science and English together. Sabi niya, paano matututo yung tao nyan (How would students learn)?

That was when we were discussing corruption in agencies—the blacklist in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). So when he talked about the budget, he actually connected it to the whole, the bigger picture. There’s corruption here, you could have funneled that budget into education—build more classrooms, hire more teachers. No need for triple shifting or collapsing subjects together.

For Raf, what did you do for PNoy? For how long?

Raf Ignacio (Raf): I was part of the campaign towards the end. I started in 2009, and when he won the presidency, he invited the Senate core staff to join him in the OP. I took the chance and was part of the Presidential Management Staff. As Ced said, we had very similar roles. We did work for him on weekends because Atty. Jun took the weekday shifts. But on weekdays, Ced and I would join the President’s meetings as note takers. Any agreements, directives, in the meeting, Ced and I would document, then share with a larger team for follow-through and monitoring. Those were our two main roles—note-takers and close-in assistants. As Ced said, pag close-in ka, you’re like the back staff of the President—anything he needs, you anticipate, anything he wants to do, your duty is to make it happen.

How hard did he work?

Raf: He didn’t really like to travel, he doesn’t like long-haul flights, he didn’t like cold temperatures….The schedule was packed. Talagang bugbugan (Punishing schedule). All because, he just really wanted to spend the least amount of time outside, that’s one. And two, because of the costs of official trips. He was very hardworking. He didn’t have to keep a packed schedule but in the end, ginawa niya lahat yon (he did all that) because he knew that people were investing money in that trip, and therefore, there should be a return on investment.

We’d work even in the hallway, like with Hillary Clinton passing by one time

How about Ced?

Ced: He really maximized his time on foreign trips. Actually, the work is times two. Tired with adrenaline. Atty. Jun would bring the usual packet, I and Raf the printer and binder. We’d work even in the hallway, like with Hillary Clinton passing by one time and I was printing the speech. It was hectic, busy, and stressful but it was also rewarding. At the end of it, there was a summary—after every foreign trip, an arrival speech. You must have seen that photo of Raf typing something on the plane. The arrival speech—every foreign trip had that: the investments, agreements, how we’d actually benefit from that trip.

Ano ba yang mahiwagang moving filing cabinet that was written about by a Columbia University professor? That is something people didn’t know about PNoy—he was a mobile data bank.

Raf: The bag contained everything the President needs. As Ced mentioned—the Constitution, maps, briefing papers, and baller bands—yellow bands he would give away—water, candies, Lifesavers, pictures, any pictures. Kasi si Sir, minsan may mga (sometimes he had) greatest hits—yung mga kwento na parati niyang kinukwento sa mga name-meet niya (stories he narrated and repeated to people he met), either foreign dignitaries or local officials. As staff, we anticipated the stories and pictures to help him tell the story better, the bag had that. Pag alam mong sasabihin nya na, naka-ready na yung picture, ilalabas mo na lang. (When you knew he was about to tell the story, we’d be ready to bring out the photo.)

Ced: There was also coco water. Vita Coco ba yon? Pino-promote niya (He promoted it). It’s a Philippine product.

So the bag is heavy?

Raf: Depends on the engagements, if there were many events, like on foreign trips when the events came one after another, yung laman ng bag na iyon, dumadami rin. Yung dine-describe ni Duncan sa Columbia article, dati parang shoulder bag lang. Pag foreign trip, nagiging stroller na. Pag sa airplane, hihilahin mo na siya. Mainly papers.

Kapag maraming events, like pag foreign trip na dire-diretso yung events, yung laman ng bag na iyon, dumadami rin

Whose idea was it to store everything in that bag? Where did you source it? Custom-made or available in the store?  

Raf: I don’t think it was custom-made. They just bought a stroller because it was getting heavier. Mahirap na siyang dalhin (Hard to carry).

Did other heads of state have their own bags?

Raf: Depends. There was a time that Hillary Clinton visited the country. Medyo natatawa kami kasi kino-compare namin kay Atty. Jun na nakita namin sa TV, parang may isang staff na ang laki-laki ng bitbit, “Uy, si Jun,” parang ganun. (We spotted her staff carrying a similar bag. We said, Like Jun.) Others hindi naman ganon kadami. Yung iba iPad ang dala, pero si Sir gusto niya papel. (Others just bring iPad. Sir prefers it to be on paper.)

