NOYNOY AQUINO

Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III[1] (born February 8, 1960) is a Senator of the Philippines and the President-elect of the Philippines.[2][3] Aquino is a fourth-generation politician: his great-grandfather, Servillano "Mianong" Aquino, served as a delegate to the Malolos Congress,[4] his grandfather, Benigno Aquino, Sr., held several legislative positions from 1919–44,[5] and his parents were former President Corazon Aquino and former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. He is a member of the Liberal Party.[6]

Born in Manila, Aquino graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in 1981 and joined his family in their exile in the United States shortly thereafter. He returned to the Philippines in 1983 shortly after the assassination of his father and held several positions working in the private sector. In 1998, he was elected to the House of Representatives as Representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac province. He was subsequently re-elected to the House in 2001 and 2004. In 2007, having been barred from running for re-election to the House due to the term limit, he was elected to the Senate in the 14th Congress of the Philippines.

Following the death of his mother on August 1, 2009, many people began calling on Aquino to run for president. On September 9, 2009, Aquino officially announced he would be a candidate in the 2010 presidential election, held on May 10, 2010.

On June 9, 2010, the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Aquino the winner of the 2010 presidential election. Aquino will take office as the fifteenth President of the Philippines on June 30, 2010, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Early life and education

Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III was born on February 8, 1960 in Manila. Aquino is the third of the five children of Benigno Aquino, Jr., who was then Vice Governor of Tarlac province, and Corazon Aquino. He has four sisters, Maria Elena (Ballsy) Aquino Cruz, Aurora Corazon (Pinky) Aquino Abellada, Victoria Eliza (Viel) Aquino Dee, and Kristina Bernadette (Kris) Aquino Yap.

From 1965 to 1981,[7] Aquino attended Ateneo de Manila University from elementary to college.[8]

In August 1973, eleven months after Aquino's father, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., was arrested and detained for "advocating the overthrow of the government by force or violence".[9] Ninoy was brought before a military tribunal in Moran Hall, Fort Bonifacio.[9] On August 25, 1973, Ninoy wrote a letter to his son, Noynoy from Fort Bonifacio at 11:10 p.m., giving advice to his son;

"The only advice I can give you: Live with honor and follow your conscience.

There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all your strength.

Son, the ball is now in your hands."[9][1]

In 1981, Aquino graduated from Ateneo de Manila University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Economics.[8] Shortly after graduation, Aquino joined his family in Newton, Massachusetts, in exile.[8]

In 1983, after two years in exile in Newton, Massachusetts, Aquino returned to the Philippines with his family, shortly after the assassination of his father on August 21, 1983.[8] Aquino had a short tenure as a member of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, working as an assistant of the executive director of PBSP.[8] Aquino later joined Mondragon Industries Philippines, Inc. as an assistant Retail Sales Supervisor and assistant promotions manager for Nike Philippines, Inc.[8]

From 1986 to 1992, during the presidency of his mother, Aquino joined the Intra-Strata Assurance Corporation, a company owned by his uncle Antolin Oreta Jr., as vice president.[8]

On August 28, 1987, eighteen months into the presidency of Aquino's mother, rebel soldiers led by Gregorio Honasan staged an unsuccessful coup attempt, attempting to siege Malacañang Palace. Aquino was two blocks from the palace when he came under fire. Three of his four security escorts were killed, and the last was wounded protecting him. Aquino himself was hit by five bullets, one of which is still embedded in his neck.[10]

From 1993 to 1998, Aquino worked for Central Azucarera de Tarlac, the sugar refinery in charge of the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita, as the executive assistant for administration from 1993 to 1996, then Aquino worked as manager for field services from 1996 to 1998.[8]

[edit] Political life

[edit] House of Representatives

Aquino was elected to the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 1998, representing the 2nd district of Tarlac.[7] Aquino won re-election in 2001 and 2004, and served until 2007.[7]

As a member of the House of Representatives, Aquino passed numerous house bills and resolutions:[7]

* House Bill No. 4251, granting annual productivity incentives to all workers in the private sector.

* House Bill No. 4397, strengthening the regulatory power of the Department of Trade and Industry to effectively enforce consumer laws.

* House Bill No. 4252, increasing the penalties for non-compliance of the prescribed increases and adjustments in the wage rates of workers.

* House Bill No. 3616, extending the reglementary period for the educational qualification for the Philippine National Police.

* House Bill No. 1842, providing for the codification of criminal laws.

* House Resolution No. 65, inquiry in aid of legislation into the policies and processes of the Energy Regulatory Commission in granting rate increases to electric utilities.

