While the necrological mass for former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is being said,  it seems even the heavens cry together with millions of Filipinos underneath it. The grayish skies forebode the arrival of rains while the entire Nation awaits for its most beloved son to once more meet his parents now lovingly waiting for him in the glorious Eden of God.

I silently grieve, a grief made profound by the privilege of meeting him while Noynoy was still contemplating on accepting the public’s nomination of him as their bet for the presidency. That was in 2009, several months before the May 2010 elections, of which I was part of the team that campaigned for him.

My wife and I was at the Balai when Noynoy arrived with just one guy in Barong. He saw me and nodded and proceeded to meet Mar, Abad and Chito Gascon inside for a meeting. After a few minutes, Noynoy emerged and when he saw me smoking, he asked for one stick. We smoked together, and the silence was palpable. It seemed then that this man, who probably did not expect to become president a few months from that moment, was still hesitant. Noynoy knew how challenging trhe office that the people wanted him to assume, especially at that time when public trust is low and love for the Office of the President has sunk so low due to numerous charges of corruption.

Noynoy saw me, still frail at that time, and still coping up and soaking with the culture after four years of absence from the Philippine political scene. In 2004, I went to Singapore, not just to work but to avoid all the political prosecution that the Arroyo government heaped upon me for separating myself from the group that propelled her to power thru a coup. I admit that my decision was a painful one because it was also a move that expressed that I had given up for my country. Yes, I gave up because I lost everything when I fought city hall, so to speak. It was a lesson for me and experienced how strong and hard fighting the powers. The struggle left me impoverished to a point when I need to recover. There is absolutely nothing wrong with retreat. As they say, it is an honor to fight another day.

Noynoy served for six years and I was honored enough to at least, in my own way, help in the effort of reforming our country. I helped my good friend, Atty. Siegfred Mison, cleanse the Bureau of Immigration from corruption without getting any single cent in return for my services. I also helped another friend, Ariel Nepomuceno, in a campaign to rid Customs of its corrupt men and women. These two men exemplified what the President Noynoy back then describe as public servanthood.

What made an indelible mark in my soul is how Pnoy made himself a paragon of integrity and honesty in public service. I was not a public official myself but felt that it was my duty and honor to spread this same frame of mind every time I do my work and enrich the relationships that I have with people.

We, Filipinos have lost a dutiful son, who served with honestly and with honor, the Office of the President. Like his parents, Noynoy Aquino exemplified what a servant leader is– an individual imbued with an unselfish desire to help others lift themselves from their impoverished condition. He has never even once vilified the post that was given to him by the people, never even thought of giving up despite the travails the office had given him.

Noynoy never cursed his enemies, and paid his respects to everyone even those who criticize him. He never fostered bad blood between Filipinos. During the Mindanao siege, Noynoy was there with his military officials and men. Through his adept handling of the crisis, the siege never took six months before the government finally re-established its authority over the rebels. The siege never led to a destruction of a city. Zamboanga managed to stand on its own feet a year or so.

Noynoy never used his power to depress the business community. He fostered a very good business environment that foreign and domestic capital came not just in droves, but in gigantuan fashion.

For six years, we were in relative peace. We felt safe. We felt that everything is possible and only our dreams and our creativity limit these opportunities. Our country shone brightly as the newest economic tiger not just in Asia, but to the world. We felt it when thousands of us travel to other lands. During those times, whenever a foreigner meets a Filipino, there was an evident admiration and respect.  We never felt smaller than others. We never felt that we are a small nation traversing the fiery side of the Pacific alongside the giants of human civilization. No. We stood tall and proud that we are now at the cusp of rebuilding our nation, the country of our roots.

Now, we can’t say the same.

Salamat, Noynoy. May your Spirit and the Spirits of your parents still visit us and guide us as we fight the forces of Darkness and evil who now occupy the rungs of Power.

As we say, our dreams shall never die. The fight continues.