Can you recall unforgettable experiences, fulfilling moments with him?

Ced: In 2008, my first time as his staff, that was the budget deliberation. Julia texted me what Sir said, “Yung Cedrik pala, magaling yun. (Sir said, that Cedrik is good, turns out.)” Parang iniisip ko, ano bang akala niyo sa akin, nakaupo lang na freeloader? (I thought, did you think I was just a freeloader?) May mga moments siyang ganun, pag napansin niyang good work, papansinin niya. (He had such moments—when he noticed your good work, he’d call attention to it.) Of course, pag na-peg niya na ganito ang competence mo, he would expect more, na hindi yan pwedeng sub-par after. (Once he identifies your competence, he expects more.)

Unforgettable also was my last work for him—in 2019, the Cebu campaign.

You stayed after his presidency?

Ced: To help out in the campaign. More on the policy side, when he’d go out to campaign. Unlike in the Office of the President, now we were down to two—me and Arj (Gallardo)—who provided staff support for the Cebu campaign leg. We wanted to make sure we provided the same kind of service he was used to. In that Cebu leg, he was happy he met a lot of people—a revalidation that people were supportive of him, people still loved him. I think he was happy on that trip. We were happy also that he was happy.

Raf: I have a couple of memorable experiences. One, in Baguio for the PMA Alumni homecoming. Our plane was a six-seater—two pilots and four passengers: the bodyguard, military aide, civilian aide, PNoy and me. On our way to Baguio, at 7 in the morning, Sir looked out the window, nakita niya na may dam na natutuyo tapos yung bundok, wala nang puno (he saw a dam drying up and a deforested mountain).  He told me,  “Raf, picturan mo nga, at sabihin mo kay Secretary Paje to do something about it, na dapat alam niya ‘to (Raf, take a picture and show Secretary Paje. He must know about this.). ”

This was 7 in the morning, no media, it was just us. Here he was, trying to make that trip productive

This was 7 in the morning, no media, no outsider, it was just us. Here he was, trying to make that trip productive. He was the President and he had that sense of duty, sense of work, an opportunity at gusto niyang itama iyon (he wanted to right what was wrong). It happened out of the public eye. Wala nang nakakaalam ng ganung small details. (Nobody would have taken note of such small details.) He really took his role seriously.

Second anecdote. Very early in his term, 2010, he had me and Atty. Jun called to the guest house. Takot na takot ako (I was scared) and we didn’t know what to expect. Then Sir stepped out with very thick documents about some body armor, vest. He didn’t want others to know so he had those documents himself. He asked us to summarize the documents and submit to him. What I also felt then was, wow! The President was trusting us to do this confidential work. I was very young, 2010, I was 25. Nakakatuwa yung trust na binigay ni Sir (His trust was heartwarming) to his core staff. He didn’t care if you were young, he cared if you performed and you stepped up to the role.

One more memorable experience—Sir had a meeting with the Department of Health (DOH). Very early in the term, something to do with dengue. The meeting had started but I was still printing documents. Sir said, “Hindi tayo mag-start ng meeting until nandito si Raf kasi kailangan niyang mag take ng notes.” I felt important coz I was a young new staff. Nakakatuwa na the boss was trusting you. After the meeting, he said, “If you have questions, talk to Raf, sabihin niyo lahat ng concerns niyo sa kanya, he’ll take note of them, then he’ll go over them with me.

I felt important coz I was a young new staff. Nakakatuwa na the boss was trusting you

For the President to acknowledge me, a young staffer, before all these senior government officials, it felt like, one, great—it was him recognizing me. Two, I saw it as a challenge from Sir, we  needed to rise to challenges. Maybe some things you are not ready to take on at this point, but because you’re part of my team, I’m going to lean on you. Therefore, you should step up. For me as a young person, who was new, it felt very empowering. I think that’s the type of boss he was. Like what Ced said, pag alam niyang kaya mo (if he thinks you can do it), he’ll continue to push you to do even more.

Do you have memories of him dealing with heads of state? How was he as President dealing with heads of state, and as a man dealing with ordinary people?

