By Niña Calleja
Reposted in its entirety from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Feb. 7, 2010
MANILA, Philippines – Away from the eyes of the media, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III quietly dropped by the hospital room of a dying man to grant his wish to see him up close.
Surprising the cancer-stricken Danilo Alonso, Aquino with his cousin Rapa Lopa appeared at room 779 of the Makati Medical Center one Saturday afternoon without telling Alonso’s family that he was coming.
Bedridden for almost a week, Alonso was star-struck and even tried to sit up upon seeing Aquino.
His children and grandchildren cried upon seeing that “a very important person was in the room.” Aquino and Lopa stayed for 30 minutes.
This was how Alonso’s granddaughter Joylyn recounted to the Philippine Daily Inquirer Aquino’s visit.
Alonso could no longer tell the story of how he met his “idol.” He passed away at age 63 two days after the visit.
Alonso was a hardworking tanod (watchman) of Barangay Bagong Tanyag in Taguig City and an avid supporter of democracy icons Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and late President Corazon “Cory” Aquino since the 1980s.
He was admitted to the Makati Medical Center in the last week of January because of liver and kidney failure. He was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer but the doctors could not tell how long he would live.
It was also around this time that Alonso expressed to his family his one wish: To meet Aquino and his siblings.
“Since then, I thought of nothing else but to fulfill that dream. Right away, I went to my computer shop and started a letter,” Joylyn told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Joylyn, a blogger and owner of a computer shop, is one of the 23 grandchildren of Alonso.
Although doubtful that Aquino would have time to visit her grandfather, she finished the letter and posted it on the Internet.
She wrote in www.joylynalonso.blogspotcom: “Reality bites. The least that we can do is to make him happy. He wanted to meet Noynoy in person. He wanted to see the Aquino family.”
“I know it cannot, in any way, heal or make his illness disappear. But all of us would be glad seeing him happy and contented that his wish was granted,” she added.
Joylyn did not know then that within four hours, a staff member of Senator Aquino had read the letter and was about to relay the request to him.
It came as a surprise when Aquino paid a visit.
Joylyn said the immense joy that his grandfather felt was “priceless.”
“My blog is a testimony that simple people like us are worthy of his attention and sympathy,” Joylyn said in her blog.
In the Inquirer interview, Joylyn showed a group picture of Aquino, Alonso, and his grandchildren. “Look, Tatay is smiling,” she said while pointing to Alonso in the picture.
She said that after the visit, Alonso managed to eat more than what he used to as he told them he wanted to campaign for Aquino.
He was convincing his family that he was already recovering very well. He also kept muttering “Laban” either referring to Aquino’s presidential run or his own fight against cancer.
Aquino has heeded supporters’ call for him to seek the presidency a month after his mother, Corazon Aquino, died on August 1, 2009. Although he was leading in poll surveys the past few months, his ratings have been dropping, resulting in a virtual tie with Nacionalista Party rival, Sen. Manny Villar.
Viel Aquino-Dee, the third child of Cory and Ninoy, also paid a visit to Alonso after the letter reached her and her three sisters.
Joylyn said that when Aquino-Dee came, she even apologized to the family because Senator Aquino could not come.
“She was also surprised to know that his brother had come earlier … because she knew Noynoy had a busy schedule,” Joylyn said.
Aquino-Dee also visited the wake of Alonso at the family’s house in Bagong Tanyag, Taguig City.
“We really appreciate those simple actions. Imagine Viel coming all the way here without bodyguards,” Joylyn said.
Alonso’s wife Grace said their family’s admiration for the Aquinos began after Ninoy was shot dead at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport on Aug. 21, 1983.
She said their whole family joined a big rally alon Ayala Ave. and Ninoy’s funeral procession up to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. All clad in yellow, they were also present during the EDSA revolution in 1986.
The story of the Aquinos has been an inspiration to them. “What was happening to the Aquinos, we felt, was also happening to us,” she added.
Grace said that like Cory and Ninoy, his husband had lived “a happy life.”
On Sunday, Alonso was laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Parks and Gardens in Paranaque City.
Just chance upon the blog on the Senate Bills BSA have authored and I glad to find out meron on the regular maintenace and preservation of all public infrastructures. Pansin ko lang kasi talagang walang maintenance ang mga public infrastructures kaya nagde-deteriorate na lang. Sana it will become a law.
ai nako sa inyo. mga bobo ba ang mga tao o mahilig lang magbobobohan. kitang-kitang na kung paano ang C-5 at saka makalulang 1,000% plus na paakyat ng kayamanan ni VILLAR sige VILLAR pa rin.
PLEASE VOTE WISELY.
See you all at the ARANETA on Feb 25 (Thu) starting at 2 PM.
