`But what he did next surprised us. He turned around and called the people who were already milling around behind him.
Only twice. I met PNoy only twice. That’s one too few to write about. But I have to. And you’ll see why.
In both instances when I met him, he was consistently humble and accommodating. It was so refreshing to see this in someone who had just been catapulted into a high-octane position — a lonely, scary place he probably didn’t even want to be in — just like his mom. But there you go. God is sometimes funny that way. PNoy and Cory were both reluctant presidents. They didn’t want the presidency, but God had other plans.
The first time we met PNoy was very early in the morning, in Hacienda Luisita, of all places. A friend and I, together with PNoy’s cousins, Marla and Rina, had slept over in the house right across his mom’s house, where PNoy stayed. We ladies were having a bible study when we saw PNoy pull into his garage. His other cousin, Joey, was heating spaghetti in the kitchen, banging and dropping pots and pans while he was at it. It must’ve been past midnight by then.
Earlier, when we arrived in Luisita, we were surprised to see the PSG’s big, black SUVs parked outside the hacienda. The guards said they were waiting for PNoy to arrive. Apparently, the president suddenly decided to spend the night in Luisita, just to have some peace and quiet. But it looked like he was going to have a series of meetings bright and early the next day. We didn’t even expect to catch a glimpse of him.
PNoy had driven all by his lonesome from Manila to Tarlac, leaving his company of guards way, way behind him. Then, horror of horrors, PNoy even stopped at a toll booth to pay his toll fee! My goodness. A terribly, terribly dangerous thing to do. You watch movies, right? Remember how Vito Corleone’s son died in Godfather 1? Well, if I remember right, Sonny Corleone was ambushed and brutally gunned down when he stopped beside a toll booth. Exactly what PNoy did, to the consternation of his guards.
Can you imagine the state of panic PNoy’s guards were in as they thundered down the highway, in hot pursuit of “the president who escaped?!!” It was like a scene from a movie. The guards must’ve had their hearts in their mouths the whole time. And we thought it only happens in the movies.
When we walked across the lawn to meet him, PNoy was just there, standing, patiently waiting for us and his cousins to go over and say hi. He was in an old white t-shirt, a longish pair of shorts na pambahay, and ordinary flip flops. He was smiling awkwardly as he watched us walk over. Maybe he was kind of worried that one of us had a phone and was going to steal a picture of him looking like he just woke up. Well. None of us even thought of taking a picture.
We were introduced to PNoy by Marla, his cousin, and he was so friendly, relaxed, and chatty from the minute we talked to him. It was like talking to an ordinary person, a new acquaintance who didn’t have any airs at all.
We were asking him how it was to be president. How did it feel like? What things did he find hard about it? How was he adjusting? Was it what he expected it to be? Etc. etc. He was candid, funny, and so relaxed. He even told us the brand of the eye drops he was using.
On top of the easy conversation, what surprised us was how he answered everything with absolute candor. He was very focused. He looked at us undistractedly while talking to us — not at all like some busy people whose eyes wander here and there, absentmindedly listening, and in a hurry to finish the conversation. You know the type, right? So annoying… and rude.
Well. Not PNoy. He wasn’t like that at all. He took his time explaining things — even simplifying stuff we didn’t understand — without being impatient or condescending about it. He answered every question with lots of detail, and genuine interest. I remember thinking, Gosh, he’s much more intelligent and down-to-earth than most people we know. And definitely humbler!
As we were busy chatting, we saw people starting to come in, in trickles; waiting in the wings for PNoy to meet with them. However, he was so relaxed that it looked like he wasn’t about to brush us off just yet. In fact, he comfortably put up his foot on top of a low partition in front of him, as if readying himself for more kwentos. But I felt that it wasn’t polite to make the people behind him wait any longer — so I politely interrupted PNoy to ask if he wanted us to pray for anything specific. I asked him, “What three things would you like us to specifically pray for you?”
