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Top 10 Facts about Benigno Aquino III

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the Meeting with Local Leaders and the Community. Photo by Ryan Lim –Wikimedia commons

Not too long ago, Philippine state legislators declared Benigno Aquino III as the country’s 15th president, with the opposition senator winning by the widest margin since the return of democracy through a people’s revolt in 1986.

According to the official Congress tally, Aquino, a 50-year-old bachelor and the only son of the Philippines’ revered democracy leader Cory Aquino, received 15.2 million votes, or 42 percent, of the 36.3 million votes cast for president.

Here are some interesting facts about Aquino:

1. He attended Ateneo de Manila University for 16 years

Noynoy is a true-blooded Atenista, having spent 16 years on its campus, completing grade school (1973), high school (1977), and college education (AB Economics in 1981). The University reopened its doors on Saturday, June 26, 2021, and held a funeral mass for the former President at the Church of the Gesù.

Hundreds of Filipinos flocked to the church to say their goodbyes and offer their condolences to Noynoy’s bereaved family. The mass was broadcast live on the and pages of Ateneo de Manila University, as well as on Radyo Katipunan 87.9 FM.

The cremated remains of the former President were transported to the Manila Memorial Park in Paraaque City for interment.

2. He is frequently seen with a bottle of Coke

According to various accounts, the former President always had a bottle or glass of his favourite drink: Coke. Former presidential speechwriter Gian Lao described Noynoy smoking cigarettes, drinking Coke Regular, and eating chicharon every morning in an ABS-CBN article (pork crackling).

Camille Elemia, a Rappler reporter assigned to cover the Presidential beat, also stated that the former President would always have Coke beside him, even when he was sick.

“There were non-negotiables for him: smoking and Coke Classic – though I imagine him saying, ‘Camille, but on most days none.”  He stated that he would continue to smoke one or two cigarettes, but that would be it.  He claimed that the first 24 hours were the most difficult.”

Former Malacaang Media Relations Office Assistant Secretary Paulo Espiritu, who performed ocular inspections for Noynoy’s official engagements, said the latter would frequently require three things: “no flowers due to pollen, Coke regular, and chicharon.”

3. A bachelor who dated famous women

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the Meeting with Local Leaders and the Community. Photo by Ryan Lim –Wikimedia commons

The former President was a bachelor who dated successful women in their particular areas. Even though he never married, he was romantically involved with celebrities such as TV host and broadcaster Korina Sanchez, journalist Bernadette Sembrano, politician Shalani Soledad, actress Barbara Milano, and TV personality Grace Lee.

Noynoy was also connected to celebrity stylist Liz Uy and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach during his presidency.

4. He’s been shot in the neck

When Corazon Cojuangco Aquino was seated in the Malacaan Palace in 1987, there was an attempted military coup against the Aquino family. Three of Noynoy’s bodyguards were killed, and he was shot five times. One bullet remains lodged in his neck.

5. He owns old “pambahay” clothes

Noynoy, like any other Filipino, would dress comfortably on his day off. As per former Malacaang Media Relations Office Assistant Secretary Paulo Espiritu, the late President had a closet full of worn-out pambahay clothes.

“It’s really simple.” There is no [maarte] in this sentence. Siyempre matataas na tao sila, pero bakit ganto lang manamit ang Presidente?

For example, there is a photo from the Zamboanga siege in which the soldier is wearing shorts and a t-shirt.” ( He is a simple man who, despite holding the country’s highest office, is not concerned with his appearance.

Inquirer reported that Espiritu once went to the Zamboanga siege for a briefing while wearing only shorts and a t-shirt.

“‘Yun eh siya. Even if he isn’t the president, he appears in the Times wearing black shorts and a t-shirt. “Minsan butas pa.” (That is him; even if he were not President, he would be seen wearing his pambahay shorts and a holey t-shirt).

6. Pnoy and former Vice President Jejomar Binay were once friends who became enemies

It is no secret that former Vice President Jejomar Binay was a vocal opponent of Noynoy during his presidency. However, they weren’t always each other’s adversaries.

Binay’s farewell tweet to Noynoy recalled a few of the “good times” they shared during the Marcos regime. “Noynoy and I were in Makati on the day the revolution began, thanking the people for voting for his mother, former President Cory Aquino. Pareng Noy, may you rest in peace,”  he stated.

Binay represented political prisoners without charge in the 1970s. In one of his speeches in Makati, Noynoy praised his friendship with the former Vice President.

“At the time, I became very close to him because he prioritized our well-being over his own.”  That was 30 years ago,” Noynoy reminisced.

“It was clear to him that others came before himself… we relied on each other. We were anti-dictatorship and willing to give our lives for our fellow men. That’s how we developed a strong bond,”  he added.

7. In 2016, his yearbook quote perplexed internet users

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the Meeting with Local Leaders and the Community. Photo by Ryan Lim –Wikimedia commons

Many netizens were perplexed when Noynoy’s yearbook quote went viral in 2016. “To be understood or misunderstood is not so much a struggle as it is to understand or misunderstand the longing for inner peace in each man’s heart,”  said the Ateneo graduate. ”A genuine life does not go above and beyond others and oneself….. At high altitudes, a moment’s enjoyment could lead to death. “If you ever come across me in your thoughts, never forget to include yourself and your fellowmen, for in our longings, never forgetting one another, we will struggle together.”

People who read the ex-quote President’s interpreted it differently, but Noynoy never revealed what it really meant.

8. He studied at the Ateneo de Manila

He is the second President to attend the Ateneo de Manila (the first being former President Joseph Estrada), he was however, the first to graduate.

9. Adroit gunman

Few people are aware that President PNoy was a skilled shooter. He even won the First Speaker Jose de Venecia Cup Shooting Contest in 2003, which was hosted at the Armscor range in Marikina City.

10. An Associate Justice administered the oath of office

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the Meeting with Local Leaders and the Community. Photo by Ryan Lim –Wikimedia commons

President PNoy was the fourth president to be sworn in without the presence of a Chief Justice. Conchita Carpio-Morales, then an Associate Justice, swore him in.