P-Noy’s Playlist And How He Shared Part Of Himself Through Music

The late president Benigno Aquino III or P-Noy was known to be an audiophile who enjoyed listening to a wide range of musical styles and genres. The impressive roster is countless and eclectic, ranging from Apo Hiking Society to Led Zeppelin.

Music was like a soul companion to him – whether it was a painfully emotional ballad, an upbeat dance song, or absolutely anything and everything in between. If you stay long enough in a room with him, the next song played would almost always come as a pleasant surprise. In a way, the diversity of his music taste reflects his personality and his ability to relate to people of different generations and from different walks of life.  

As I write this with his favorite songs as background music, allow me to recall and tell stories of and about P-Noy, or “Sir” to me – and see through the eyes or maybe more appropriately – hear through the ears of a then young staffer, who is beyond thankful to be able to remember him through the music that he loved and shared with a lot of us then. 

'Parang kailan lang'

They say that songs from the past can stir powerful emotions and has the power to transport us back in time. Well, listening to “Heal Our Land” takes me back to one Sunday evening in 2009. While singing this particular song in church, I was approached by a fellow parishioner, asking if I could be invited to sing for a presidential candidate’s fundraiser. I politely declined and said, “I’m sorry, but I am working for a presidential candidate and it might not be appropriate.” And when he asked, “Who are you working for? Because this is a fundraiser for Senator Noynoy Aquino.”

(Note: The “fellow parishioner” turned out to be Chris Carrion, founder of the Spirit of EDSA Foundation)

Thing is, Sir did not know that I sing and because of this, the organizers thought that it would be a thoughtful surprise to have one of his Senate staff sing during the fundraiser, even wrote it as “surprise number” in the program. I remember there were two videographers: one assigned to follow me, and one to catch his reaction. Right before I was tasked to start, he called me over and was giving work instructions and I remember scrambling to hide the microphone as I was about to go onstage. Suffice to say, we all pulled it off and he was pleasantly surprised. Little did I know that after that night – he just added me as probably the accidental and least talented one on his list of favorite singers.

The rest was history. From then on, I found myself often being coaxed by P-Noy to sing, even and especially during lull times – like waiting for the next engagement during the 2010 presidential campaign. He would ask if I was familiar with a particular song and if I was already born when it was released.

“Alam mo ba ang kantang ito? Pinanganak ka na ba niyan?” Years later, he would request that I sing acapella.“Kahit walang music, pwedeng kantahin mo ‘yung ‘Ordinary People’ ni John Legend?” I think he enjoyed having a staff that could also double as a jukebox and on my part, I always enjoyed singing for him as well.

'You think by now I’ve learned?'

“Are you going to sing us a song?” That was how he often greeted me – sometimes it was really pleasant, but there were also times that it was to cushion the blow – before giving serious instructions or perhaps mild scolding about work.

Apart from sharing music through singing, he also enjoyed making me play the piano – in his residence on Times Street in Quezon City before he was president, and also in some private gatherings. 

There was one particular time, I might have overestimated my importance after rushing with a laptop, notebook, and two audio recorders when P-Noy only wanted to show of this beautiful yellow Baby Grand piano. Of course, he asked me to play. Thing is, I’m a fraud! I have memorized and can only play one song: “Fallin’” (from the musical “They’re Playing Our Song”) – lucky for me, it was one of his favorite songs.

I thought of it as our occasional “special number” – where I would accompany him as he belted out notes that were far beyond his range. In fact, I cannot count the number of times he would complain that it’s too high, but being the trooper that he was, would still power through the song until the end anyway. It was not until 2014, when he finally complained asked if there was nothing else to play. “Jenn, wala ka na bang ibang matutugtog?”

'We walked in the fields of gold (or yellow?)'

Fortunate as I was to have shared those moments with him, listening to music and singing onstage was something that he also shared with a lot of people: staff, Cabinet officials, friends, partymates, and of course, the young people in government – to name a few.

As you might have seen the past few days, it was during the Aquino administration where a huge wave of young, even some fresh graduates, had chosen to work in government.

With this, Jesse J’s “Price Tag” comes to mind. No fellowship event would be complete without P-Noy asking the young ones (now “young once”) to sing, so we did. Remembering this moment with fondness, then Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad jokingly described it as, “low budget entertainment,” to which I laughed and responded with, “low budget, but high quality – with lots of love naman.”

