PNoy: In the final days,
just a citizen and his music

There were four things that Noynoy Aquino still wanted to do: write a book, help fix his political party, go around the Philippines to meet with the people, his “bosses,” and set up an initiative to train the country’s next generation of leaders.

PNoy had been a busy man since he stepped down from Malacañang five years ago, until his health started to fail in late 2019 and until the pandemic limited his activities.

In a two-hour chat with TheDiarist.ph, JC Casimiro, PNoy’s aide who became a regular companion in his last years, shared PNoy’s life in Times Street and gave us a glimpse of the former President’s work-life balance after a grueling six years of trying to make things right in the country, for the people.

PNoy had time for his music, as much as he also gave attention to the challenges besetting the nation. He had a constant stream of visitors and people wanting to see him. “Ginawa siyang refuge. He had to absorb that,” JC, 30, told us.

JC witnessed PNoy’s journey and transformation from President to Citizen Noy.

JC worked at Malacañang as PNoy’s speechwriter, straight out of college from the Ateneo. He was barely 21. Towards the end of PNoy’s term, JC became his executive assistant. Post-presidency, JC became “staff ni Sir” in Times Street. PNoy’s lean team worked in the minimalist office built in the garage of the former President’s home.

PNoy and JC were somewhat inseparable, even after he left PNoy’s formal employ in 2019. They spent so much time together that they would sometimes show up in gatherings dressed up almost identically. Today JC sounds like his former mentor and has become an audiophile himself. Into the same music, they would spend hours talking about songs and artists, on top of current affairs.

That early morning of June 24, upon learning that PNoy had passed away, he instinctively  proceeded to Times Street in anticipation of many tasks that needed to be done.

PNoy’s sisters had asked him to find a photograph of PNoy, one that showed their younger brother smiling. In this interview, JC shared the reason he chose the photo of PNoy that was mounted at his wake and funeral.

Today is the 40^th day of PNoy’s death, yet JC has yet to cry; his eyes are unable to produce tears. But his heart, like many others touched by PNoy, is broken. It will take time to heal.

How long did you work for him?

Formal years of employment, seven years, four in Malacanang. I graduated in 2012.

Can you describe PNoy the audiophile, his love of sound and music that you got to share with him? You said that you’ve just bought a headphone set he would have wanted to get himself; it already had a marked-down price.

I got into audio myself in 2019. Unlike Sir, who was into speakers and all, I’m more into headphones. Actually, I bought the headphones he wanted just the other week. While a lot of songs in my different playlists are actually those of my own generation and taste, mostly rock, metal, mga ganun, I really developed a liking for jazz or sentimental music because of him. He was saying nga na akala nya magkasangga kami sa music, ba’t daw ako biglang nag-K-Pop (he said that he thought we were aligned in music, why did I suddenly veer into K-pop)?

The genre he loved? 

Jazz, especially female vocals. Male vocals after, jazz instrumental.

Jane Monheit, Jacintha, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Shirley Horn. Anne Bisson, Tales from the Treetops. It’s a very sad album, a sentimental jazz album. He really liked that album. I was telling Nina (PNoy’s niece) that he liked that album. Sabi ko, you listen to it. It will really make you cry. Even the cover art, very dark. John Pizzarelli, Michael Bublé, Burt Bacharach.

So towards the end, he was into sad music?

No naman. Variety. But he liked sentimental, jazz. He’s a big fan of  Burt Bacharach. In his music room, one shelf is all Burt Bacharach.

Those were his early adolescence years—Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick. He likes Dionne Warwick?

Of course. He had multiple albums of Dionne Warwick. Instrumental and jazz. Trumpet, Chris Botti, he likes that one. Of course, Bill Withers, type na type nya. Gregory Porter, yung mga hilig nya na.

Pinoy?

Noel Cabangon, Regine, Gary V, Ice Seguerra, Ryan Cayabyab. Bukas Palad, the last album he listened to.

You saw it being last on the list?

It was on cue, according to AJ (Ardiente, staff assistant). I asked AJ as we were turning off his music system, so we needed to eject certain things after his death. I have to make an accounting even of the CDs. The last album he looked at, a new album, was a Thom Rotella album, Without Words. It’s album no. 8683, classified as jazz. That was the second to the last album he listened to.

The last album he listened to was ‘Bukas Palad Volume I: Songs in Filipino’

The last album was Bukas Palad. And the specific Bukas Palad album that was on cue was Bukas Palad Volume I, Songs in Filipino, Silver Anniversary Edition.

