If Ex-Pres. Noynoy Aquino were alive, talk wouldn’t be about the heart but about country, says priest

MANILA, Philippines — If former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III were alive, the discussion would be about the country, and not the matters of the heart.

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Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin had this to say Friday during the Holy Mass to commemorate the first death anniversary of Aquino. The former president’s death anniversary coincided with the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

“Sa kapistahang ito ng Banal na Puso ni Hesus, ipinagdiriwang din natin ang unang taon ng pag alala kay Noynoy. Kung kapiling pa natin si Noy, hula ko ah, hindi puso ang ating pag-uusapan,” Villarin said in his homily.

(In this Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are also commemorating the first year of remembering Noynoy. If he were still with us, I bet, we would not be talking about matters of the heart.)

“Magku-kwentuhan muna tayo ng kung anu-ano. Kalaunan, seseryoso ang usapan, dadako sa Inang Bayan. Matters of the state muna bago matters of the heart,” he added.

(We will chat about anything, then it will become serious and discuss matters of the country. Matters of the state first, before matters of the heart.)

Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin. Image from Neil Arwin Mercado

Among the attendees of the mass were Aquino’s sister, Ballsy Cruz, and some of Aquino’s closest friends and allies, including Vice President Leni Robredo and Liberal Party stalwarts Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and former running mate Mar Roxas.

The former president died “peacefully in his sleep” on June 24 last year. His death certificate showed that the cause of his death was renal disease secondary to diabetes.

RELATED STORY:

Ex-President Noynoy Aquino’s 1st death anniversary: Yolly recalls last moments

Ex-president Noynoy Aquino died ‘peacefully in his sleep’ – family

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