That was back in 2012 and we dedicated the song to P-Noy and his Cabinet as we emphasized on the lyrics, “Seems like everybody’s got a price, I wonder how they sleep at night?” and passionately belted out, “We don’t care about the money, money, money.” Because truthfully, with the number of young, inspired, and optimistic people in public service, it was really about having a shared goal and dream and not really about the “money, money, money,” right?

Music truly empowers. I think I speak for most of us that a quick remedy to stressful and sleepless nights would be the sight of our principals, Noel Cabangon, and P-Noy onstage, ready to jam to what we already know and love. And as soon as they start singing “Mabuting Pilipino,” all is well in the world again and we are recharged and reminded of our greater purpose: para sa bayan (for the country).

 In every sense of the word, P-Noy personified that particular song. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why the song resonated so much especially with the young people who put their faith and trust in this visionary and compassionate leader. He was tough where it counted: on accountability and quality of work, but also acknowledged their existence, recognized their sacrifices, and valued their work and contributions – big or small.

When he was up onstage with a handheld microphone for singing instead of the ones placed securely on the presidential lectern – armed with a personalized music lyric book instead of policy briefers – it’s a beautiful and powerful image that spoke volumes: that truly, music was a great equalizer – and to witness it was a unique, humanizing experience.

When the music started to play, he’s no longer the illustrious President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, but Noynoy Aquino, sharing the stage, the microphone, and ultimately a part of himself with all those around him.   

'Tuloy pa rin ang awit ng buhay'

As I listen to the songs he loved, I am reminded of his life and that in times of sadness, frustration, stress, sorrow, or when we need comfort – we are all the same when we turn to music for much needed company. In his untimely passing, a lot of us ultimately turned to music as means to remember and heal.

To Sir – we all take comfort in the happy thought that you’re in heaven, with the perfect sound system that you probably put together yourself (again), with the best band of angels to sing with you (no longer the “low budget” singers).

Here, your legacy lives on in the people you served, and the people you inspired, empowered, and generously shared the microphone with.

To borrow words and draw strength from some of your favorite songs, “Ngunit mayroong awiting iiwanan sa inyong alaala, dahil minsan tayo’y nagkasama.” I hope all of us who feel broken and empty because of your absence will take comfort and find inspiration to fight another day in the music that you loved and shared with all of us. 

Here’s the Spotify playlist lovingly compiled by Aquino’s family, friends, staff and supporters titled PNoy’s Greatest Hits after he passed away on June 24 due to renal disease secondary to diabetes. He was 61. He was laid to rest at Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City on June 26.

1. Minsan Minahal Ay Ako

2. Kanlungan

3. Estudyante Blues

4. Balong Malalim

5. Araw-Gabi

6. Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin

7. A House Is Not A Home

8. Kahit Na

9. You Are The Love Of My Life

10. The Impossible Dream

11. Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko

12. Ikaw

13. I’ll Never Say Goodbye

14. Because

15. Anima Christi

16. Tuloy Pa Rin

17. Bato Sa Buhangin

18. A Certain Sadness

19. Ako’y Isang Mabuting Pilipino

20. Rock Baby Rock

21. Waka Waka

22. If You Asked Me To

23. To Love Somebody

24. Of All The Things

25. The Harder I Try

26. The Prayer

27.  Handog

28. Practical Arrangement

29. Umagang Kay Ganda

30. An Affair To Remember

31. Dadalhin

32. Theme From The Cardinal

33. Ordinary People

34. Rainy Days And Mondays

35. Used To Be

36. Are You There (With Another Girl)

37. Fields Of Gold

38. Watch What Happens

39. Here’s To Life

40. Sana Maulit Muli

41. Everything’s Alright

42. Tuwing Umuulan

43. ‘Di Bale Na Lang

44. Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan

45. Baby, Now That I’ve Found You

46. Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko

47. Bongga Ka Day

48. Sumayaw, Sumunod

49. Doo Bidoo

50. Ikaw Lamang

51. All My Life

52. Binibini

53. Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin

54. A Thousand Years

55. All I Ask Of You

56. Always On My Mind

57. Build Me Up Buttercup

58. Handog Ng Pilipino Sa Mundo

59. When She Cries

60. Afraid For Love To Fade

61. Para Sa Akin

62. Dadalhin

63. Firework

About the author

Jenn Lazo is a women empowerment and gender equality communications consultant for the Philippines and in Southeast Asia. She is now a Canadian resident and also works for a Toronto-based non-profit organization that helps empower young women and girls.

She served as the late former president Benigno Aquino III’s political communications assistant in the Senate in early 2009 and later on joined the Presidential Communications Group as head executive assistant until 2015.

Lazo was a former musical theater actress before she joined the office of the late leader.