The Saturday before PNoy passed away, I even went to Makati Cinema Square because he asked me to look for a second-hand speaker.

What would he do with second-hand speaker?

He would add it to his system. He had been eyeing that speaker. He could afford brand new, but he was looking for second hand. Mas mura, eh (cheaper).

Was he thrifty in that sense?

He looked at the value of money. Siguro mga three years niya pinag-iisipan kung bibilhin nya itong set of speakers na ‘to (He must have been thinking about buying the speakers for three years). He asked me to go to Makati Cinema Square. I said, “Sir, yung model na gusto mo, merong lower type na model, ito yung presyo (Sir, the model you want, there’s actually a lower type, this is the price).” He said thank you. That was our last chat.

What would you say were the highlights of the last year of his term, from your personal or emotional perspective?

Towards the end of the presidency, three things really come to my mind, outside the formal structure of the presidency.

The first, I remember taking a photo. I think it was the last anniversary of the DFA that Sir attended, June, if I’m not mistaken. The usual nagkayayaan, and I really like these events because if they finished around lunch time, for him, that would be an opportunity to eat. He really looked forward to that, not like if everything was inside the Palace, his day could go by without him eating. Ang mangyayari lang niyan, chicharon, Coke. Then dinner kay ate Yolly.

The DFA event was at 10 am, near the Harbor Center, type na type niya yung sizzling pepper steak. What I particularly remember about that lunch, probably our last lunch out when he was President, was there were kids outside waiting for him to finish eating. When he saw them, he stepped out, nagpa-picture. Yung tuwa sa mga bata, kitang-kita mo (He was genuinely happy with the kids). Sabi ko nga, for him, it was always them. Whatever he’s doing, it’s for them. Malapit siya sa bata (He was close to kids).

The second thing I remember, the last part of his presidency, he surprised the young people touring the Palace museum. That’s standard PNoy. Ganun siya, yung tipong structured, disiplinado, but he went out of his way to do certain things.

Knowing Sir, gugulatin nya yung mga bata (he would surprise the students). Yun kasi yung kiliti sa kanya (That’s his thrill). You had finished your (Inquirer, when TheDiarist editor, writer were still with Inquirer—Editor) interview, for some reason na pati yung kwarto ni Imelda pinakita sa inyo. Pati yung sa side entrance na papunta sa hall section ng Palace, the  ceremonial hall was shown to you. Everything was impromptu. More than expected.

What was your last night at Malacañang like?

The evening of June 29 into June 30, there was a party at Malacañang Park, with sila Secretary Julia, Nancy, Usec Rochelle, etc. They picked me up around 1 a.m., June 30. Magkatabi lang kami ni Sir sa Bahay Pangarap, at the long table. He was just tapping on the table, parang good mood nya, parang ang saya nya. Sabi nya, “JC, paalis na tayo, ayoko nang bumalik” (We’re leaving, I don’t want to come back.) He was literally counting the hours, ayaw nyang matulog, gusto niya mag June 30 na 12 noon. Gusto niya nang umalis. Parang pumasok ka sa trabaho,  sobrang toxic na nito, I can’t wait to exit. Ganun yung pakiramdam niya nun.

Were we a burden to him, that he was counting the hours?  

I won’t put it that way. For the most part, before he really got into public life, he was in the corporate sector. I remember a story that, for his run for the Senate, Senator Franklin needed to convince President Cory to allow them, the Party, to field her son. One thing I am sure of is that he took the job seriously, very seriously.

He called Malacanang ‘Hawlang Ginto,’ a golden cage…. He called (President) Duterte ‘Manong,’ respectful as he was

He called Malacanang “Hawlang Ginto,” a golden cage. I remember when nag-call si then President-elect Duterte, kasama namin si incoming SAP Bong Go. Sina Sen. Bong Go, Executive Secretary (Salvador) Medialdea, and incoming Cab Sec Jun Evasco suddenly appeared, because they had a transition meeting with ES (Executive Secretary) Ochoa. Then, you know, Sir just toured them around, he cut short his formal paperwork schedule, all papers were shifted back to Bahay Pangarap na lang. He called (President) Duterte “Manong,” respectful as he was, he knew President Duterte from way back. Duterte was even a chair of LP’s Davao chapter.