That’s when he actually stopped for a while — to think. When he was good and ready, he told us what those three specific things were! So I said, “May I pray for you now? For those three specific things?” He smiled his big, big smile and immediately said, “Yes, of course! Thank you!”
Then he said, “May I add another thing? Can you please pray for my eyes? I really have a hard time reading so many documents, one after another. Please pray also that I won’t miss anything important while I’m reading.” So that’s why he had to use eye drops. I was thinking, my goodness it’s like I’m just talking to my son who can really get into the details!
But what he did next surprised us. He turned around and called the people who were already milling around behind him. I remember one was a general whom he introduced to us. And then he called his PSG staff and asked them to come nearer because we were going to pray for him. They all came closer until we were all in a semi-circle around him.
It was a simple but solemn moment. We were quiet, and I asked PNoy to bow his head and close his eyes while we prayed for him. Being the humble man that he is, he immediately bowed his head, and closed his eyes to pray. No hesitation. No awkwardness. Just amazing humility. What willingness to be prayed for! Incredible.
I remember that I asked for one specific thing for PNoy as I closed in prayer — I asked that if God would grant him success as a president, that PNoy would give all the honor and glory to Jesus Christ alone.
Well, it has been almost six years since then. And God has, indeed, given PNoy success in his presidency. The foreign press has been raving about how the Philippines is now the Tiger Economy of Asia, among other things.
The second time I met PNoy was in Manila Polo Club, at an anniversary dinner of Malaya Business Insight. He refused to have a special dinner table set up for him. Instead, he went around and mingled with the small group of people who were there. After he gave his speech, he ate and mingled some more — for hours. Not in a hurry, again. He looked like he was bent on enjoying the evening.
A good friend requested one of PNoy’s friends if we could have a picture with PNoy. It was a “suntok sa buwan” request. You know, shooting for the moon. We didn’t really think it would happen. But wonder of wonders, some time later, we were flabbergasted when a PSG staff came to say that “the president will be coming over to your table in a few minutes, to have his picture taken with you.”
Parang baliktad… it should have been the other way around — “so you can have your picture taken with him.” But, like a true gentleman, he was the one who came over to us. We weren’t being “summoned” to go to him.
Well, after some time, we saw PNoy walking from the far, far end of the big hall of Polo Club — making his way towards us. He politely stopped in the aisle beside our table and just waited there, smiling. That’s when my friend stood up, and had her picture taken with PNoy. I was too shy to stand up and approach him. But my friend, who had not forgotten about me (really a TRUE friend), asked PNoy if he could stay awhile and wait for me to have my picture taken with him, too!
Being the humble person that he is, PNoy said yes, and just stood there, waiting beside our table. My friend called me, so I quickly stood up, went beside PNoy and asked, “Mr. President, may I call my husband to join us in the picture?” (Of course that was me being such an absolute fan already. Shamelessly star-struck.)
And you know what PNoy said? “Of course! Please call your husband. Don’t worry. I will wait here.” And with that, I dashed off, grabbed my husband’s hand, and we walked over to where PNoy was.
True enough, true to his word, he was still there. Waiting. Just waiting in the aisle, beside our table, so we could have our picture taken with him. He reached over, smiled, and shook my husband’s hand, saying, “Good evening, Pastor!”
I must’ve told PNoy, somewhere in our brief pre-pictorial conversation, that my husband was a pastor — and he remembered! PNoy is really of one the humblest persons I’ve ever met.
And that’s why I had to tell you these two stories. What better time than now, when PNoy is already on his way out of the presidency? He was humble as a president. So I can just imagine how much humbler he will be when he’s an ordinary Filipino citizen again!
Which reminds me of a verse in the Bible which says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Maraming, Maraming Salamat, PNoy, for being a public servant who’s humbler than most people we know. God bless you, exceedingly, abundantly, beyond what you can ask for, or imagine!
(We are reprinting this column which was first published in May 2016.)
