Noynoy’s Profile

It is in his bloodline. It is his heritage. For him, democracy restored must be enshrined without fear but with greatest fervor.

It is second nature to Senator Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III to be both a fiscalizer, who relentlessly espouse public accountability, and a staunch advocate of liberal democracy.

His key legislative initiatives are anchored on the protection of human rights and good governance through increased transparency and public accountability. These are founded on the democratic ideals championed by his parents, former Senator and martyr Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino.

A true working democracy, he says, makes possible not only political freedoms but a better life for all Filipinos. It must be able to provide jobs, education, social services and equitable economic prosperity for everyone, not just the rich, privileged few.

The defense of democracy nearly cost Senator Aquino his life. He was almost killed during the military coup against President Aquino in 1990 when he met retreating rogue soldiers at the front gates of Malacañang. Three of his bodyguards died while he suffered five bullet wounds. A bullet is still embedded in his neck.

Senator Aquino served as Congressman of the 2nd District of Tarlac from 1998 to 2007. In 2004, he was stripped of his prestigious post as Deputy House Speaker for Luzon after he joined leaders of the Liberal Party (LP) in calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal.

In May 2007, he ran for Senator and won, placing 6th in the national elections.

As Senator in the 14th Congress, he chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government.

In the LP, Senator Aquino held various positions such as Secretary General and Vice Chairman. He is now the party’s official standard bearer for the 2010 Presidential election with mar Roxas as his running mate.

Noynoy is a graduate of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University. He fancies Chinese food and is a shooting and billiards enthusiast.

BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
Senator – 14th Congress of the Philippines

Senate Office:

Rm. 526 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 70 loc. 5541
Direct Lines: (632) 833-6383
Telefax No.: (632) 552-6601 loc. 5540
Email: sbsa_iii@yahoo.com
Website: www.noynoy.ph

Date of Birth: 08 February 1960

Place of Birth: Manila

Civil Status: Single

Religion: Catholic

Parents:

• Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr.
• President Corazon C. Aquino

POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION & POSITION

• Vice Chairman Liberal Party of the Philippines (March 17, 2006 to present)
• Secretary General Liberal Party of the Philippines (2004 to March 16, 2006)
• Vice-Pres. for Luzon Liberal Party of the Philippines (2002-2004)
• Secretary General Liberal Party of the Philippines (1999-2002)
• Chairman of the Board Central Luzon Congressional Caucus

EDUCATION

• AB Economics Ateneo de Manila University (1977-1981)
• Secondary Education Ateneo de Manila University (1973-1977)
• Primary Education Ateneo de Manila University (1965-1973)

The Lighter side of Noynoy

• He is well loved by his staff. Every request is followed by a “Thank You” even when it is a very stressful day. He eats in the same table with his staff.
• He is a consummate lover of music. He has a vast collection of CDs and records of various musical genre.
• He is a film buff. He keeps VCDs and DVDs of the best from Hollywood.

BIOGRAPHY

Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III (born February 8, 1960) is a Philippine statesman.

The only son of Benigno Aquino, Jr., a Senator imprisoned (and later assassinated) for opposing the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos, and Aquino’s wife Corazon Aquino, who served as President from 1986 to 1992 following the overthrow of Marcos. Aquino was named after his father and his grandfather, Benigno Aquino, Sr., a one-time Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is also the brother of TV host and actress Kris Aquino.

It is in his bloodline. It is his heritage. For him, democracy restored must be enshrined without fear but with greatest fervor.

Senator Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III, like second nature, is both a fiscalizer, who relentlessly espouses public accountability, and a staunch advocate of liberal democracy.

A true working democracy, he says, provides not only political freedoms but a better life for all Filipinos. A working democracy must be able to provide jobs, education, social services and equitable economic prosperity for everyone, not just the rich, privileged few.

Early life

Benigno Aquino III was born on February 8, 1960. He is one of five children of Benigno Aquino, Jr., who was then Vice Governor of Tarlac province, and Corazon Aquino. Aquino studied in Ateneo de Manila University for his elementary, high school, and college education, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree in 1981.

Aquino was wounded during the 1987 failed coup attempt against his mother and was almost killed by a grenade. Specifically, on August 28, 1987, rebel soldiers led by Gregorio Honasan attacked the Malacañang Palace. Noynoy was hit by 5 bullets (one is still embedded in his neck), and 3 of his 4 escorts were killed (the fourth was wounded) protecting him.

Political life

Aquino is a member of the Liberal Party, one of the two parties that traditionally dominated Philippine politics before the 1972 imposition of Martial Law. He has served as the party’s Secretary General (1999-2002; 2004-2006), as well as Vice President of the party’s Luzon chapter (2002-2004). He currently holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Liberal Party, having assumed the post in March 2006.

Aquino is associated with a faction of the Liberal Party which opposes President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whom he is on record as describing as “worse than Marcos,” citing alleged human rights violations.

House of Representatives

Aquino was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998, representing the 2nd District of Tarlac. He won re-election in 2001 and 2004, serving until 2007.

During his time in Congress, he served on numerous committees: the Public Order and Security, Transportation and Communications, Agriculture, Banks and Financial Intermediaries, Peoples’ Participation, Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, Appropriations, Natural Resources, and Trade and Industry committees (11th Congress), the Civil, Political and Human Rights, Good Government, Public Order and Security, Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy committees (12th Congress), and the Banks and Financial Intermediaries, Energy, Export Promotion, Public Order and Safety committees (13th Congress). He was also Deputy Speaker from November 2004 to February 2006.

Senate

Barred by term limits from seeking a fourth term as the Representative for the second district of Tarlac province, Aquino was elected to the Senate in the May 14, 2007 midterm elections under the banner of the Genuine Opposition (GO), a coalition comprising a number of parties, including his own Liberal Party, seeking curb attempts by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to amend the Constitution. In his political ads, he was endorsed by younger sister, TV host Kris Aquino, and mother, 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 movement, whose leader, Eddie Villanueva. 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. He was referring to two bloody coup attempts against his mother in 1987 and 1989, in the first of which Aquino was seriously injured.

sources: www.senate.gov.ph, www.noynoy.ph