I remember him saying two things.  “If you need any help, I’m here. Any na gagawin, any guidance needed, please do not hesitate to reach out.” That’s one. Two, this is where I saw the personal side, and he said, “Sana ma-enjoy niyo itong hawlang ginto na ito.” He saw it na parang it limited his privacy, his freedom. There were lots of things  that he wanted to do, and the job was thankless. Sabi nga niya: “Kritisismo sa agahan, batikos sa tanghalian (He said, ‘Criticism for breakfast. More brickbats for lunch).” You become the punching bag. Even his personal life was affected.

Was he skirting responsibilities? No. I remember being in the same room and he was briefing the incoming President. I remember him detailing, “Ito yung active operations natin na major, ito yung assets natin.” He was really conscious and shared even to the last hour. He wanted to become what he was before, as a citizen.

He thought that being a citizen of a country was the most important role any person could have

He thought that being a citizen of a country was the most important role any person could have.  That’s why he believed in People Power.

In Times, if there was bad news, I knew it would be another round of preparatory work on our part. The moment he read something in the papers, we should have read about it ahead. Get ahead of it. And the good thing in our set-up, he told me at one point, “JC, baka kailangan nating daanan ito para maintindihan natin kung ano’ng nawala.” Meron syang ganun na stoic mindset.

The third memory: June 29 to 30. He was signing a lot autographs—may dala mga PSG (Presidential Security Group), staff, yung mga ipapa-autograph. Nagulat nga siya kasi napuno na kami for two days, yung dalawang mahabang mesa sa Bahay Pangarap, with memorabilia to be autographed. Sina Ma’am Joan at yung ibang staff, tinatago for the last six years kasi ayaw ni Sir mag-autograph. Kasi si Sir, “Uunahin kong pirmahan yung batas kesa yan, uunahin kong i-review ito kaysa mag-autograph.”

We filled up about two Urvans with memorabilia to autograph from the main Palace to Bahay Pangarap. Every morning, gigising nga sya, maglalakad sya, papunta kaming convoy, makikita nya yun, “Ano na naman ‘to?” “Sir kailangang pirmahan eh.”

 June 29, 11 pm na kami natapos magpirma. Nakaupo syang ganyan, he was tapping, super excited.

He had an efficient transition.  Also the people must know how hands-on he was in looking over preparations for the Pope’s visit.

Before the Pope arrived, he had a presscon telling the crowd control grid about Luneta. I was the speechwriter on duty. I wrote something about the speech. Three hours before he was about to deliver it, pinatawag niya ako kasama si Manolo Quezon, and I distinctly remember. I think he never publicly expressed  displeasure about what I wrote. Being the one na never napasaringan na hindi niya nagustuhan yung speech na ginawa (never alluded to for speech writing he didn’t like), I take pride in that—being a speechwriter who never had to be subjected to that kind of public rebuff. I do remember that it was that press conference before the Pope’s arrival, nagalit siya sa akin sa (he got made with me in the) office, nadun si Manolo, ako, there’s a line there where parang may pagka-general yung pagkasabi ko (I put it in general terms) about how to go about with the grid or entering that grid in Luneta. He got so mad. He said, “JC, buhay ng tao ang pinag-uusapan dito (We’re talking here of people’s lives), can you please be specific?” Talagang bad trip siya. As a speechwriter, I had a lot of good stories about him because part of my work was partly being like being a mind reader. My pastime was to listen to his audio to understand more where he was coming from.

In his SONA, who thought about the catchy line “Eh di wow”? He liked that.

I remember there was a discussion, sabi nga ni Sir, “Ano itong ‘Eh di wow’”? So we had to show him YouTube videos of what “Eh di wow” was.

Nothing in his speeches, especially in his SONA, would go out without his clearance. We couldn’t insert just anything. There would be a lot of hours on SONA meetings alone. Remember that SONA, yung feeling niya na the end is near for him, parang kuntento na siya ganyan? I remember that day, I think it was the 2014 SONA. The speechwriting team, there were about nine of us, including Manolo Quezon. We had three batches. Manolo, the English writers, would go to the diplomatic corps area for the live translation since the SONA was in Filipino. Manolo and two English speechwriters were tracking changes as Sir was speaking, of course, there was already a prepared translation which we finalized 10 am the day of the SONA. There were three speech writers who were with RTVM and PCOO to tell them, “Ma’am, ito na yung slide na yan.” Then there were three speechwriters, myself included. The two major speech writers would be at the teleprompter, I held and coded the master file of the SONA.

