P-Noy attends screening of NatGeo documentary

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino attended yesterday the premiere screening of “Inside Malacañang,” a documentary made by the National Geographic Channel to be shown worldwide in March that features the Chief Executive, his close-in aide and food tester, as well as the Presidential Security Group commander.

More than the structure built in 1750 and which eventually became the country’s seat of power, the documentary also touched on the life of the President and what his job meant for the more than 95 million Filipinos.

The documentary also features the duties and responsibilities of PSG Commander Col. Ramon Mateo Dizon, the President’s close-in bodyguard since 1991, Senior Police Officer 4 Lito Africano; the food tester, Senior Police Officer 3 Jaime Castro; and Jay Morales, the official photographer, who were all personally chosen by the President.

The palace and its rooms were shown to the audience along with their history but did not touch on the security features.

Some of the trainings were also included, one of the highlights of which showed Africano’s skill as a sharp shooter.

In his speech during the premiere screening held at the Rizal Hall of the Palace, the President said he would not want the well-guarded structure to alienate him from the people.

Aquino chose not to live inside the Palace, just like his mother, Corazon, also a former president.

“Living in the Palace can have an unhealthy effect on the presidency – the luxury and grandeur of your surroundings, as well as the knowledge that some of the most important decisions affecting the Philippines have been made within these walls. It can make you feel like royalty; it can take you away from reality, and make you forget that you have more than 95 million bosses you have to serve,” Aquino said.

“While I have the privilege of clocking in and out of such a grand office, I have never forgotten that anyone who lives or works here does so for a limited period of time and does so upon accepting the mandate given him by the Filipino people. I have always believed that Malacañang Palace is, first and foremost, the palace of the people,” he said.

The President admitted he was a fan of National Geographic and immensely enjoyed both “Inside the White House” and “Inside Air Force One” featuring the United States’ presidential residence and presidential airplane, respectively.

“More than anything else, this documentary will open up the Palace not only to Filipinos, but also the whole world. Apart from telling you more about the history of the Palace, it will also give you a look into the lives of the other people who work here – the pilot and maintenance team of the presidential choppers, the Presidential Security Group, and others who work very closely with me. They help me to do my work as President, and I am happy that there is now a film that immortalizes their hard work and dedication,” he said.

“This is an understated lesson in the documentary: that the Presidency is about more than one person. On a larger scale, the same is true for our country. None of us can change this country alone. Every worker must put in a good day’s work,” the President said.

“Let this documentary symbolize that the halls of power are not exclusive to elected officials — every single one of us can take part. This is the pathway that we must take to make certain that all of us are involved, and that no one is left behind,” he said.