Ced: Definitely he built relationships. He made friends among some heads of state; he had inside jokes with them, like something about cigarettes. Sabi ko, may inside jokes sila na sila lang ang nakaka-gets, nagtatawanan sila. (Only they’d get the jokes; they’d be laughing.) Parang ganun din yung ginagawa nya eh (he does the same) when he meets other people. May baon yan na jokes, may index cards yan, ice breaker kung baga. (He has jokes on hand, in index cards.) Kunyari he is speaking to a crowd na formal, meron yang index cards ng jokes. (Even for what seems like formal group, he has index cards of jokes.) Pag mga small groups naman, he tends to be informal din. Mas nakaka-connect yung mga tao kay Sir pag informal.

Raf: The way I saw Sir was, he was a shape shifter. He had a meeting on the Joint Maritime Seismic Undertaking (JMSU), related to the disputed West Philippines Sea. It was a very serious and technical meeting, very heavy on facts, history of agreements that the government had said yes to. Then Sir, I remember him as PNoy the lawyer or PNoy the technocrat. He was very detailed. He studied the issues so he was able to ask very intelligent questions.

Because the meeting was very technical, the meeting overlapped with another meeting set with Mansfield, a religious figure. Sir had to step out to meet him. As he talked to Mansfield, I saw the spiritual side of Sir. He started speaking about spiritual life, about God and all these things. Sabi ko, ang galing ni Sir, he was able to shift personas between meetings…. He was able to bring out that side of him almost instantly, so that he appeared very present. I think that was a very admirable quality. Not everybody has the chance to meet the President, once in a lifetime thing. If he showed he was disinterested in you and what you had to say, that’s such a bummer. But Sir made sure he lived up to that role of President before anybody he met.

Ced: On the light side. When French President François Hollande came for a state visit, after the discussions of the bilateral agreement, Sir said, “I think we’re all good, and our only issue is what wine we’ll serve you; my social secretary is worried that our wine won’t be suited for your French palate.” After that, tawanan, all of them. I think lightening up the moment is important to build relationships with heads of state.

Did you have more fun moments with him?

Ced: It was 2010, December. Manonood si Sir ng movie ni Ms. Kris. Nahulog ako sa convoy, ang bilis niya kasi maglakad. Pagdating doon sa event, pag-stop, labas agad siya, sobrang bilis niya maglakad. Nag misstep ako, ang taas kasi ng SUV, nadapa ako. Ang nakakita yung mga PSG, kasi naglalakad na siya noon. Ang problem namin is hahabulin sya. Nag close na yung elevator, nag escalator kami para mahabol lang siya. May mga times na hinahanap siya. (We were to watch a movie of Ms. Kris. I fell as we were getting off the SUV just to catch up with Sir who was walking fast. We needed to catch up with him and the elevator had closed so we had to take the escalator.)

Merong Christmas party sa evening, tulak lang siya nang tulak para kumanta kami. Nakiki-joke din siya then afterwards, meron siyang naka set na kakantahin. (In the Christmas party, he’d prod us to sing, then later he’d have his own set of songs.)

Raf: One of my favorite photos with Sir was, he was standing and I was taking up a couple of documents with him. We both looked very serious, scrutinizing the documents. You would think we were looking at a top secret document, but actually it was a menu for lunch.

They had to make sure to bring the chicharon before the Mass ended because Sir was giving it to one of the church attendees

Another time, Sir was attending Mass. The PSG walked up to him and whispered something; his face looked very serious. I thought, crisis. After a few minutes, the PSG went back to him, for an update. Yung mukha ni Sir parang seryoso, kasi lumilingon siya dun sa PSG. Sabi ko, ano bang nangyayari dito? (Sir looked serious, I thought, what’s going on?) I checked social media, baka may crisis na. The Mass ended. Paglabas ni Sir, saktong-sakto na may PSG na naka-motor, may dalang chicharon. (As Sir stepped out, a PSG came on a motorcycle—bringing chicharon.) They were trying to get the chicharon from Times (the Aquino residence) and bring it to church. And they had to make sure to bring the chicharon before the Mass ended because Sir was giving the chicharon to one of the church attendees; I can’t remember who. Parang may sumabog ba? Meron bang threat? Chicharon pala.

Do you also watch movies with him?

Both: Hindi po (No).