Mabuhay and NOY-MAR tandem! Mabuhay ang Filipino!
Sorry.My comment is for ricky..
Hay naku, bombita do you think other presidentiable can make changes in this country your wrong, they just make false promises just like the one you want to vote.
noynoy ako never akong nag-doubt sa integrity nang mga aquino
Noynoy’s visit was symbolic, it was like a visit of a saviour to a dying nation.
I respect your choice of president Mr. Ed Guerra. But please have the decency and good manners to campaign elsewhere. I will not question you for your choice of:
1. A person who receives taxpayer’s money in the form of his salary as Senator but is nowhere to be found in the Senate doing his job. Binabayaran natin siya ng kanyang sueldo para mangampanya! Ang suerte naman niya. Receiving salary doing nothing.
2. A person who idolizes and faithfully follows GMA’s policy of not facing up to the music for her actions as a government official. The C-5 controversy has exposed Mr. Guerra’s candidate as a carbon copy of GMA. Like GMA, Mr. Guerra’s candidate would rather explain his side of the controversy to the media than be quizzed by the institution of the Senate that has authority over his actuations as Senator. Kopyang kopya si GMA. Do you want a GMA clone to be our next president? Not me!
3. A person who claims to be poor when he was still young but refuses to divulge where he studied during his elementary and high school years. I ask you Mr. Guerra to please check the bio data of your candidate and you will readily find that he proudly boasts his school during his college years but is surprisingly silent on his primary and secondary education. Siya ba ang tunay na mahirap na nag-aral sa Holy Angel Catholic School, a private school (if we are to believe what is slowly coming out about his childhood years).
A person who aspires to be President should reveal everything about his person and not only snippets that favors his ambition.
4. A person who this early has shown a tendency to raid the treasury of the government to benefit his family and business.
If that is the person you like to be president then go vote for him Mr. Guerra. You deserve the kind of government that you elect.
chito dimaculangan, are you connected before with a Lions Club in Quezon City?
Yes. I am the same one. And you are?
my kumpare who is also a lions member Lions Club International District 301-D2 informed me that a certain atty chito dimaculangan was involved with fund anomalies, said Lions office is situated in EDSA beside police station 2. I think this information could be verified with Lions district 301-D2 officers and members.
Really. That’s odd and surprising. Let me verify and check what you are saying.
noypipol, i hope this information would be counter checked with officers of Lions Club District 301-D2 , to avoid pretenders and prevent questionable characters in Noynoy’s camp.
buti nabuko ni mariano banahaw si chito dimaculangan hanggat maaga pa
mr. chito (tukayo!)! a man can only give what he already has deep in his heart, or deep from his pocket. a man can’t give what he does not have, a simple truth!
however, i do see deeply in your heart a lot of wisdom and discerning, among many jewels, chito!
in this morning’s reading, i opened our book on Luke 11, 9-13 (about prayers). you know, natawa ako after reading it! sa “kakulitan natin na may paniniwala sa KANYA” i believe sinagot na tuloy NIYA ang ating mga adhikain and mga panalangin . . .
Salamat na lang . . . si Noynoy!
ricky gregorio, pls move to your candidate’s space and praise him instead. To Sir Chito Enrile Geronimo, may God bless you and your family!
not to worry mr. roy! we are all the same seeds which fell on good ground, some on rocks and others together with weeds. we all have to grow together and that’s the will of the ALMIGHTY! someday i’ll see some of you in that “place prepared for us,” but for now we can carry our burdens, as well as enjoy our blessings! GOD bless you too! and your family and all Filipinos!
ano kaya un??Away from the eyes of the media, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III quietly dropped by the hospital room of a dying man??e bakit nkapost to??pakitang tao nnmn??gagawin mo kaya yan paghindi ka kandidato??hindi ka magnanakaw??imposible ka noynoy..mar roxas, bulok ang style..ano ka artista??drama ng mga commercial mo prang tanga..pra kang totoo n nakikipagusap sa kanila..scripted..ano un?pelikula o teleserye??magartista ka nlng mar baka bumenta pagarte mo..
ALEX, Oo gagawin ni Noynoy yon kahit di sha kandidato. Sigurado kami sa pagkatao ni Noynoy. Ewan ko lang kung ikaw sigurado ka sa pagkatao ng kandidato mong magnanakaw.
kindly read the disclaimer, the blog is the official blog of Noynoy Aquino but the posting was managed by a volunteer staff. The item posted was featured in a national daily. Tanong mo ang Inquirer kung bakit nya pinublish. Kung walang magawa manahimik kesa mag comment ng walang kuenta. Kung ikaw may posibilidad magnakaw wag mong itulad ang ibang tao sayo. Yon naman pala parang totoo ibig sabihin dahil sa puso ang pagkasabi nila kaya nadala ka. Yon lang.
