Benigno Aquino III

How Noynoy Aquino inspired Filipino millennials to serve in government

Jene-Anne Pangue

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How Noynoy Aquino inspired Filipino millennials to serve in government
Young professionals take to social media to share what it was like to work under Noynoy Aquino's administration

For some Filipinos, former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III or PNoy will be remembered for how he became an inspiration for many young professionals to work in the government.

Aquino, the son of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former president Corazon Aquino, was elected as the Philippines’ 15th president in 2010. He died on Thursday, June 24, at the age of 61.

Recalling how it wasn’t always attractive to work in bureaucracy, these young professionals took to social media what it was like to join and serve in the government under his presidency and leadership. 

Policy researcher Ken Abante, who is also a former chief of staff for the strategy, economics, and results group at the Department of Finance, expressed his grief over a loss of a mentor.

Ang pakiramdam ko: Nawalan ako ng guro. Gurong nagturo sa aking maging mabusisi sa pera ng bayan.Gurong nagturo sa aking maglingkod nang tapat,” Abante said.

(I felt like I lost a teacher – a teacher who taught me to be meticulous about the people’s money, a teacher who taught me how to serve honestly)

Abante also expressed how many other Filipino millennials entered public service because of Aquino.

“The PNoy administration inspired a huge wave of young professionals to join and serve in government. Many have since left, many have stayed on. But we’ve all matured and learned the potential and limits of governance. I will always be proud to be part of that wave,” said Rappler Columnist JC Punongbayan, who also worked for three years in the government under Aquino’s term as president.

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‘Different energy’ in bureaucracy

Angelo Kalaw, who voted for Aquino in his very first elections, landed his first job under the presidency of Aquino as a rank-and-file civil servant.

“I just remember he had a really good cabinet – competent and trustworthy people who are experts in the field and knew what they were doing… And having a good cabinet meant he also had good undersecretaries and middle level managers. I was fortunate to work with one, and it felt good because there was a different energy in the bureaucracy,” Kalaw said.

Kalaw recalled having a good time working for the government, but he has since left following the end of the Aquino term.

“Perhaps, it is one reason why I am no longer in the government because hindi na siya tulad ng dati (it wasn’t like before),” Kalaw mused. 

Aquino’s death on Thursday comes five years after he stepped down as president, when he was succeeded by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. (READ: How Noynoy Aquino delivered on 5 major promises)

“It was not perfect, but it was sober. Amidst the overwhelming systems, it pushed with decency and respect. It was good time to be in the government service, because he fostered an administration that rewarded competence, valued institutions, and sustained hope. It’s a legacy that we should thank him for as well as fight to restore,” Kalaw said.

Aquino’s presidency was marred by some political lapses, but many lauded his economic legacy.

Working excellently

Like Kalaw, Kristoffer Pasion also worked under Aquino’s presidency as a historical researcher at the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO).

In a series of tweets, he recalled how he was amazed at the work that they were able to do, all because Aquino was at the helm. This includes finishing a historical briefer within about 10 minutes to an hour.

“We’re a people used to charisma but PNoy had none of that. What he delivered were data-driven analyses, & from there, solution & results. We leave these results to the judgment of history, as it has always judged harshly but fairly. But I’m grateful to have served under him,” Pasion added.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1407928646547902465?s=20

Taking off from the lessons he got under Aquino’s leadership, Pasion urged Filipinos to “elect better leaders—better than PNoy, and definitely better than this caricature of a government that we have now. Our Nation deserves no less.”

Leaving a mark

Zy-za Nadine Suzara also recalled her experience working as the former head of the technical team for budget operations of the Department of Budget and Management – Office of the Secretary.

Although not her first time working for the government, she admitted that her passion for public service deepened while working under Aquino’s leadership.

“It made me want to become part of something bigger than myself because we saw how sincere he was about making the Philippines better,” Suzara said.

This work experience actually moved her to continue doing budget analysis even after she left the government. Suzara now works as the Executive Director of Institute for Leadership, Empowerment, and Democracy (iLead) Philippines.

Tinuloy ko pa rin yung pagbabantay sa budget kasi centerpiece ng good governance agenda ng PNoy admin ang national budget. Wala kasing mangyayari sa mga policies kung wala sa budget so importante na makialam pa rin kahit wala na ako sa government,” Suzara added.

(I still continued watching over the budget because the national budget is the centerpiece of good governance agenda of PNoy’s administration. Nothing will happen to the policies if it’s out of budget. That is why it’s important to get involved even if I’m no longer working in the government.)

In a Facebook post, Suzara also narrated the lessons she learned from Aquino: “Sa administrasyon ni PNoy, natutunan ko na nothing less than excellent dapat ang pagtatrabaho hindi lang dahil pinapasweldo ka ng taxpayers money kundi dahil Filipinos deserve better. (Under his administration, I learned that we should do nothing less than excellent work, not because we are paid with taxpayers’ money but because Filipinos deserve better.)

– Rappler.com

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Jene-Anne Pangue

Jene-Anne Pangue is a community and civic engagement specialist at MovePH, Rappler's civic engagement arm.