PROFILE: Benigno Simeon “NOYNOY” Cojuangco Aquino III
Posted at 09/09/2009 2:38 PM | Updated as of 04/29/2010 12:18 PM
Date of Birth: February 8, 1960
Place of Birth: Manila
Provincial Address: Sitio Alto, Brg. Central, Tarlac City, Tarlac
Civil Status: Single, Currently in a relationship with Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad
Official Website: www.noynoy.ph
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/noynoy.aquino
Twitter: http://twitter.com/noynoyaquino
SUMMARY
The son of two democracy icons, Aquino had no intention of running for President before the death of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, in August 2009. After Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Roxas gave way, Aquino decided to carry the torch and he was declared the standard bearer presidential bet of the party.
On running for President after his mother’s death: “I had no ambitions to run in the 2010 elections but I responded to the people's clamor. I am but the face of what we believe is the overwhelming demand of our people to repudiate everything wrong in this administration.” Aquino quoted his father, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr, who wrote in a letter from prison: “Son, the ball is now in your hands.”
On his alleged mental disorder: Aquino denied reports that he underwent medication and psychotherapy sessions, as a “work of fiction.” He told ABS-CBN: “What they're doing is that they came up with this work of fiction, [and] I will respond [and] point out factual errors that are easily verifiable, thereby giving them the chance to, para bang may 'editing' of the work to make it sound more credible… So I'm in a position [where] there is a no-win situation, and the lack of attribution is already indicative of the fact that the person who made this fiction is aware that he is purporting fiction and is slanderous.”
[Editor's Note: Two alleged psychiatric reports, purportedly from the Ateneo De Manila University Psychology Department, were proven to be mere fabrications. ]
On Hacienda Luisita: In a press statement, Aquino committed to distribute 4,100 hectares of the family-owned land to 10,000 farmers in 10 years. The delay in the property transfer, according to Aquino, was because the family is “settling the huge debts incurred by Hacienda Luisita Inc so the farmer-tenants will not absorb it.”
Educational Attainment
- He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1981. He studied basic and secondary education in the same school.
Career Timeline
1981–1983: Shortly after graduating from the Ateneo, Aquino joined his family in exile in Boston.
1983–1984, NGO: After his father Ninoy Aquino’s death, he served as a member of the philanthropic group Philippine Business for Social Progress.
1985-1986, CORPORATE WORK: He was assistant for advertising and promotion at Mondragon Philippines, and later retail sales supervisor at Nike Shoes.
1986-1993, MINOR FAMILY BUSINESS: He joined two family-owned corporations, Instra Strata Assurance Corp. (as vice president) and Best Security Agency Corp. (as vice president and treasurer).
1993–2008, MAJOR FAMILY BUSINESS: He was as Executive Assistant for Administration for Central Azucarera de Tarlac, a sugar refinery owned by the Cojuangco clan, his mother’s side of the family. In 1996, he became a Field Services Manager, a position he held until 2008.
1998–2007, LEGISLATIVE: At 38, he ran and won as representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac. In the same election year, two relatives—second cousin and Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro and uncle, former education secretary Jesli Lapus—won as representatives in the other districts of Tarlac. Aquino was re-elected in the 2001 and 2004 elections.
2004: He became Deputy House Speaker until he was stripped of the position when he joined calls for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign during the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal in 2005.
2007–Present, LEGISLATIVE: After serving three terms in the Lower House, Aquino joined the senatorial race in 2007. He placed 6th. In his first term, he chairs the committee on Local Government and is the vice chair of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights. He is also the oversight committee chair on the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Organic Act.
Legislative Background
- In his three terms as a representative of Tarlac, Aquino filed 21 bills. None was passed into law. As a Senator, he filed another 9 bills. None was enacted into law.
- Two bills have passed the Senate reading but remained pending in the lower house. These bills are: 1) Senate Bill No. 2978, which places parameters for the selection of local Philippine National Police (PNP) officers for local government units and, 2) Senate Bill No. 1710, a bill that bans the re-appointment of a member of the Judicial and Bar Council, the body that vets positions in the judiciary, after a full term.
- In his official website, Aquino explained that his lack of legislative achievement stems from a belief that the country already has too many good laws. What is needed, he said, is proper implementation.
Affiliations
- Former Chair, Pacific Asia Network
- Former Chair, Philippine Cooperative Center
- Former Chair, National Cooperative Movement
- Former National President, Philippine Jaycees
- Chair, August Twenty-One Movement
Business Affiliations
- Member, Philippine Business for Social Progress, 1983–1984
- Field Services Manager, Central Azucarera de Tarlac
–With additional research from Maria Althea Teves, Newsbreak
Sources: COMELEC Certificate of Candidacy, www.omb.gov.ph, www.noynoy.ph, Noynoy Aquino’s official Facebook page, and various news reports
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Tama...