My job for the most part was to be on call for Atty. Jun literally if Atty. Jun (Delantar of the Office of the President) and  needed something, I was just a room away from where Sir was to get any final edit. Plus I had the copies of the Senate President and Speaker of the House—all printed copies of SONA had to emanate from me or from just one person because of the security control we had. I remember, on that second to the last SONA, he called me in. Si Atty. Jun said, “JC, hanap ka ni Boss.” It was odd—normally, he wouldn’t call us even for the SONA on such short notice. It’s too big an event for him to make a last-minute edit. Pumasok ako…May iniabot siya sa akin na papel, handwritten yun, Father Arevalo—names ng mga papasalamatan niya (He handed me a handwritten piece of paper, with Father Arevalo among the names—those he’d thank). He told me, “JC, may part ang SONA na titigil ako, abangan niyo lang.” Yun yung magpapasalamat siya, that was not in the final draft. Nagpasalamat siya even to the military. That was off the cuff, he did that.

Post-presidency years, how often were you seeing him?

Every day, with the exception of Saturday and Sunday, unless he had Sunday meetings that I could make it. There were times I would sleep in Times. I live in Taytay, quite far. Tsaka pa-morningan kami (way into the morning). Sa akin kasi, Monday-Friday, garantisado yang nakikita ko siya. Except the time na ayaw niya talagang magpakita sa tao (when PNoy simply preferred to stay in his room), so I talked to him over the intercom.

Even after you left his employ?

After I left in 2019, I would show up once a month. Tapos itong pandemic, nagkaroon ng opportunity kasi work from home. Madalas Saturday or Sunday, I would visit him. The last time I saw him in person was actually November 2020 —I contracted COVID in November. I told him, “Sir, stop muna baka ako pa yung magdala (Sir, stop, because I don’t want to infect the household).” He understood that. Text—we always did. Talking once a week or once every 10 days, over the phone. Sometimes it would last 20-30 minutes to two hours.  But post-presidency until 2019, every day, unless talagang kailangan ng Saturday and Sunday, I’d see him.

How about the little couch in the Times office, his spot? Every afternoon? He’d sit there?

Upo sya dun, minsan sa dining room (he’d sit there or in the dining room). Pero pag tatambay siya sa office, dun sa small couch na yun. (When he hung out in the office, he’d sit on the couch.)

What did you enjoy most doing with him? 

The work was still tough post-presidency. What I really enjoyed the most was how we would end the day. It would either be one of the following: we’d play billiards hanggang madaling araw, kaming dalawa (up to early morning, the two of us). It was an opportunity to take up what I could not take up during normal hours.  Sometimes, ang daming kailangang i-discuss, eh.

‘What I really enjoyed the most was how we would end the day. We’d play billiards hanggang madaling araw, kaming dalawa’

Did you enjoy watching movies with him?

Yes, that was the thing that we would do. Minsan close of the day, manonood kami ng Netflix. In fact, before he passed I would update him. “Uy Sir, parang palabas na yung ganito sa Netflix.” He got into Amazon rin. Mahilig sya sa Amazon. Sa DVD at CD, ako yung bumibili minsan. Kasi mahilig sya sa Blu-Ray, eh. Iilan lang ang distributors ng original Blu-Ray discs sa Pilipinas so I go to them to buy.

Why did he like Blu-Ray?

Sound quality, clarity of visuals.

Did you go to the moviehouse?

Yes, we did. Fishermall once, Trinoma yung madalas. John Wick, birthday nya pinanood namin. Yun yung highlight of his day. Sabi nya, “JC, ayoko ng bisita.” Pag may pumunta, sige, tanggapin. Basta wag kang o-oo. Kasi parang the highlight of his day was, umaga pa lang nyan, magpi-print na ako ng schedule kasama si Sarah, yung dating admin officer namin. “Sarah, takbo ka na ng Trinoma. Dala ka ng isang security detail, advance na kayo. Para kung anong oras ang mapili ni Sir, bili na kayo ng tickets.” Kasi ang bibilhan mo lang naman is not just me and him, also the security detail.

We went to watch John Wick, Angel Has Fallen, ‘yan yung mga type nya eh. Minsan makakaswerte kami na, nasa Netflix na pala. Yan yung John Wick, aabangan nya yan, papa-clear nya yung schedule nya—no meetings, no nothing. On my part, if there was a problem for the day, I ask myself in the morning, “Can I push this to the following day? Tutal birthday naman nya today.”

There was this one time during his presidency, there was this one birthday where he had to remind me it was his day, because one of his Cabinet members made a major issue. Natimbrehan na ako na lalabas yung issue on the day of his birthday. Post-presidency nya, one of the cases. May nagawa itong Cabinet member nya, sabi ko naman, “Sir, pwede naman na nating iwanan itong issue na ito.” I had to brief him on his birthday. Sabi nya, “Meron ka pa bang sasabihin? Birthday ko.” Sabi ko, “Sir wala na, yun na talaga.”

