Citizen Noy

The most durable memory that P-Noy keeps of his mother Cory’s last day in office as president was her smile.

“From the time she boarded her car, all the way to Times Street and while settling down, her bright smile never left her face,” the President recalled over dinner the other day. And, it seems safe to say, that same smile, or his version of it, will be plastered on his face on June 30, when he exits Malacañang and goes home, again to Times Street, as “Citizen Noy.”

It’s been a series of good-byes for P-Noy: his last official state visit, his last official function, his last vin d’honneur, tours for the media of the heretofore restricted working areas in Malacañang, and, the other night, a dinner he hosted in his favorite Chinese restaurant, Hai Shin Lou, on Arnaiz Avenue in Makati, although he has been a patron since his college days when the restaurant was still a literal hole in the wall in Binondo.

Present at the dinner were the members of the core group of the Bulong Pulungan media forum: Deedee Siytangco, Jullie Yap Daza, Joanne Rae Ramirez, Mandy Navasero, Thelma Sioson San Juan, Mila Alora, Joy Fong, Andrew Masigan and wife Sandee, and myself. (We missed Domini Torrevillas, who was unavailable.) Joining us was Pagcor Chair Cristino “Bong” Naguiat Jr., a “kaklase” and confidante of the President.

None of us could tell the exact reason for the dinner, especially since from the time he took his seat, the President requested that everything shared over dinner be kept “off the record.” Maybe he just wanted to have a relaxing evening enjoying his favorite dishes.

* * *

So let me tell you about the food.

It was P-Noy himself who chose the menu, including his favorites that many of us were tasting for the first time. Most notable were the “mantis shrimp” better known among Filipinos as “alupihang dagat.” Lightly breaded and fried, it was surprisingly fleshy and sweet, truly a surprise since this sea creature is not commonly known as a delicacy.

Heavily recommended was the “seafood olive rice,” fried rice mixed with various sea food and black olives that was, by itself, quite a tasty and filling dish. There was also lobster, but while it was delightful in itself, its pleasures paled beside the novelty that was the mantis shrimp.

Over dessert of black gulaman and lychee and butchi, sesame balls filled with a sweet black soybean paste, P-Noy had an anecdote to share. At one family dinner, he recalled, hosted by his oldest sister Ballsy to celebrate her wedding anniversary, they were each asked to order their own desserts and he chose the black gulaman. But since butchi was also a favorite of his, he reached out for one sticky rice ball until Ballsy told him to keep his hands off it. “You already had your black gulaman,” she admonished him. “You mean you’re really going to deprive me of one butchi?” he inquired of his ate (older sister).

We never did find out if he got to enjoy his black gulaman and butchi, too.

* * *

But it wasn’t all personal anecdotes and jokes that evening, although to honor his request I’m keeping much of what we talked about confidential. But I can say that he refrained as much as he could—despite our prodding or devious phrasing of questions—to comment on his successor, President-elect Digong.

So we asked him instead about matters he could comment on, including his love life. When we noticed he was drinking a Coke regular (he consumes up to six cans a day, he confessed), he quipped that it was in hopes that his amorous affairs would not remain a “Zero.”

Asked what song he’d like to be played at a future wedding, he brightened up and joked: “Another one bites the dust.”

Told that his neighbors on Times Street were preparing a lavish “welcome back” party, P-Noy said he had already talked to them and discouraged such celebrations. Instead, he looked forward to merely enjoying his private time as Citizen Noy: “listening to all my CDs, reading books I haven’t had time to read, and visiting all my old haunts and favorite restaurants.”

But there are those who fervently believe that he still has much to contribute to the country. People have told him not to leave public life completely, he admitted, but blanched when we hold out the possibility of running for Congress, or mayor, as his predecessors have done.

* * *

I do remember “Tita” Cory making much the same vow of abstinence from politics when she left office, itself an accomplishment given that her immediate predecessor had refused to leave Malacañang for over two decades and imposed martial law instead.

But despite her resolve, Cory would be drawn back, time and again, to speak out on matters political, to lead moves against those who seemed to want to extend their stay in office, to condemn high crimes like corruption.

Playing the role of the nation’s conscience doesn’t seem to appeal to P-Noy as yet, but who knows, he may yet get to provide a prominent, alternate voice in case things go terribly awry in the next six years. Maybe that’s why Duterte is trying to eviscerate his memory this early in the game, starting with deliberately ignoring Vice President-elect Leni Robredo just because her persona harks back to the promises of daang matuwid.

In the meantime, let’s give Citizen Noy the time and space he needs to decompress and find his bearings in a new role and a new persona—and, who knows, maybe a new love.