...maraming-marami na'ng magagandang batas ang naipasa pero heto naghihingalo pa rin ang ating bansa. And I believe,by destiny, Noy, be our next president, such laws would be properly implemented...kailangan natin si NOynoy upang mai-ahon sa pagkakalugmok sa kahirapan ang ating mahal na bansang PIlipinas!...Mabuhay ka NOY!
right to vote
hello poh, first time voter poh ako ang hiling ko lang na sana kapag ikaw ang mananalo ngayong election, sabi mo, kami ang iyong lakas, at sabihin ko din na ikaw ang aming pag-asa, sana matugunan mo din ang aming pangangailangan, bilang isang estudyante at bilang isang mamamayang pilipino,,,, SANA MAY PAGBABAGO! MABUHAY KAH! NUMERO UNO KA SA BALOTA KO!
EDUKASYON AT KABAN NG BAYAN
President.NOYNOY alam kopong Panalo kana ang aking hiling lamang poo ay umunlad ang EDUKASYON NG PILIPINAS AT ANG PAGBABANTAY SA kaban ng BAYAN TIWALA POO AG BUONG PILIPINAS Sayo
ESTUDYANTE PO AKO 16 years
No Work No Pay
IN almost all companies I have worked the policy is NO WORK NO PAY. COULD Noynoy please return the salary he has received ?working? in congress since he has NOT DONE ANY WORK. As delicadeza, return the money. If you really want to LEAD BY EXAMPLE, THEN RETURN THE TAXPAYERS MONEY SO THAT OTHERS IN CONGRESS WILL RETURN THE TAXPAYERS (THAT IS OUR HARD EARNED) MONEY BACK. Dapat lang wala ka namang nagawa e. bakit ka pa tumakbo ng pagkasenador ayaw mo rin palang gumawa ng batas. Ano ba plano mo pag Presidente kana?
Since you have not done anything in congress it means YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANY OF YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES.
BAKA GANOON DIN YNG PAGKA-PRESIDENT MO PUROS LANG PROMISES.
Of course Promises Are Made To Be Broken...
@mdm Assumptions no more
I see that you don’t quite grasp my satirical comments but since your mind is somewhat sound, and for the purpose of the few who visit this page, l was compelled to engage.
Since you’ve already committed the common argumentum ad hominem fallacy by branding me as an elitist and off centered, I would say that I am not.
Now back to the issues at hand.
1. Please don’t try to bend the facts in favor of Noynoy. A legislator’s job is to legislate. Recodify laws? What a pitiable excuse. If he cannot or do not want to create laws, just implement them, what’s the point of being a legislator? Answer: Because he just can. Better than Gibo?
Aquino
Congress: 9 yrs
Senate chairs: 2
Bills filed: 0
Laws passed: 0
Congress chairs:0
Bills filed: 8 (including a Tarlac City Day (2005).
Passed: 0
Deputy Speaker for Luzon
Gibo
Congress:9 yrs
Assistant Majority Leader – 11th Congress chairs: n/a(do your own counting at congress.gov.ph pls.)
Bills filed: n/a (do your own counting at congress.gov.ph pls.)
Passed: 12
Villar
Congress: 9 years
Senate: 9
Senate chairs: 3
Senate Pres.
Bills filed: 737(2nd to Miriam duh!)
Laws passed: 10(2nd to none)
204 alone on the first day of office
Congress speaker
Congress: top filer(redundant)
Gordon
Senate: 5 yrs
Senate chairs: 3
Bills files: 228
Laws passed: 2 on top of my head for sure but there may be more. I heard there’s 8
2. You’re right, I never walked the distinguished halls of Ateneo, I was an Iskolar ng Bayan before coming to Columbia. I think highly of Ateneo, in fact, I want to hold a chair there as soon as I I’m done here. But you do have a Law School right? The best in the country, yes, better than UP, I painfully must admit yes. You also have a masters in Economics right? Do you need one to become president? No. But if you’re running against everyone else who made the extra effort of educating themselves, would it prove something?
Aquino
Ateneo: AB Economics
Gibo
La Salle BS Commerce, Major in Financial Institutions
UP Bachelor of Laws
Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence
Bar Top Notcher
New York Bar passer
Harvard - Master of Laws
Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by West Negros University of Bacolod.
Villar
UP Accountancy
UP Masters of Business Administration
Gordon
Ateneo: AB History and Government
UP Bachelor of Laws
And, Ateneans don’t exactly consider Noynoy as one of its most distinguished alumni right? Please say yes.
