Former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III promised to be a faithful servant to the Filipino people. On the day of his passing, Tatler remembers the legacy he has imprinted during his six-year term.
When former President Benigno "PNoy" Aquino III took oath at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the tagline "Kayo ang boss ko" (you are my boss) resounded throughout the country like a record willingly played by those who believed in him. Born into a family of politicians, PNoy had a firm, commanding demeanour with a touch of gentleness— traits he must have gotten from his parents.
He is the son of the late Sen. Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino Jr, who challenged the Marcoses at the height of their power. He is also the son of the late Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino, the first female president in Asia, who swept into the Malacañan Palace, restoring democracy in the county.
Following Cory's death in 2009, PNoy has officially announced his desire to run for office. Determined to preserve the legacy left by his parents, he tirelessly campaigned against corruption and poverty.
In June 2010, President Aquino won a landslide victory and the rest, they say, is history.
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Economic Record
PNoy has had a solid economic record. Between January and November of 2014, the inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI) reached $5.7 billion, a 60 per cent increase compared to 2013. The economy was also reported to have increased by 6.1 per cent in 2014.
According to a Manila Times report, despite being slower than the 7.2 growth in 2013, and short of the government's 6.5 to 7.5 target, this is the second-fastest record in Asia during that period.
Campaign Against Corruption
In his goal to curb corruption, PNoy has set up the now-defunct Philippine Truth Commission (PTC) in 2010. The agency investigates reports on large scale grafts in the country. It also seeks to put closure by filling appropriate cases against people involved.
The Commission, which was supposed to probe tramped up corruption charges against the Arroyo administration, never came to be after the Supreme Court ruled it to be unconstitutional in the same year.
Take On Reproductive Health
Among the many progressive laws signed under PNoy's administration is the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012. The law provides universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care in the country.
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