'Son, the ball is now in your hands'

By Thea Alberto, Yahoo! Southeast Asia / Photo by Mike Alquinto & Voltaire Domingo, NPPA Images


In what seemed to be a fulfilled prophecy, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. once told his only son Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to serve and lead the country in the best of his capacity.
In his letter to Noynoy dated August 25, 1973, almost a year after Martial Law was imposed, Ninoy lamented his incarceration and asked his son to continue his advocacies.
“The only advice I can give you: Live with honor and follow your conscience. There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all your strength,” the older Aquino said.
“Son, the ball is now in your hands,” added Ninoy.
Thirty-six years later, Ninoy’s hunch proved to be true—with his only son now taking oath as the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Although Ninoy and his wife, the late president Corazon Aquino (who died of cancer August 2009), did not live to see this day, the younger Aquino took his oath before his four sisters, Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, and Kris, and before millions of Filipinos who believed his promise to eradicate corruption.
‘So help me God’


Amid cheers, Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales administered Aquino’s oath of office at the highly yellow Quirino grandstand, minutes short of the 12:00 time as mandated by the Constitution.
A 21-cannon salute was delivered after Aquino’s oath while two choppers showered the crowd with yellow rose petals.
Eugenio Perez, barangay (village) captain of Sinait in Tarlac City, held the bible where Aquino symbolically placed his hand as he delivered his oath.
Earlier, Vice President Jejomar Binay also took the oath administered by Morales.
In a brief but highly symbolic move, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally relinquished her post to President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

The two arrived at the Quirino grandstand at exactly 10:35 am and exchanged handshakes before the crowd.
Earlier, Aquino and Arroyo shared the presidential car, a tradition in inaugurals.
At the Quirino grandstand, Arroyo then made her final pass in review. She was seen smiling at the yellow crowd.
Arroyo then left with her personal car.