Ced: May isang time, nagpalabas siya ng show sa Pangarap. Eh di kaming lahat, nagulat. (One time he made us watch a movie at Pangarap. We were all surprised.) Something alien na nag invade sa LA, I forgot the title. In one meeting, criniticize niya point by point yung Olympus has Fallen.

Hindi siya cheesy or emotional when it comes to expressing appreciation or concern. He’s the type who just does things

How would you describe him as a person?

Raf: Very thoughtful si Sir. I don’t think he is the expressive type, like hindi siya cheesy or emotional when it comes to expressing appreciation or concern. He’s the type who just does things. One story I had, one time I was staffing for him in an event in Tarlac. A lady approached him, sabi niya, “Sir, meron po akong enlarged heart, kailangan ko po ng tulong.” Sabi nya, “Ito po si Raf, siya po ang tutulong sa inyo.” I was taking down the details of the lady, pero si Sir paalis na yung convoy niya, pasakay na dun sa helicopter. Paglingon ko, wala na yung convoy, as in wala nang tao dun, ako na lang mag-isa. Sabi ko, maiiwan ako ng convoy. (The presidential convoy was about to take off and I would be left behind.) My first instinct actually was to run to the helipad, but eventually, I found a staff and nakakuha kami ng car, we drove to the helipad. Nagmamadali kami kasi the convoy doesn’t wait for anybody except the President. Sakto dun sa helipad, nag spin na yung plates ng helicopter, ibig sabihin, paalis na. So tumakbo ako with that big black bag, tapos I ran to the closest helicopter tapos initsa ko yung bag sa empty seat, and jumped into the helicopter. And as soon as I settled into my seat, the helicopter took off.

Nung nasa Bahay Pangarap na kami, sinabi nung military aide niya, “Alam mo Raf, actually pinahahanap ka ni Sir at sinabihan niya kami na wag umalis until makasakay ka.” No wonder I made it just in time, they were waiting for me all along. For me, yun yung Sir’s way of showing concern, parang walang iwanan sa staff. I never got to thank him for that kasi nakapasok na siya sa room niya. Hindi siya cheesy, he shows things through actions.

To me, that’s how I saw him as a person. But I think at that time, he was not acting as a President, he was acting more like a team player, not necessarily your boss or direct supervisor. And I thought that was very touching.

Ced: I think, for me, it was in 2016 after the elections, we were all out of government. JC (Casimiro) texted, ‘Tinatanong ni Sir nasaan ka na raw ba? Saan ka na connected? Kasi if you need, magbibigay siya ng recommendation for whichever company.’ Hindi naman ako nag-expect na ganun, hindi talaga kami lumalapit kay Sir for those things. (I didn’t expect that. We really didn’t go to Sir for such favors.) It was very touching, thank you for the gesture. It means he still cares for you. Of course, I was going to study abroad, so I said, “Thank you but you know, I really appreciate the gesture”

Raf: To elaborate on what Cedrik said, as PNoy’s staff, we wanted to make sure that the President did not have to worry about us, or we didn’t take too much of his time. We kept texts to the President at a minimum, pag kailangan lang talaga (only as needed). Kasi he had other things to worry about, we didn’t want to add to them. Even after his term, you texted him during birthday or Christmas. Hindi ka na manggugulo kasi, alam mo rin namang maraming iniisip si Sir na iba. (You didn’t add to the load because you knew Sir had too much to think of.) Ganun yung relationship ng mga staff to him. (That was what the staff’s relationship with him was like.)

Ced: We were conscious that there was an invisible line we didn’t cross, we were not too familiar or too casual with him. He was still the boss, he was still the President. Conscious kami na we might be the one setting the stage, but the spotlight was always on him.

Do you remember your last day with him in the office?

Ced: It was the plane ride. Paglapag nung airplane, happy sya. Hindi naman sya nag compliment, I think that was  expected. But we were happy na okay siya.

Raf: These were my last few days in the administration, nung nagpaalam ako na mag-aaral na ako abroad. That time, I just broke up with my girlfriend. Sir learned about the breakup. So nung sinabi ko, nagpaalam ako na mag-aaral ako sa New York. Ang response niya, “Ang mga heartbroken talaga, nang-iiwan.” (When I told him I’d study in New York, he replied, ‘The heartbroken up and leave.’)