* House Resolution No. 788, a house bill Aquino is reportedly proudest of, which created a Congressional Oversight Committee to check and study the use of intelligence funds by government agencies, thus ensuring that allocated funds are actually used for the purposes they were originally intended for.[11]

Aquino served on numerous committees as a member of the Congress of the Philippines:[7]

* Civil

* Political & Human Rights

* Public Order & Security

* Transportation & Communications

* Agriculture

* Banks & Financial Intermediaries

* Peoples' Participation

* Suffrage and Electoral Reforms

* Appropriations

* Natural Resources

* Trade & Industry

* Good Government

* Inter-Parliamentary Relations & Diplomacy

* Energy

* Export Promotion

* Public Order & Safety

Aquino was Deputy Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives from November 8, 2004, to February 21, 2006.[7]

Aquino was also Chairman of the Board of the Central Luzon Congressional Caucus.[7]

[edit] Senate

Barred from running for re-election to the House of Representatives of the Philippines, to represent the 2nd district of Tarlac, due to term limits, Aquino was elected to the Senate of the Philippines in the 2007 Philippine midterm election on May 15, 2007, under the banner of the Genuine Opposition (GO), a coalition comprising a number of parties, including Aquino's own Liberal Party, seeking to curb attempts by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to amend the Constitution. In Aquino's political ads, he was endorsed by his younger sister, TV host Kris Aquino, and his mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino. Although a devout Roman Catholic, he was endorsed by one of the largest Protestant churches in the Philippines, the Jesus Is Lord Church.[12][13][14] With more than 14.3 million votes, Aquino's tally was the sixth highest of the 37 candidates for the 12 vacant seats elected from the nation at large. He assumed his new office on June 30, 2007.

During the campaign, Aquino reached out to his former enemy, Senator Gregorio Honasan, supporting his application for bail. Aquino told Job Tabada of Cebu Daily News, on March 5, 2007;

"I endorse Honasan's request for bail para parehas ang laban [to even out the playing field]. I was hit by bullets from Honasan's men in the neck and hips but that's past now. The principle of my father was, 'Respect the rights even of your enemies.' Ito ang nagpatingkad ng demokrasya [This is what defines democracy]. Genuine reconciliation is democracy in action."[15]

Aquino was referring to an unsuccessful coup attempt staged by rebel soldiers led by Gregorio Honasan on August 28, 1987, in which Aquino was seriously injured.[16]

[edit] Senate bills

The Budget Impoundment and Control Act (SB 3121), wherein "impoundment" refers to the power of the President to refuse the release of funds appropriated by Congress, is another bill Aquino is proud of;[11] he regretted,[11] however, that such power has been used and abused by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a result of which abuse has been the significant emasculation of Congress' ability to check the President's authority. Aquino filed this bill so the President would have to pass through Congress every time s/he decides to impound part of the budget.

Another significant Aquino contribution to the Philippines' corruption problem is Senate Bill 2035, which is the Preservation of Public Infrastructures bill, seeking to raise standards in the construction of all public infrastructures by penalizing contractors of defective infrastructures. The bill also requires the Bureau of Maintenance under the DPWH to conduct periodic inspections of public infrastructures.

Aquino also pushed for the passage of the Amending the Government Procurement Act (SB 2160), which applies to all government procurement activities regardless of source of funds whether local or foreign; only treaties or international/executive agreements entered into by the government prior to its enactment shall be exempt from coverage. The bill was filed in light of the Department of Justice declaration regarding the validity of the controversial NBN-ZTE scandal, wherein its international aspect, as well as the fact that it was an executive agreement, was cited as one reason for its exemption from the procurement process stipulated in Republic Act 9184.

Focusing further on accountability in government appropriations and spending, Aquino filed other reform-oriented, well-thought-out types of bills, among which were for: PNP reform; an increase in penalties for corporations and work establishments not compliant with minimum wage; the banning of reappointment to the Judicial and Bar Council; the prevention of reappointment and bypassing of the Commission on Appointments; real property valuation based on international standards; and superior responsibility for senior military officers, who are ultimately responsible for their own subordinates. However, none of these bills were passed as a law.