In the moviehouse, how would the people react?

“Si Noynoy, oh!” 

Picture-taking?

We wouldn’t want that, as much as possible, we’d whisk him in and out. It’d be too crowded. But in the mall, nagpapagupit yan sa mall eh, sa Trinoma kay Cherry Reyes (Toni & Guy). After nun, iikot yan ng mall, nagwi-window shopping. Tatlo lang naman ang tinitingnan nya madalas sa mall—sapatos na pwedeng gamiting pang sports or pang shooting, or apparel. Next level kasi meron yung mga gun sport store. Next he’d look at  books, Fully Booked, National Bookstore. Bad trip nga kasi yung isang bookstore, full of office supplies na raw. So sa isa, he reads while browsing, kasi he’d be able to pick up books, magazines. And then we’d go around, tsatsambahin kung merong something na audio-electronic-related. I do remember at Trinoma, we went to the electronics station and chanced upon a CD player that he had long been looking for. Last piece, we bought it. Tuwang-tuwa siya (he was so happy).

What movie genres did he like?

Action. Action is the easiest to get for him. Basta may barilan, may bakbakan. Martial arts—mahilig sya sa Bruce Lee, I was able to get him a set of Bruce Lee movies. Tuwang-tuwa sya, favorite nya ‘yun. Sinasabi nga nya, may Filipino counterpart si Bruce Lee, a Filipino martial artist na favorite ni Sir. Comedy—type na type nya yung Bad Boys, honestly he likes Bad Boys, tuwang tuwa sya dun. If it’s a romance with a historical flair to it, I think he would like that.

Can you describe his daily routine?

Depends. What I do recall was there were a lot of meetings, either with legal team because of the cases, or may mga hihinga lang ng sama ng loob, ang daming nagpupunta sa (many would like to vent and go to)  Times. Ex-government officials, ex-cabinet official. He’d be the one to try to manage their expectations. There were times in a day he would rest for a while, that would be for some audio listening,. But the real audio experience for him, that would happen late into the night. Yun yung mga times na nadadamay ako minsan, we stayed together for a few hours. He’s not just a music lover. A music lover likes the song, the artist. For him as  an audophile, it was the sound.

There’s a particular sound that he was always after, because for him, the sound creates the experience. To be fair, for example, how does this audio experience start, because it’s really a process. It’s about seven steps, to be exact.

It’d start with warming up—sometimes, before he asked for dinner, “Pagbaba mo, paki turn on sa music room yung speakers para ma-warm up na.” It takes about an hour and a half to warm up certain systems of his. That’s part of it. Parang sa car eh, hindi pwedeng pag on mo nyan tsaka agad tatakbo—papalya yan at one point. So there was a warming up session to that one—”You need to burn in the cable to improve the sound.” Part of that was putting the CD, or a track that would allow the burning in of the sound. He was so meticulous about that, the number of hours. He had note pad to jot down the hours.

The second thing he’d do, he sampled the CD. He had a yellow pad for notes. There was a number of a track, a star meant he liked the track, circle, he didn’t. He’d listen to the whole album, not skipping a song. If he didn’t finish an album, he’d continue where he left off. May disiplina pa rin eh.

Every CD he listened to had a specific serial number and his name on it

Underneath each track is the genre, where to place the song. Next to the album and artist’s name on the yellow pad was a number, the serial number of the CD. You know why? Because the third step is, he printed out Noynoy Aquino serial numbers. Every CD he listened to had a specific serial number and his name on it. So pag sinabi nya, “Gusto ko yung ganitong track version,” we knew which CD to pull it out from.

By the time of his passing, he had put stickers on CD no. 8,683 ,and there were about over a thousand more that he had to listen to. Hence, 10,000, estimate.

 It doesn’t end there. There’s a process called painting the CD, he brought each CD to his room, and we bought him what we call a CD stoplight; it’s like a green highlighter. He would do it, he never asked me or anyone to do it for him. He’d paint the edge of the CD green. The whole idea of the CD stoplight was, when you marked the rim of the CD, when you play the CD again, nagiging mas buo yung sound created, so it has an impact on the CD. He painted every CD by hand, all 8,600 of them. He pasted the sticker, he painted the CD. The following morning, AJ and I would go to the music room, the same process, hahatiin naming yung work, eh. I would update the music system upstairs,  he wanted laging mirror—apples to apples. Kung anong laman ng isang music database niya, exactly the same with the other. So at any one point if he wanted to stay upstairs or downstairs, it would be the same tracks—ganun siya ka-particular. And AJ would start the burning or ripping process of the CDs. From the CD, he’d transfer tracks to Sir’s digital audio players. Anytime he picked it up, dapat match talaga yung tatlong sistema na yun.  AJ would update the playlist on his computer, on his iPad.