We talked more about the program.

Nung paalis na siya sa office niya, sabi nya, “Raf naman, two years na lang umalis ka pa.” (Only two years left and you had to leave.) I didn’t know what to reply. It was his way of joking, endearment. My last day in his administration was his 2014 SONA, and for me that was the best SONA, especially those last lines. When he said he had to accept the role, he was continuing the fight that his parents started. For me, it was very moving and I felt like it was an excellent way to end my four years in government—ending it on a very high note with that very moving and very heartfelt SONA.

So you must have found it very frustrating that the public picture painted of PNoy was almost the exact opposite of what you saw every day. Did you trace the source of that spin? That his work ethic was the exact opposite of “Noynoying,” the spin of his political opponents?

Raf: Yes, it was frustrating, especially if you had kin who would buy into the narrative that the other camp was peddling. I would tell them how hardworking he was, but they weren’t really ready to listen. It was painful.

I didn’t feel that I had to speak up publicly. Kasi si Sir, hindi yung type of person na nagbubuhat ng bangko (Sir wasn’t the type to trumpet his achievements) and talked about how hardworking he was. It just wasn’t him. And because he was not saying anything, for me as a staff I felt I shouldn’t talk about it because yung boss mo nga hindi pinag-uusapan yun, why should you?

The trolls, social media really did a good job damaging his reputation and fabricating ‘Noynoying’

The trolls, social media really did a good job damaging his reputation and fabricating “Noynoying.” His passing allowed people to listen and to be receptive to stories like the ones we’ve been sharing. It’s given people the opportunity to really listen and understand how he really was.

If he didn’t pass away, hindi pa rin magiging ready makinig yung mga tao. (The people wouldn’t be ready to listen.) All these stories would have just fallen on deaf ears. When he passed away, suddenly there was public recognition of his work ethic, his leadership style, how he treated people, the light moments. People have come to appreciate him way more than they would have if he had not passed away, or if we had told these stories before that. Sasabihin ng mga tao, kinukwento niyo lang yan kasi baka may plans si PNoy na tumakbo or parang pinupulitika niyo. (People would have said then that we were sharing these tales because PNoy had political plans.) But now there’s nothing to gain from telling these stories, but just the truth about him.

PNoy’s legacy is that he fulfilled the duties of a President to their fullest. He didn’t leave anything for himself

He believed that the good news would spread by itself?

Raf: I don’t think that’s justified. His arrival speech, he always talked about the achievements. Nobody picked it up, it wasn’t sexy news kasi, diba? What’s sexy is like, kung ano yung love life niya. I don’t think nagkulang siya sa pagsasabi. Di lang talaga na-appreciate ng mga tao at that time. (He didn’t lack in sharing the good news. People just didn’t appreciate it at that time.)

Ced: Hindi niya prinopaganda.

If you are to summarize, or if your friends and relatives will ask you, what really is PNoy’s foremost legacy?

Ced: One was, I was prouder at that time to be a Filipino. At the same time, for some, you could really plan your future. Pwede nang muling mangarap. (We could dream again.) It resonated with a lot of people coz it came from a time I think similar to today. Saan ba tayo pupunta? (Where are we headed?) You’re at a loss as to where you’re going. But during his time, not only did he provide a way for you to plan your future, but also you were proud to be a Filipino. I am proud to be a Filipino.

Raf: I would say that PNoy’s legacy is that he fulfilled the duties of a President to their fullest. He didn’t leave anything for himself. Wala siyang tinira, binigay niya lahat to fulfill what a President should be doing. I think he set a very high standard for what it means to be a President of the Philippines.

I saw it from the small things, like kwento ko nga di ba, taking a picture while we were on the plane, to how he would customize every speech to cater to the audience, to all the briefing papers that we had to go through so that he could make well-informed decisions. He took his role seriously and he gave it his all. I think, his was a life well lived because meron siyang duty na nagawa niya and he accomplished with flying colors.

Ced: He wanted to leave the country better than when he found it; I think he did. Sabi nga nung sisters, mission accomplished.

How did you feel seeing the house you built with him burn down? And people didn’t seem to care?