Mikee / pilipinoako: although very tempting to rebut such blog, we shouldn’t even “honor” it with any response. We can’t convince anyone with a closed mind. It’s just unfortunate how some can judge others unfairly. I commend you both for the very well chosen words in your response, just the same, even if I felt your disgust about such offensive blog. Kita ko agad ang natural na kabutihan ng loob ninyong dalawa. God bless us all!
Hindi ko na itatanong sa Inquirer kung bakit nila pinublish, kasi alam kung bago sila pumunta sa hospital, nagtext muna sa Inquirer na ganito ang gagawin nila. Achus! gimik. Akala ko ba si Noynoy hindi tulad ng ibang mga kandidato? Pareho lang pala siya sa iba. Kaya nagbago na ako. Villar na ako.
Go Villar. Kahit sino basta hindi si Erap or Noynoy.
Hello Ed. Without regard to political opinion, your other post has been taken down for using blasphemous tones. While we want to keep a healthy discussion going, please try to maintain respect for other people’s opinions and respect for the sacred.
well, lahat namn ata na naging president nagnanakaw but kompara sa iba mas malalki ang kinukurap nila.. dba? nung c pres. aquino ang naging pres. natin kunti nlng utang natin. sav nga nila kung ano pamilya mo ganun kana rin..
… DONT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER..
pls. dont be unfair…
NOYNOY IKAW NA NGA..
alex bakit kaya hindi mo tingnan ang track records ni noynoy at ni mar. yes hindi lang bulgaran pero ang dami ng times na ginawa ni noynoy na nagpunta sa mga gatherings kahit hindi pa siya kumakandidato as president. sino ka ba? para magsalita ng ganyan TUTA ka ba ni villar na tunay na kurakot at tunay na pahirap at tunay na walang malasakit ikaw ba ay isa sa knila
thank u sa lahat…. Tatay is now with Ninoy and Cory… Watching over us…
Condolence to the family of Mr. Alonso..
Very Humble talaga ang Aquino Family they came without bodygourds, media and publicity! Thanks po Mam Viel and Sen. Noynoy! God bless Po!
naiyak naman ako ……condolence to alonso family…
even my son who is 2 yrs old alam nya ang sign ni noynoy, lagi pa syang kumakanta ng political ad ni noynoy
ang nagyari sa luisita ay hindi kagustuhan ng aquino family.may batas kasi tayo hindi lang nila mahintay ang resulta ng pinaglalaban nila kaya nag alsa sila at sila ang nasaktan….ang pinoy kasi mahilig sa hingi lalo na ang mahihirap,mahirap din ako pero nag sumikap akong maka-ahon sa hirap para sa kinabukasan ng pamilya ko..kung matyga lang sana tayong lahat kaya nating bumili ng sarili nating makakain……
Check my Link…… Basahin sa inquirer
Wow ….. Condolence po sa Alonso Family….. And thats mighty generous of Sen. Noynoy, Kaya naman marami may Idol sa inyo.
@ Ricky I’m sure no member of Noy Aquino’s family wanted what happened to Hacienda Luisita incident… Be grateful that the Aquino’s initiated what every farmers have in claiming a piece of land not only in Hacienda Luisita but throughout the nation.
more so, yung iba nga madaming nagawang batas, but do they know how to follow it?
??
I condole with the family of Mang Alonso as well as commiserate with them on their great lost!
Our parents are our most important gift from God. I’m very happy that Mang Alonso got his wish with the visit of Sen. Noynoy and Viel. Miracles still do happen in this world as long as we do not lose hope, no matter how simple our dreams or aspirations may be. Sabi nga nila, “mababaw lang na naman ang karamihan sa atin.” Isang ngiti mula sa paborito mong artista o sinumang hinahangaang tao ay sapat na upang makapagpaligaya sa atin kahit na sa anumang maliit na paraan.
People who are , in their own small ways, able to bless others will also certainly receive equal blessings! I truly believe that real blessings do not come from people like you and me, but from GOD who knows what is fair and what is GOOD (Mathew 19, 16-20)!
Mabuhay po tayong lahat! God bless!
hindi siguro alam nang tao ang nangyari sa hacienda luisita kaya niya idol si noynoy at hindi rin niya alam siguro na puro co-author lang sa house of representatives at senate ang nagawa ni noynoy!
bakit sya ba ang pumatay sa mga taong yon? huwag magsalita kung hindi alam ang facts. Kahit na co-author lang may nagawa ikaw may nagawa na bang maganda sa bayan mo?