3. Corruption is not the root but a mere fruit of the problem which is a culture of indolence and dependence after centuries of colonial rule coupled with a cacique democracy. Noynoy, an indolent and mediocre man (based on his career, congress, senate background) is not exactly the kind of person who can end cacique democracy (take on his own family within the Filipino oligarchy), promote wealth creation and help entrepreneurs ( since he was never one and he never created, just inherited wealth), expand and strengthen the middle class and lead a fiscally conservative government (because he never run anything in his life, not even a balanced family budget).
Noynoy is a member of one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties within the Filipino oligarchy. His great grandfather was Don Melecio Cojuangco, born in Malolos, Central Luzon in 1871. A graduate of the Dominicans’ Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the Escuela Normal, and a prominent agricultor (i.e. hacendado) in the province of Tarlac, he was, in 1907, at the age of 36, elected to the Philippine Assembly, the quasi-legislature established by the American imperialists in that year. One of his sons (Noynoy’s grand uncle) became Governor of Tarlac in 1941, another (grand father, Don José) its most prominent Congressman. In 1967, one of his grandsons (grand cousin), Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco, became Governor of Tarlac with Ferdinand Marcos’s backing, and went on to count among the most notorious of the Marcos cronies. Another grandson (uncle brother), José ‘Peping’ Cojuangco, was in those days one of Tarlac’s Congressmen —and one of the halfdozen most powerful politicians in the country.
His father, Benigno Aquino, Jr., at various periods Governor of Tarlac and Senator, linked him to another key dynasty of Central Luzon. Benigno Aquino, Sr., had been a Senator in the late American era and won lasting notoriety for his active collaboration with the Japanese Occupation regime. At the present time, one of his uncles Agapito ‘Butz’ Aquino, is his campaign and former senator, and another, Paul, the head of Lakas ng Bansa (one of the three main ‘parties’ in her electoral coalition); a great uncle-in-law, Herminio Aquino, is a Congressman, as are Emigdio ‘Ding’ Tanjuatco (cousin), and Teresita Aquino-Oreta (aunt). A maternal grand uncle, Francisco ‘Komong’ Sumulong, was majority floor-leader of the House of Representatives.
His only meaningful job experience is within the vast financial, agricultural, and urban real estate empire of his family. He was never a leader, never held a position of responsibility, never created wealth and never been an agent of change.
He’s a mediocre 50 year old man who never accomplished anything neither in business nor in politics. Not to mention his education. Not even a family. How do you expect him to change the corrupt system that he and his family was part of for over a hundred years?
Yung mga akusayon ni Noynoy
Yung mga akusayon ni Noynoy kay Villar is punishable by law. Sana idaan nya sa korte tapos pag president na siya dapat ituloy nya yung case hanggang sa makulong. Pag hindi nanyari yun, niloloko lang tayo at tinagawang tanga.
Unang-una, dapat sa court idaan hindi sa senate forum. nakikita sa TV or kaya naman intervw. panay sabi lang. bakit hindi na lang kasuhan. maimpress p ako pag ginawa nya yun, pero kung panay sabi sabi lang, walang kwenta rin si Noynoy. isang kurap din ang tawag dun. yug partido nya dapat hindi makinabang pag president n cya. kasi ginastusan.
The Filipino gets it. That's why we are voting for Noy.
Beachcomber, You are making the wrong assumptions about Sen. Aquino.
Would you call a three-term congressman and an effective first-term senator "mediocre"? I don't think so. His legislative record is better than Gibo. Noy rightfully focused on transparency in government transactions. Siya na mismo nagsabi, we already have good laws. What we need is re-codification and proper implementation of laws. Do not forget that it is also the Senate's job to fiscalize. Noynoy is at the forefront while Villar can't even allow himself to be interpellated.
As an Atenean, I'm also offended about your comments against the Ateneo. Even if you are filthy rich, you would not graduate unless you are really hardworking and smart. Have you tried spending at least a semester there? I don't think so. But if you did, I pity you for not knowing what it means to be an Atenean.
"The Filipino people just don't get it?" Come on, once again you are missing the point and worse, I find you elitist. You have the monopoly of truth? No - and neither do I. But as you can see, most Filipinos are so fed up with these nine years of corruption (and counting) that we are willing to entrust the country to the person least likely to betray our trust.
Edwin, tama kayo sa sinabi niyo na ang mga buhay ang mahalaga. At iyan po mismo ang dahilan kung bakit natin ihahalal si Noy. Mapagkakatiwalaan ba natin si Villar? Hindi check. When Gibo was SecDef during Ondoy, was he able to do his job? Posible sana kaso bagsak.
If you were around during the time of Marcos, you would understand kung gaano kahalaga ang "Hindi ka nag-iisa." Malakas ng loob mo magsalita ngayon - dahil yan sa ginawa natin sa EDSA.