Raf: Very painful. Bakit parang ang baba ng standards ng mga tao ngayon? (Why did people’s standards become so low?) Mga jokes and pambansang photo bomber, it was very painful for me. Even though I was already a thousand miles away sa States, to see the news to the point na ayaw ko nang magbasa ng Philippine news. Nakakasuya, wala nang real discussions of issues. Parang sa SONA, walang laman. Compared to PNoy’s time, ibang-iba talaga.

Honestly, parang naging apathetic ako at some point. Hindi ko lang ma-take. When PNoy passed away and I started writing these tributes, tsaka na lang ako nagbabasa ng news. Ang babaw pa rin na nakakaasar basahin. (The news has become so shallow that it’s a turn-off to read it.)

People say that PNoy merely inherited a good economy—so what exactly did PNoy contribute to economic growth?

Ced: I don’t think we inherited a good economy at that time. We were coming from a global financial crisis, the economy wasn’t really performing well. In fact, we started turning things around only in 2011-2012, all the visiting ambassadors, heads of states—they kept saying that we were the envy of the region, because the region was posting minimal to negative growth, decline pa. Our country was at 6 percent growth, mga ganun.

Nag-iba ang image ng Pilipinas from the ‘Basket Case of Southeast Asia’ to the Rising Tiger of Asia

What was PNoy’s governance, such that on our own, we had economic growth?

Ced: Dun nila nagawa yung good governance and good economics. You fix the fiscal position, siya talaga yung nag push ng Public Private Partnership. Para less yung loans mo, you partner with the private enterprise sector to build your highways and they’re earning from that and we’re providing public service. But even before that, di ba nagkaroon ng issue with underspending?

He wanted to make sure na maayos the way we did things before we entered into contracts. Some journalists were even asking, isn’t it better to allow a little corruption? Just so we can improve public spending?  But once we fixed our processes, ang bilis na nung mga infrastructure projects and all that. It was fixing the bureaucratic practices, making sure it was a level playing field for everyone. Of course, transparent and accountable. And that led to increased business confidence.

And it translated to expansions and jobs, even trade and investments with other countries. Of course, the DTI, the OP, and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had been going around and telling them that it was good to invest in the country.

Towards 2011, we started turning things around. I don’t think the foundation had been built previously.

Raf: He restored confidence in the Philippines. Nag-iba ang image ng Pilipinas from the “Basket Case of Southeast Asia” to the Rising Tiger of Asia, with TIP—Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines—as the new growth center of Southeast Asia.

Ced: There was an Asean meeting, Sir gave a statement which was picked up not just by the local media, but international. Takbuhan, lahat scheduling an interview.

How did you know that he was sick?

Raf: I was in the Philippines, January 2020, before the pandemic. I told Sir I wanted to visit him in Times to introduce my wife. Sir said that the doctors had advised him not to accept visitors. He was already immuno-compromised at that time; hindi ko na rin siya nakita. (I didn’t get to see him.) I didn’t know that he was sick, the last time I saw him was in Times. Nakita ko, sobrang payat niya na. (He had lost weight.) 2018 or early 2019. I knew he was sick but I didn’t know how serious the illness was, I didn’t have details.

The Friday before he passed away, I was texting Julia, kinumusta ko si Sir. Julia mentioned that he wasn’t doing so well. Immediately after, I sent a text message to Sir to say Julia was coming to the States, and I could send him some magazines. Kasi mahilig siya sa car, auto magazines, history magazines. His reply: “Thanks Raf, I’ll get back to you on the magazines,” titles of magazines he liked. I didn’t know that would be our last text exchange. Next Thursday, he passed away.

Did you cry?

Raf: Yeah. Hindi ako natulog from the time I found out, until Saturday. Kasi nung Saturday, pagod na pagod na talaga ako. I just couldn’t sleep. I was watching videos. I was going through pictures. I was reading my journal. Everything just came flooding back and then the emotions were so strong. I remember, parang nanunood ako ng video tapos biglang tumutulo na lang yung luha ko. (I would be watching video and my tears would fall.) Or when I read some quotes na sinabi niya, parang naririnig ko yung boses niya. I kind of heard his voice. As a staff kasi, pinapakinggan mo yung speech ni Sir eh, or palaging naka on yung TV dahil mino-monitor mo what’s happening sa mga events. When he passed on, his voice was in my head. It was just really tough.

What to you is a most memorable quote from him?