‘He painted every CD by hand, all 8,600 of them. He pasted the sticker, he painted the CD’

The week before he died, was he still doing that?

Yes, he did this every day. Kaya alam namin pag may mali or off, “Hindi nag-music si Sir”.

How did you feel when you were turning off his music system?

We turned it off for two reasons. The first one was, baka kasi mag-play nang mag-isa. We turned it off nung Saturday, the day of the burial. The other reason is, these systems need to rest as they will not be used for some time.

Para sa akin, may pagka-methodical pa having to go through each system. What hit me, when I visited the Wednesday after, when we started accounting for a few things of his—what hit me was when I opened the music room, it was really silent, silent and dark. Kasi dati, there’s always a system that’s running, there’s a green light or a blue light. That system was not going to be turned on anymore the way it used to be turned on.

When I went inside, it hit me na parang, “Iba to.” The only time nangyaring pinatay lahat ng systems was yung lipat from Bahay Pangarap to Times. Naninibago—we were doing this even during the presidency. AJ was with the IT staff, he was the personal IT of Sir. AJ was handling the magazines, scanning the magazines, articles, updating ng audio system. Si Sir pag nakakuha ng magandang movie, yung sa Blu-Ray, gusto nyang ipa-burn yan into a hard disk, para pwede nyang bitbitin to Tarlac. He likes duplicates, or the convenience of duplicates.

What will happen to his CD collection?

Still being discussed. They’re looking at the possibility of putting up an audio collection of Sir. PNoy would not want all these CDs to be quiet lang. Each CD was personally cared for by Sir. Each CD has his name, Noynoy Aquino, followed by a  number. When you open the CD, you’ll see that each CD has the color green sa rim. Iba yung level ng dedication niya as an audiophile. He’s so particular that even the polarity of the audio source, kailangan i-measure yun. The electricity output affects sound quality.

One of the things that we would do was ELFIX—it’s a polarity tester—bago namin isaksak ang anything to anything. We have to test the polarity—is it positive, is it negative?

The other one was a compass, yung literal na bubble, yung may bubble na compass  to center the audio hardware. All items have a center of gravity. For it to have a linear bouncing of sound, it has to be at the center of gravity. Kailangan mag-center yung bubble, he supervised that one.

The third thing was the digital ruler; we would measure the length and height of a room. He was a serious audiophile.

Would you say he had a favorite song or music?

Yes, variety. Pero totoo yung kay Ice Seguerra, Minsan Minahal ay Ako. That was a very constant track.

The first time I heard that, we were on a flight back from IloIlo. I was in front of him, he had his headphones. Probably, he noticed I was not doing anything, he let me listen to it. And that was the first track he let me listen to. That was in 2014.

He would listen to very specific songs during specific episodes of his life. One song he really liked was Burt Bacharach’s God Give Me Strength. Sabi ko, “Sir, maganda yung Here’s to Life version ni Shirley Horn in  YouTube, the video is a red album, cover title Shirley Horn–Here’s to Life Gitanes Jazz Production.” He replied an hour later: “I’ve heard that version, look for the version of Artie (Butler), the composer.”… Here’s to Life, if you listen to it, it’s a song that Sir truly felt, especially when we were in Times, one of the handful of songs he would constantly return to.

There’s Burt Bacharach’s Knowing When to Leave, I heard the song so many times, even in Malacañang. Mostly instrumental. Last week of my formal employment in 2019, parang pang-asar niya sa akin (like he was chiding me). On the week I was about to leave, I learned later on, Ate Yolly said, “JC, nagluluksa ata.” I didn’t text him after I left coz  I didn’t know how I would approach him. Eventually, siya rin yung nag-reach out: “Kailan ka magpaparamdam?”

Going back, pinaakyat niya ako sa room nya, towards the last week of my formal employment. “JC, pakinggan mo ito.” Dun ko lang nalaman na may lyrics yung kanta, Knowing When to Leave.