Gasgas na po ang mga ginagamit ninyong paninira sa mga aquino at wala pang basehan . . . . Pwede ba maghanap naman kayo ng bago. Yung may basehan at mga testigo. Kagaya nung mga ebidensya sa C5 extension ba . . . . Siguro kilatisin mo muna ng maige ang kandidato mo para mamulat ang mata mo ha. . . .
Anong walang basehan? Sagutin mo nga? alam mo bang ilang tao ang namatay sa hacienda luisita sa kasagsagan ng eskandalo dun? alam mo bang ilang taon na yang lupain na yan at hindi pa maipamigay sa mga tao? Sagutin mo.
7 persons were killed in Hacienda Luisita when Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas ordered the violent dispersal of striking farmworkers on Nov.16 2004. Only 1 of these have been definitely proven to be an actual farmer working in Hacienda Luisita while the there are speculations that the other unfortunate casualties are outsiders. As for distributing the land, we can look at some facts relevant to the Hacienda Luisita matter:
1) The farmers have 33.296% ownership of the land.
2) The Stock Distribution Option was overwhelmingly chosen by the farmers three times through 3 referenda.
3) Over 10,500 farmers receive 3% of Gross Sales regardless of whether the estate makes a profit or incurs a net loss.
4) The farmers have actually received parcels of residential land.
5) Aside from stock ownership and lots, the farmers enjoy essential social services such as schools and hospitals.
These details are publicly known and published in media outlets.
While we want to maintain a healthy exchange, please try to validate statements before posting them.
Alam namin lahat ang pinagsasabi mo utoy. Mulat kami sa lahat ng bagay. Ang kailangan mo alamin utoy ay si Noynoy ba ang nagutos na barilin ang mga workers ng hacienda? Siya ba ang mastermind nito? Kung wala kang maipapakita na ebidensya na may personal siyang kaalaman dito ay tumahimik ka na. Dapat mo malaman na hindi si Noynoy ang may ari ng hacienda. He is a minority part owner which occured by reason of inheritance and not acquisition. Regarding his performance in the House and the Senate, in my opinion it matters not how many laws a lawmaker has authored and passed. What matters most is he is present in the discussion of those bills, actively participated in the deliberations and introduced amendments to the original bill if necessary. That is what Noynoy is as a lawmaker. Compare that to the record of attendance and participation of his chief rival who is forever absent in the Senate and the House while he was still a member of the same and has no active particiaption in the creation of laws except for allocations for his pet projects that will benefit his financial status.
Just remember GMA authored a lot of bills in her time – topnotcher yata sa bill authoring – then all are histories…are we going to elect person with the same track record? Umm, now having all the said laws being authored – we have the admin for the past 9 years with so many issues of graft and corruption… Well, lets make believe that our economic indicators were authored (doctored) hi hi hi -we survived the recent economic melt down under her leadership (thats her big plus on the other hand) – Point here is track records of bill authorships etc… does not make you a good president or perhaps being mabait… However, in this coming election we can only choose leaders with few taints and less failure in the past – thats our indicator to gauge our new president. While no president can make our individual life prosperous the obvious is YOU make it happen!!!
sir gusto mo bang malaman kung ano ano ang senate bills niya. umaatend ka ba ng mga senate hearings. Ako kasi eh oo kaya alam ko eh ito ang mga senate bills niya na siya ang author:
Senate Bill No. 1370 – an act granting an annual productivity incentive to all workers in the private sector, establishing
mechanisms for its implementation, and for other purposes
Senate Bill No. 1719 – an act limiting the re-appointment of presidential nominees by-passed by the Commission on Appointments (CA)
Senate Bill No. 1710 – an act banning the re-appointment of a regular member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) who has already served the full term
Senate Bill No. 2035 – an act requiring the regular maintenance and preservation of all public infrastructures, establishing mechanisms for its implementation and for other purposes
Senate Bill No. 2036 – an act increasing the penalties for non-compliance of the prescribed increases and adjustments in the wage rates of workers, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 6727
Senate Bill 2159 – an act adopting the doctrine of superior responsibility to all actions involving military personnel, members of the Philippine National Police and other civilians involved in law enforcement
Senate Bill 2160 – an act amending Section 4 of RA 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act to further restrict exemptions to the requirement of public bidding
Senate Bill 2978 – an act amending the DILG Act to further clarify the relationship between local chief executives and their respective local police chiefs
Senate Bill 3121 – the Budget Impoundment Control Act, which seeks to strengthen legislative oversight over executive spending
pakibasa sir tapos comment ka ha
Hay ito na naman wag naman kayo mag pahalata hehehe….read and read muna kayo.For those who read they lead.
My comment is ricky..2loy ang laban.