Benigno Aquino Iii Quotes

Powerful Benigno Aquino Iii for Daily Growth

About Benigno Aquino Iii

Benigno S. Aquino III, popularly known as Noynoy Aquino, was born on February 8, 1960, in Manila, Philippines, to Corazon Aquino and Benigno Aquino Jr., two of the country's most significant political figures. Growing up amidst the tumultuous Philippine political landscape, his family's legacy deeply influenced his life and career. Aquino studied at Xavier School in San Juan and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Ateneo de Manila University. His political journey began in 1987 when he was elected as the Congressman of Tarlac, the province where his mother was born. In 1998, Aquino won a Senate seat and served for nine years until his election as the 15th President of the Philippines on June 30, 2010. His presidency was marked by a focus on good governance, anti-corruption measures, and social reforms, including the passage of the Reproductive Health Law and the implementation of the conditional cash transfer program for the poor. Aquino's major works as President include the implementation of the Daang Matuwid (Straight Path) policy, aimed at curbing corruption and promoting transparency in government. He also played a crucial role in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Quotes by Aquino reflect his commitment to serving the Filipino people. Notable ones include: "We are neither the first nor the last generation to face problems and challenges. We can only be the first to solve them" and "Let us together make the Philippines a land where no one is left behind, where every Filipino enjoys a life of dignity, prosperity, and peace." Aquino stepped down from his presidency on June 30, 2016, and currently serves as a Senator in the Philippine Congress. His legacy continues to inspire many, embodying principles of service, integrity, and dedication to the Filipino people.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The Filipino people have a right to know that they are not poor because they are lazy, corrupt, and incompetent."

This quote by Benigno Aquino III asserts that poverty among Filipinos is not inherently due to laziness, corruption, or incompetence. Instead, it suggests that systemic issues, such as unjust economic structures or lack of opportunity, play a significant role in generating poverty. The statement encourages understanding and empathy towards those living in poverty and advocates for policy changes aimed at addressing the root causes of poverty rather than blaming its victims.

"We are not merely fighting for political power; we are fighting for social justice."

This quote by Benigno Aquino III highlights the intersection between politics and social issues. He is suggesting that the pursuit of political power should be driven by a broader goal of promoting social justice, rather than just achieving political dominance or personal gain. Social justice refers to fairness within the society in all its aspects including economic, political, and cultural, which means ensuring equal opportunities, equitable distribution of resources, and respect for human rights. Therefore, Aquino III's quote underscores the importance of using political power to create a more just and equitable society.

"Talagang hindi mo kaya ang bansa na ito kung hindi sumasama ang lahat." (Indeed, you cannot govern this country if everyone is not united.)

This quote by Benigno Aquino III emphasizes the importance of unity in governing a nation. It suggests that the success of a government depends on the collective efforts and cooperation of its people. In other words, if citizens are divided or ununited, it becomes challenging to lead effectively and achieve national goals. The statement underscores the power of unity in shaping the destiny of a country.

"A nation can be measured by how it treats its weakest members."

This quote by Benigno S. Aquino III underscores the importance of a society's moral compass, which is demonstrated by how it cares for and protects its most vulnerable citizens. In essence, the strength and compassion of a nation are gauged by the respect, dignity, and opportunities afforded to those who are less fortunate or disadvantaged within its borders. This concept highlights the critical role that empathy, solidarity, and justice play in defining and shaping a society as a whole.

"Ang hirap ay hindi pag-uusapan kundi matutupad. Hindi ito tanging salita; ito ang aksyon." (Poverty is not to be discussed but to be addressed. It's not just talk, it's action.)

This quote by Benigno Aquino III emphasizes the need for action rather than mere discussion when addressing poverty. He suggests that talking about poverty without taking concrete steps to alleviate it is pointless. In other words, he calls for a shift from idle talk to tangible action aimed at improving the lives of those living in poverty.

The Philippines has vast minerals that are still untapped. It has one of the world's largest deposits of gold, nickel, copper and chromite. Through responsible mining, we intend to generate more revenues from the extraction of these resources.

- Benigno Aquino III

Gold, Through, Largest, Minerals

When my father returned home on the twenty-first of August 1983, he had a speech prepared. Filipinos never got to hear it, because he was murdered right on the tarmac.

- Benigno Aquino III

Father, Prepared, Had, August

My father offered his life so our democracy could live. My mother devoted her life to nurturing that democracy. I will dedicate my life to making our democracy reach its fullest potential: that of ensuring equality for all. My family has sacrificed much, and I am willing to do this again if necessary.

- Benigno Aquino III

My Life, Reach, Willing, Dedicate

Perhaps the strongest signal of reengagement with Southeast Asia was the U.S.'s accession to the Southeast Asian Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

- Benigno Aquino III

Asia, Southeast Asia, Amity, Asian

Anytime emotions are involved, you cannot come up with an impartial and objective assessment of any given problem.