The message is clear: KORUPSYON ANG PROBLEMA. Me and my family could well live in a Villar or a Teodoro administration. We are already well-off and we know the ropes. But you see, we still have 98% of the country to think about. Only an Aquino administration would be able to level the playing field so that a greater number of Filipinos would be able to feel the fruits of economic growth.
Hwag n nating balikan kung
Hwag n nating balikan kung sinu ang patay n.Ang mahalaga kung sinu ang buhay.Mas matakot ka kung anu ang pedeng gawin ng mga buhay.Hindi magnanakaw pweeeee maniwala kyo dyan.Puru dika nagiisa anu yan lumpo at walang magagawa yaman din lang ganyan at incompetent pala bkit pa tatakbo?hays kung dimu kaya hwag nalang.Anu nang nangyari sa Hacienda Luisita hanggang ngayon di pa pla pinamimigay ang mga lupa naalala nyu pb yun?Akala ko ba makamasa k din bkit ang hrap yata n ipamigay sa mga magsasaka madami pang namatay kaloka kayo.Ang tagal n tagal ng pulitiko din ni isa walang nagawa simbahan naman nagpapagamit.Matalino mga tao ngayon di basta basta maniniwala sa salita dahil pag nagkataon yang noynoy ninyo at walang nagawa sa bansang ito ang tanging masasabi ko sa inyo mga bobo!!!!!sisihin ninyo sarili ninyo.
If Noynoy can, I can
Do you guys really want to have a dull, mediocre guy with pathetic credentials who has never run anything even a family, more so, running away from responsibilities like marriage, for your president? Honestly? Oh come on.
Even I can make my resume appear worthy enough to measure up with the likes of Gibo, Villar, Gordon and even Villanueva and JC.
I’m sure you noticed that my IQ is not very high and I’m not as eloquent as a call center agent but my family is rich enough to send me to ateneo to get my bachelors in economics and that should be enough to do the trick. Besides educational background is one of the few things I can’t be creative with.
I know I don’t really have what it takes to lead and manage something but no matter. My mom and uncles are quite influential so I can be chairman of some coops and president of some clubs that should cover the leadership section. Hey, I also get to sit for various positions in my family’s political party.
I’m not really into making laws but I’ll be a legislator anyway just because I can. I know my colleagues would trust me to chair any committee but I would count them in my resume as well so that the Filipino people wouldn’t notice the ZERO number of bills in congress.
With this resume I’m that the Filipino people wouldn’t mind if:
Gibo is smarter and more eloquent than me: UP law, bar topnotcher, Harvard Masters of Law and all; executive experience; real corporate chairman and CEO.
Villar is smarter and more capable and than me: UP accountancy, UP Masters in Business, entrepreneur, created wealth, created a business empire, created jobs, one of top filers of bills and laws, presided over the two congress, etc. etc.
Gordon is smarter and more accomplished than me: UP law, solid public service and corporate experience with highly visible results (e.g. mayor, SBMA chairman ( definitely not a cooperative), tourism secretary etc. ).
Even if Villanueva, a former PUP economics professor now a leader of a 12 million strong religious org, or JC de Castro, UP Public administration and theological schools in the US, have far more IQ, leadership skills and spirituality than me, I’m sure the Filipinos wouldn’t even notice.
But wait, Noynoy has something that I cannot produce, manipulate or create. Noynoy’s got a dad who’s a national hero, a mother who’s virtue overshadowed the mendiola and luisita massacres and other ills of the Philippines and a sister who got all the brains, wit and charisma of their parents . And of course, I don’t have the backing of a whole network in exchange for a long overdue and perpetual “utang na loob.”
So I wouldn’t bother running. The May elections would be nothing more than a vain yet necessary ritual to coronate Noynoy as the anointed president of the Philippines.
Why? Because the Filipino people just doesn’t get it.
the fact is
the fact is natatakot kumarap sa senado si villar kasi mahuhubaran sya at makikita ang pet-log nya.
the fact is obvious at ooverwhelming ang evidence na may katotohanan talaga ang 200 + 200 milyon na insertion.
the fact is na kumita sya sa overpriced na halaga ng right of way na kung susumahin ang lahat-lahat ang aabot ng mahigit 1 bilyon.
the fact is lumubo ang kayamanan ni villar mula ng umupo sya ng congressman hanggang sa sanador dahil sa mga under the table na transaction hindi dahil sa ipinagmamalaki nyang sipag at tiyaga.
the fact is ang ipinagmamalaki ni villar na managerial skills nya ay itoy usapang under the table, arigluhan, pera-pera lang, pasingit, etc.. etc..
the fact is si villar ay gahaman!!!!