The news of the passing of former president Noynoy Aquino shocked and saddened me. He was barely two years my senior. His presidency proved that top leadership example can make a dent in our country's entrenched culture of corruption. I had imagined him quietly reminding the country of this fact as an elderly statesman for years to come. But it wasn't to be. May he rest in peace.
I first met then Tarlac Rep. Benigno Aquino 3rd in 2005, the same year that this column was launched. He attended my inaugural lecture for the "Sen. Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Professorial Chair for Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance" at the Graduate School of Business of De La Salle University. He gave remarks on my lecture and he struck me as a humble man with a deep concern for the people.
Continue reading with one of these options:
Ad-free access
P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
- Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
- Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)