[edit] 2010 presidential campaign

Main article: Philippine presidential election, 2010

In the Liberal Party, Aquino has held various positions such as Secretary General and Vice President for Luzon. Aquino is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Liberal Party.[7]

Following the death and funeral of Aquino's mother, former President Corazon Aquino, many people began calling on Aquino to run for President of the Philippines. This groundswell of support became known as the "Noynoy Phenomenon".[17]

On August 27, 2009, Edgardo "Eddie" Roces, son of the late Chino Roces, former publisher and owner of the Manila Times, and a group of lawyers and activists formed the Noynoy Aquino for President Movement (NAPM), a nationwide campaign to collect a million signatures in order to persuade Aquino to run for President,[18] reminiscent of Roces' father, who on October 15, 1985, launched the Cory Aquino for President Movement (CAPM), collecting more than one million signatures nationwide, asking Aquino's mother to run against Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 presidential snap elections.[19]

On September 1, 2009, at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, in a press conference, Senator Mar Roxas, president of the Liberal Party and standard-bearer of the Liberal Party for President of the Philippines, announced his withdrawal in the presidential race and expressed his support for Aquino, as the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party for President.[20] Aquino later stood side by side with Roxas, but did not make a public statement on the said press conference.[6]

On September 2, 2009, in a press conference at the Club Filipino, Aquino announced that he would be going on a "spiritual retreat" over the weekend to finalize his decision for the 2010 presidential election, reminiscent of the decision of his mother, who in 1985, went on a retreat before giving her decision to run for the presidency during the presidential snap elections in 1986.[21]

After the retreat, on September 9, 2009, at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, the site of his mother's presidential inauguration in February 1986, forty days after the death of his mother, in a press conference, Aquino officially announced his candidacy for the presidency in the 2010 general election.[22]

On September 21, 2009, at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, Mar Roxas, alongside Aquino, officially announced his candidacy for the vice presidency, as the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party for Vice President, launching the Aquino-Roxas tandem.[23][24]

During the 2010 presidential election, held on May 10, 2010, in unofficial tallies, conducted by COMELEC and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Aquino was the leading candidate in tallied votes for President, and in the official Congressional canvass, conducted by the Congress of the Philippines, Aquino was the leading candidate in canvassed votes for President.[25]

On June 9, 2010, at the Batasang Pambansa, in Quezon City, the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Aquino as the President-elect of the Philippines,[2] following the 2010 election with 15,208,678 votes,[3] while Jejomar Binay, the current mayor of Makati City, was proclaimed as the Vice President-elect of the Philippines with 14,645,574 votes,[26] defeating runner-up for the vice presidency Mar Roxas, the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party for Vice President.

[edit] Issue stances during the campaign

In an interview with freelance writer Lila Shahani for Philippine Graphic in the final months of the campaign, Aquino suggested a need to review the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement in both the sovereignty field and economic field, and pushing for a Responsible Parenthood bill to replace Congress' Reproductive Health bill defeated in early 2010. In the same interview, Aquino promised that if elected president he would "refrain from imposing new taxes or increasing tax rates," focusing instead on higher customs duties and getting serious with both punishing tax evaders and smugglers.

Later in the interview, the interviewer asked, "Why is there a scarcity of successful legislative initiatives in your political resume? What political and work philosophies did you bring to the legislature?" To this Aquino answered;

"The Philippines already has decent laws. Some countries have even used some of our laws as the basis for crafting their own legislation. What is far more critical is the implementation gap, which is ultimately beyond the scope of the legislative branch alone. Often, the gap has to do with corruption itself."[11]

[edit] President-elect (2010-present)

Main article: Presidential transition of Noynoy Aquino

The presidential transition of Aquino began when Aquino won the 2010 Philippine presidential election.[3] On June 9, 2010, the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Aquino as the President-elect of the Philippines.[2]

The transition will be in charge of the new presidential residence, cabinet appointments and cordial meetings between them and the outgoing administration.

[edit] Personal life

Aquino is a smoker, and has admitted to smoking up to three packs a day.[27] During his presidential campaign, Aquino promised to quit smoking if he wins the election.[28] However, Aquino decided later he would not quit smoking, at least not at this time,[29] and says he will smoke even on World No Tobacco Day.[30] Aquino says he is not keen on being a poster boy for anti-smoking advocates,[31] and says he would quit smoking at the "appropriate" time.[30]

Aquino is currently in a relationship with Shalani Soledad, a 30-year-old Valenzuela City councilor and niece of former Senator Francisco Tatad.[32][33][34][35] Aquino and Soledad first met in 2000 or 2001, when Soledad interviewed Aquino for a media project.[32] They accidentally met again in August 2008 at Alfredo's restaurant in Quezon City, while dining with their respective friends, and the following month, Aquino introduced Soledad to some of his friends and said they were just going out.[32]

Aquino was previously in a relationship with a stewardess, a staffer of Senator Francis Pangilinan, and two actresses. Aquino is also known to have dated Korina Sanchez, now married to Senator Mar Roxas, and Bernadette Sembrano.[32]

Aquino is an enthusiast of shooting and billiards.[1] Aquino relaxes by playing computer games since he could no longer do practical shooting and billiards.[36] Aquino is a history buff.[1] Aquino is also an audiophile and enjoys listening to music.[36] Aquino's favorite food is Chinese food.