What struck me, he was very sentimental actually as a person, very mindful, very sensitive. And I know he selected that song, one of the opening lines is, “Knowing when to leave may be the smartest thing anyone can learn.” I was like, “What are you trying to tell me?” At that point, our relationship namin ni Sir parang may pagka-forward. It was something like, we were too open to each other about anything and everything.

How about the dogs?

Apat yung dogs nya. The family already has plans for the dogs. Apollo and Athena will remain in the care of certain members of the security team. The two other dogs will be returned to the original owner.

How did he care for his dog? How was he as a dog lover?

His favorite was Apollo. Sometimes, the day would end, he would play with the dogs. Siya mismo nagtri-train kay Apollo. There was this one time, a Sunday, pagpasok ko tapos na yung meeting, ang nandun lang was security. Akala namin, nandun lang sya within the premises. Nakabukas yung main gate, lumabas pala siya with Apollo. Nataranta yung tropa, kasi umabot na kami hanggang Examiner (street), naglalakad kami, people were surprised, he was walking his dog with only one security.

Nataranta yung tropa, kasi umabot na kami hanggang Examiner. People were surprised, he was walking his dog with only one security

So it was happy in Times?

To be fair, he really appreciated the sacrifice of a lot of his people who had to stay in, sacrificed their personal time. Sila ate Yolly, sina kuya Nori, sila Lito, PSG just had to be there to support him. He really tried to espouse camaraderie. He’s not the easiest type of boss, lahat kami, there was a level of discipline we had to maintain. I remember, he specifically told me, “JC, ang opisina, hindi yan pwedeng ipalinis kina Yolly, opisina nyo yan, kayo maglinis niyan (Don’t let Yolly clean the office, you had to do it because it’s your office).” Every Friday, I was in charge of the trash, AJ of the mopping, Sarah, wiping. Si Sir, pag pumasok yan sa office at napansin niyang marumi, sandamakmak na yang sisitahin, galit na yan (If he went into the office and notice the dust, he’d get mad). He maintained the level of discipline, he would also maintain a level of camaraderie.

He really did do that. He was very mindful about the people around him.

Hindi naman talaga lumalabas ng Times yan eh, it’s a bit nakakaburo for some. For me, I would rather stay inside Times coz the comfort of everything we needed was there. Every time we needed to go out, I had to literally bring an office with me. I had to bring an office printer which was always in the car of the tropa, there was always a printer and binding materials. On the spot, if he wanted an article printed, I’d open my laptop, print the file on the spot. He would not accept the reason that the article was not printed because the printer was low-batt. There was always that level of discipline. Efficiency. He would do inspections, random inspections.

He made it really worthwhile for the people there, especially during  birthdays. Siya magpapakain (He’s feed the staff). Makikipag-palakpakan pa yan. Makikipagbiruan kina Kuya Nori, sa tropa, makikipag laro kay Apollo, mini-jogging sila around Times (He’d have fun with them, romp around with Apollo). Alam nya kung sino yung kinasal. Bibiruin nya yan, eh (He’d know who was set to get married and he’d kid them). 

He wouldn’t be in the photos posted but in fact, he’d be there?

Minsan nasa gilid lang siya habang pinipicturan (He’d be only at the side during picture-taking).

All along I thought it was just, he’d greet and leave. 

Wala yung mga tipong stolen shots sa Times, and we never put out anything. We all respected that because we knew he also respected us in return. I like to think that the team that was left post-presidency, especially towards the end, more or less nasala na talaga. 

Addressing the elephant in the room, his detractors spread the yarn that he was abandoned. How was he really?

Even after he left, ambassadors would call on him. Foreign government officials would call him. There were times na pag may bisitang head of state dito, magpapasabi ng message and he would understand. He would keep in touch with a few government heads. There’s one prime minister he kept in touch with. Actually, he invited that Prime Minister to come to Manila.

At the end of the day, yung sa abandon, he understood that. Sa kanya, lilipat ka ng baro, walang problema. In fact, maraming nagpaalam. Sometimes lalapit sa akin: “JC, pasabi kay boss ganyan, lilipat ako.” I would tell Sir. He understood. Ang hindi nya maintindihan, yung lumipat ka na, nakisipa ka pa (You changed sides, then you kicked). There were friends na yung tipong he later on learned na parang hindi pala talaga friends. Parang andun up until before the presidency, nagkaroon ng position, but doing some things behind his back.

Did you expect him to go so soon?