- Benigno Aquino III

Emotions, Come, Given, Anytime

Both President Obama and I shared the conviction that territorial and maritime disputes in the Asia Pacific region should be settled peacefully based on international law. We affirm that arbitration is an open, friendly and peaceful approach to seeking a just and durable solution.

- Benigno Aquino III

Friendly, Shared, Obama, President

Let me make it clear: The Disbursement Allocation Program is not pork barrel. Of the DAP releases in 2011 and 2012, only nine percent was disbursed for projects suggested by legislators. The DAP is not theft. Theft is illegal.

- Benigno Aquino III

Nine, Barrel, Allocation, Suggested

My administration's compact with the Filipino people will demand no less than the attainment of lasting peace and equitable prosperity. We will employ all the tools at our disposal to achieve this.

- Benigno Aquino III

Will, Employ, Compact, Filipino

I have never stolen. I am not a thief.

- Benigno Aquino III

I Am, Never, Thief, Stolen

I have to study, study, and study because I have to learn everything. Everyone expects me to be an expert on everything.

- Benigno Aquino III

Learn, Expert, Study, Expects

I remove a lot of the pressure from myself by saying I'm not competing with my parents. They are the persons who taught me my ideology. They actively practiced what they preached. They're the exemplars and the role models. So how does one compete with a mentor?

- Benigno Aquino III

Mentor, Compete, Role, Actively

I had a simple goal in life: to be true to my parents and our country as an honorable son, a caring brother, and a good citizen.

- Benigno Aquino III

Goal, Country, Citizen, Honorable

As far as same-sex marriage, I really would want to think about that a lot more given the fact that my focus would be always on the child. The innocent should not be given more even burdens than what is absolutely necessary.

- Benigno Aquino III

Innocent, Fact, About, Burdens

Pictorial is something that I am not used to. You have to pose, smile, bend your arm, straighten up, look to the left.

- Benigno Aquino III

Pose, Used, Straighten, Arm

I try to put myself in others' shoes: How does any country give up any sovereignty and expect to survive as a government? I don't think that any Philippine president, or any leader for that matter, can afford to give up any portion of territorial sovereignty. That would be political suicide.

- Benigno Aquino III

Leader, Country, Portion, To Survive

My obsession is to provide food and jobs to people in Tarlac. The province is primarily an agricultural province; food security tops the priority.

- Benigno Aquino III

Obsession, Jobs, Tops, Province

I am not concerned about getting reelected. I can make the unpopular but necessary decision. Your focus from day one is on your legacy rather than political considerations.

- Benigno Aquino III

Legacy, Necessary, Concerned, Unpopular

We don't get typhoons in December. They normally end by September. A typhoon happening in October is considered a late event.

- Benigno Aquino III

Late, September, Considered, Normally

Tourism is a crucial industry that could employ millions of Filipinos, skilled and unskilled alike, cross those 7,107 islands of the Philippines. From the current projection of 3.3 million tourist arrivals in 2010, our aim is to eventually attract 6 million tourists. In the process, we expect to create 3 million jobs in the next six years.

- Benigno Aquino III

Aim, Next, Employ, Unskilled

The Philippines-U.S. Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement takes our security cooperation to a higher level of engagement, reaffirms our country's commitment to mutual defense and security, and promotes regional peace and stability.

- Benigno Aquino III

Country, Level, Agreement, Stability

The most powerful person can wind up in jail.

- Benigno Aquino III

Person, Most Powerful, Most, Wind

China itself has said repeatedly that they will and have been conforming to international law.

- Benigno Aquino III

Been, Itself, Repeatedly, International

I'm not concentrated or concerned with any other factors rather than just being able to do the best job that I can.

- Benigno Aquino III

Other, Concerned, Rather, Concentrated

The Philippines is strategically located and blessed with the greatest resource: its people, who are hard-working, very loyal, and very adaptive.

- Benigno Aquino III

Loyal, Very, Resource, Located

Peace in the Middle East is of prime importance to the Philippines, due to the presence of around 2 million of our countrymen working in that region.

- Benigno Aquino III

Middle, Prime, Importance, Region

We will revive the emergency employment program established by former President Corazon Aquino. This will provide jobs for local communities and will help in the development of their and our economy.

- Benigno Aquino III

Development, Established, Communities

We in the Philippines know we have to perform our own role in terms of promoting peace in the world. We are actually members of the U.N. peacekeeping forces in many areas.

- Benigno Aquino III

Own, Role, Promoting, Peacekeeping

As you may know, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, or MCC, awards grants only to countries which rule justly, promote economic freedom, and invest in their people.

- Benigno Aquino III

May, Grants, Which, Justly

I will not only not steal, but I will run after thieves.

- Benigno Aquino III

Will, Only, Steal, Thieves

The Philippines is for the Philippines. We can defend ourselves.

