A somber mood welcomed the last homecoming of the "illustrious" son of Ateneo.
Former President Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III returned to the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) where he studied from elementary to college for the last time.
By HANA BORDEY, GMA News
Published June 26, 2021 1:05pm
Updated June 26, 2021 6:00pm The Armed Forces of the Philippines gave former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III arrival and full military honors at Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City on Saturday. Upon the arrival of Aquino’s remains at around 12:40 p.m., his urn was welcomed by AFP Chief of Staff General Cirilito Sobejana and Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar. Aquino’s sister Ballsy Aquino-Cruz gave the urn to one of the honor guards. The full military honors started at around 12:50 p.m. The national anthem was played by a band while the military gave a 21-gun salute to their former commander-in-chief.
Former President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III (Robert Viñas/Malacañang Photo Bureau/Noynoy Aquino’s Facebook page)
The untimely demise of Aquino, “who had lived his life with honesty, integrity, and simplicity so that others may simply live, is a great loss not only to his family but to the Filipino nation as well, particularly those whose lives he had touched,” the resolution read.
The measure also cited the achievements of the 15th Philippine President, “the most significant of which was the Philippines’ gallant stand and victory against economic giant China when the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled that China had no claim to the reef within Philippine territorial waters.”
Published June 26, 2021, 6:57 PM
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Saturday, June 26, paid tribute to former President Benigno Aquino III as the country mourns the loss of its past president.
The Philippine Red Cross led by its Chairman and CEO Senator Richard Gordon pays tribute to former President Benigno Aquino III (Photo from PH Red Cross)
PRC said that it “joins all the Filipinos reeling with the sudden demise” of Aquino who died on June 24 due “renal disease secondary to diabetes” according to his family. He was 61 years old.
During the Red Cross Board of Governors meeting held this week, a resolution was also passed honoring the legacy of the former head of state. It also expressed the PRC’s admiration for his “dedication to public service and steward leadership.”
Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday said despite the criticisms hurled at the late former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, history will be the one to give the former leader his due.