No. He was looking forward to a lot of things. One of the things he wanted to do was to check on a possible boarding school for Apollo and Athena for further training. The point was, mag-di-dialysis sya. There would be a gap between him and Apollo, nalungkot sya. Sometimes pampa-relax din nya si Apollo, eh. Hindi nya pwedeng lapitan, bawal daw eh.

Kung mag–ki-kidney transplant nga sya, the whole idea was kailangan nyang i-relocate to somewhere with fresh air. Si Apollo and Athena naman, bawal bitbitin, hahanapan naman ng boarding school. I was supposed to report on him regarding the rates kasi meron na-refer sa akin.

How did you know that he had passed away?

Ate Yolly. I was about to start the work day. I was about to start the work day, may isang tasang kape na nga ako, 7 something. Tumawag si Abi Valte, sabi nya, “Si Sir, alam mo na ba?” At that point, even Abi wasn’t sure. Tumawag ako kay Ate Yolly, humahagulgol na si Ate Yo. Sabi ko, “Te, anong nangyari kay Sir?” Sumagot sya, “JC, wala na sya.”

‘Tumawag ako kay Ate Yolly, humahagulgol na si Ate Yo. Sabi ko, “Te, anong nangyari kay Sir?” Sumagot sya, “JC, wala na sya”’

After that, I called someone to inform, tapos tawag ako kay Abi. Within that hour, biglang sumingaw eh. After that, proceed na ako sa Times. On the way to Times, one of the sisters contacted me. “JC, we need a photo.” Yun ang ginawa ko. Alam kong ang kailangan ng pamilya is yung immediate support.

That official photo, “Yung nakatingin sya upward.” I selected that photo for two reasons. The first one is, “He was smiling”—that was the only thing the sisters asked. Parang yun ang pinakamagandang smile—there were several photos I selected. Ito yung smiling sya na parang ang ganda nung shot. The second reason I chose that photo was the significance. If you look behind the photo, there’s like a statue pointing elsewhere—that’s the statue of Ninoy.

When was that photo taken?

It was taken on the 30^th Anniversary of People Power. Remember that maanghang speech he had against the Marcoses, here sa People Power monument sa EDSA? Sa akin, it had some poetic balance to it, yung symbolism. Nasa likod Dad niya, but they were looking in different directions. There were times that, Sir would tell me, he would ask his father, “Dad, can I march to a different drumbeat?” Because they’re from two different generations.

 Sa akin, that photo had a personal meaning because it captured him as PNoy the President, People Power Monument—the circumstances behind the photo were very loaded. It has a personal meaning for me, and that was, “Dad, can I march to a different drumbeat?” That’s the photo.

This was probably the simplest presidential funeral ever. Parang normal person lang, eh. 

Ang daming lumalapit at humihinga (many would come to vent)—members of the party, members of the Cabinet, members of the administration…. He had to explain pa

Did he write down some final instructions in the eventuality of his death, like the funeral? 

As far as I know, none.

Because he didn’t expect to go so soon.

I think he wouldn’t want to burden anyone, so less instructions. Parang, can I just go through the night? That’s how they imagine him as a person. And that was very simple, even the photo. Probably other presidents, when they die, they already have their official photos ready. We had to do that two hours before going to Heritage. Unlike other Presidents, if they die, they have all these funeral committees. Kay Sir, this was done in the true Filipino family way.

Post-presidency, was he busy monitoring what was happening in the country?

I wouldn’t say monitoring. The post-presidency, in my head, was about four things.

First was family time and friends time. Siya yung foodie na nakaka-discover ng Stoned Steaks and La Spezia. He looked forward to that, yung food, yung firing pag Saturdays.

Number two, yung getting back to Times. All these things that got collected over the years—the movies, the CDs, the books he couldn’t enjoy during the presidency. Parang he had that opportunity.

Third, truth to be told, there were legal cases against him or Cabinet members he had to prepare for.

Fourth, ang daming lumalapit at humihinga (many would come to vent)—members of the party, members of the Cabinet, members of the administration, civil society, members of the Church. He had to explain pa. May mga tao na buong buhay nila they fought for human rights, for social justice. Ginawa siyang refuge, and he had to absorb that.

Have you dreamt of PNoy since he passed away?

Yung dream, no. When I close my eyes I see images of him, normally papasok siya sa bahay (he’d be about to enter the house) holding the heavy doors, the main doors of Times. Baka nga papasok na siya sa (He could be on the threshold of) eternal na bahay.

Read more:

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

How PNoy pushed and inspired his young staff

Dear Noy

Aquino’s death: The haunting

PNoy was my Clark Kent