- Benigno Aquino III

Defend, Ourselves, Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan showed the entire world how vulnerable the Philippines as well as other developing countries are to natural disasters.

- Benigno Aquino III

Natural, Other, Disasters, Philippines

President Obama and I recognize the importance of strong economic engagement for the continued growth of both the Philippines and the United States.

- Benigno Aquino III

Strong, United States, Philippines

The United States is a key ally, a strategic partner, and a reliable friend of the Philippines.

- Benigno Aquino III

Reliable, United States, Philippines

When my father was assassinated, I decided that I would not compete with his memory, but the priority would be to achieve his dream.

- Benigno Aquino III

Memory, Achieve, Compete, Priority

There is a theory that China will tend to push, and if you bend, they will push some more.

- Benigno Aquino III

China, Some, Tend, Push

I believe nobody should be discriminated against.

- Benigno Aquino III

Believe, Against, Should, Discriminated

When I was a congressman, I had occasion to talk to this group of students who were taking their seat. There were about 80 of them and I asked them, 'How many of you will be serving in the country once you graduate?' And, out of the 80, there were two that raised their hands. The rest were thinking of leaving.

- Benigno Aquino III

Hands, Country, Occasion, Graduate

I've been called 'hardheaded,' 'obstinate,' 'unreasonable,' etc.

- Benigno Aquino III

Been, Obstinate, Etc, Unreasonable

If we say yes to something we believe is wrong now, what guarantee is there that the wrong will not be further exacerbated down the line?

- Benigno Aquino III

Will, Yes, Line, Exacerbated

Part of my mandate is to curb corruption and streamline a cumbersome, graft-ridden bureaucracy, to put resources where they will provide the clearest results, and to untangle a complicated regulatory environment.

- Benigno Aquino III

Will, Mandate, Clearest, Curb

I was put into office by the people who believed in my idea that corruption is the root of poverty; that an end to corruption would mean an end to poverty.

- Benigno Aquino III

People, Office, Idea, Believed

I am from the class that has, in a sense, benefited from the status quo, but everyone still gets victimized.

- Benigno Aquino III

Everyone, Still, Victimized, Status Quo

I didn't have any ambition to be president. It was fate. The people found me.

- Benigno Aquino III

Ambition, Fate, Found, President

If my father Ninoy Aquino were alive today, he would say that he is not superman or superboy. In effect, heroes are really just ordinary people caught up in extraordinary times and respond properly.

- Benigno Aquino III

Father, Alive, Caught, Respond

The people want to go back to the time when democracy was in full bloom.

- Benigno Aquino III

Want, Go, Back, Bloom

I've talked to so many people, so many institutions, about how China works.

- Benigno Aquino III

How, Institutions, Talked, So Many People

I think President Obama, like myself, is a multitasker.

- Benigno Aquino III

Think, Like, I Think, President Obama

With proper governance, life will improve for all.

- Benigno Aquino III

Improve, Will, Proper, Governance

Mom's paintings are a very small part of the legacy she left behind.

- Benigno Aquino III

Small, She, Very, Small Part

Although I was born to famous parents, I know and feel the problems of ordinary citizens.

- Benigno Aquino III

Famous, I Was Born, Although, Citizens

I started out in public service in 1998 after the Asian financial crisis of '97.

- Benigno Aquino III

Crisis, Financial Crisis, Asian

In politics, you must learn to say 'no' without offending people. That is an art that one must master: to satisfy a person even when you have to say 'no' to him.

- Benigno Aquino III

Art, Politics, Offending, Master

The message has to be sent that if you commit a crime there has to be punishment.

- Benigno Aquino III

Punishment, Crime, Commit, Sent

While I accept that there are certain things about my private life that will always be of interest to the public, it would be better if you give the same amount of attention to issues that matter as well.

- Benigno Aquino III

Private, About, While, Private Life

The focus of my administration is, if somebody decides to work abroad, then it has to be from choice as opposed to necessity.

- Benigno Aquino III

Work, Abroad, Opposed, Necessity

I can try to convince somebody else of my beliefs, but I should not be imposing.

- Benigno Aquino III

Should, Imposing, Else, Convince

I'm not a coffee person.

- Benigno Aquino III

Person, Coffee

The mandate given to me was one of change.

- Benigno Aquino III

Change, Me, Given, Mandate

One of the things my father taught me was you should not exclude those who are opposed to your ideas.

- Benigno Aquino III

Opposed, One Of The Things, Taught

You may have the might, but that does not necessarily make you right.

- Benigno Aquino III

Might, May, Does, Necessarily

Strategic partnership is based on a shared set of values.

- Benigno Aquino III

Set, Based, Shared, Partnership

I want to make democracy work not only for the rich and the well connected but for everyone.

- Benigno Aquino III

Work, Want, Everyone, Connected

When the Walkman was the craze in my generation, I was one of the first to have it.

- Benigno Aquino III

Generation, First, My Generation

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.