Raf: We were in Brunei, the wedding of the Sultan’s daughter. Nung paalis na kami, kami yung next in line (to take off), pero nagpaalam yung Thai protocol officer, asked us if Yingluck could take off before PNoy because she needed to rush to another engagement. PNoy, very gentleman, said, “Of course, yeah. Ladies first.”

We went to Brunei using this very old, rickety plane called F28 na parang World War II vintage na parang Vietnam War vintage na nakakatakot. Naalala ko na pag sumakay ka dun at humangin nang kaunti, parang hindi mo alam kung mag-ca-crash ba siya. The sisters were against him using that plane, given the obvious risks.

Nakasakay na kami dun sa F28, nakadungaw kami dun sa window, and we saw this very big Airbus na Thai Airways. Very modern airplane, na prime minister lang nakasakay. Ito yung quote ni PNoy: “Raf, darating din tayo dyan.” To me that was very striking. Very poignant movement.

Ced: If it’s something funny, the quote I remember— “Kumain ka na kasi tatangkad ka pa.”

Raf: “Sana tumangkad ka pa kahit nai-stress ka sa trabaho . 

‘Sir, salamat sa lahat, di kita makakalimutan.’  But there was no reply anymore

Whenever PNoy had his photo taken beside female reporters, he always had his hands in his pockets or behind—he didn’t go around kissing women for the camera.

Raf: Sir was raised very well by his parents. He really was a gentleman. You’d see it in how he carried himself. Naalala ko dati, pinupuna niya yung isang secretary kasi yung barong was gusot. Sabi niya, “Dapat mag-ayos ka ng presentable ka kasi you’re a Cabinet secretary.” He was a gentleman. He knew how to carry himself in public. He was also a very classy person. Polite, classy, just like what you’d expect from an educated and well-raised person. Never ko siyang nakitang mag take advantage. Pag may ibang babae, dapat women ang nakaupo sa chairs, siya mismo ang tatayo para ibigay yung chair sa women. (Offer seat to women. He himself would stand up to offer a chair.)

Ced: Sa food, pag may buffet. Ladies first.

Raf: Such an admirable quality. Very classy.

How did you feel when you got word that he has died?

Ced: It affected me differently. Hindi ako umiyak (I didn’t cry), it was more of hindi ako maka-concentrate. Wala akong ginawa nung araw na yun, 24 hours akong hindi natulog that day. (I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t sleep for 24 hours.) First time kong hindi matulog. But, I think mas naluha ako, although nagpipigil, nung Saturday.  Ang hirap umiyak ng may mask.

Raf: Honestly, parang di pa rin ako over. Kanina, I was driving. Ang pinapakinggan kong podcast was parang, this episode on mga speech writer ni PNoy na nagkukuwentuhan. (I was driving and listening to podcast of PNoy’s speech writers.) Nakikinig ako ng PNoy’s greatest hits. (I listen to PNoy’s greatest hits.) Kapag gabi, pinapanood ko yung old interviews ni Sir. (At night I watch his old interviews.) May napanood akong video na he was touring reporters sa Malacañang. Nakakamiss pa rin talaga, parang what a great opportunity to have been able to work that closely with PNoy.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When he passed away, parang gusto kong ibalik yung memory, palakasin ulit yung memory kasi I left 2014. Yung mga ibang moments na naaalala ko ay more than 10 years na at binubuhay ko ulit. (I like to retrieve the memories, even those from more than 10 years ago.)

Ced: There are moments na iisipin mo na, is he gone? Especially pag nagpapakita yung picture ni Sir, naririnig mo yung boses niya. Is he really gone? I don’t know what it is. Siguro may mga times din na, wala na talaga?

Raf: Parang hindi ako makapaniwala (I still can’t believe it), I was really hoping na fake news lang siya. Hindi ko napigilan pero nag text pa rin ako sa kanya, part of me was hoping na sana mag-reply siya. (I still texted him, hoping he’d reply.)

At that point, alam ko na talaga na he passed away. He was a big influence during my most formative years; a lot of who I am today was shaped by his example and my experiences working with him. Sabi ko, “Sir, salamat sa lahat, di kita makakalimutan,” hoping he would say something.

That point I already knew, pero parang there was still a part of me hoping na it wasn’t true.