‘Graduating’ Noy: I’m not going anywhere

MANILA, Philippines - For President Aquino, the most common question thrown his way nowadays is what he intends to do on June 30, the day he steps down from office, and the days after that.

While suggestions to hold a party or any celebration for and with Aquino abound, a Palace source said the President shuns the idea.

The President would rather go home quietly to Times street, Quezon City after the inauguration of his successor, president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Another aide told The STAR that Aquino appears more relaxed as the end of his term nears, often listening to the reggae version of “Love Generation” and original Pilipino music.

The aide said the President still has a busy schedule this week, his last few days as president. And because of this, he would most likely still be skipping meals.

During a farewell lunch he hosted for journalists on June 17, Aquino said he has not been to his newly renovated house on Times street.

He said he would go back there with his assistants “Yolly, Ivy and Apollo,” his German Shepherds.

“I’ve only seen pictures of the renovation being done,” Aquino said.

The President also talked about the times he and his officials missed breakfast, lunch and dinner because they needed to attend to a lot of things.

He joked and laughed heartily at some of the anecdotes he shared, including about family and food trips.

He revealed that he is taking maintenance medicine for hypertension, and Vitamin B complex when asked about the pills he took after eating.

The President yesterday keynoted the commencement exercises of the Ateneo de Manila University, his alma mater.

He took the opportunity to spend time with his former classmates and friends, including Ateneo president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, who told him to take a vacation after June 30.

Now that he is about to “graduate” from Malacañang, Aquino said he initially thought that all those “what after June 30” questions were only out of curiosity.

But some turned out be serious, like the cadet engineer from the Department of Public Works and Highways, who asked what they could expect from him after he steps down from office.

A president of a prominent business organization had told Aquino that he’s still young and could do many things, like run for an elective post in 2019.

“Deep inside, I said: wait, were the things I did and went through in the past six years not enough?” Aquino said.

“I also wonder why people are saying: ‘We will miss you.’ Sometimes I am forced to reply: ‘Wait, I’m still here. Why are you missing me? After my term, I will only be staying in Times street. I am not going anywhere,” Aquino said, laughing.

He cited an instance at a mall on the eve of Father’s Day, when people dining in a row of restaurants applauded him as he was having dinner.

“Several restaurants were on that floor. In one table, the customers greeted me and shook my hand, others were clapping, including those from nearby establishments,” the President said.

“It made me ask myself: Are they applauding because they were grateful to me? Or they were happy that I am leaving? I suppose they were happy with me, judging from the many people who wanted to have their photos taken with me,” Aquino said.

He said it has been 35 years since he graduated from the Ateneo and had missed his own graduation rites because of martial law.

Seeking Villarin’s advice on what to say during the graduation rites, the priest told Aquino to just speak from his heart about the things that inspired and sustained him.