"Noynoy" Aquino proclaimed as Philippines' 15th president

It is official. After three weeks of canvassing the votes of the first automated election in the country last May 10, the Philippine congress finally proclaimed Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as the country’s next President.

The son of Philippine hero Benigno “Ninoy Aquino II and former President and democracy icon Corazon Aquino will formally take office on June 30 to become the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines. The 50-year-old bachelor will replace the outgoing president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In the final results, Aquino got 5.7 million more votes over his closest rival, former president Joseph Estrada. Aquino received 15,208,678 votes or nearly 42 percent of the total while Estrada got 9,487,837.

Despite being a three-term congressman prior to his election as a senator, Aquino was considered as a political lightweight. The death of his mother last August 1, 2009 and his reluctant decision to become the Liberal Party’s bet in response to the clamor for him to seek the presidency catapulted him into the political limelight.

Aquino, an economics graduate, said that among his top priorities are fighting corruption, improving the economy and bridging the enormous wealth divide.

Makati mayor Jejomar Binay, was also proclaimed as the Vice President of the country.

Photo Courtesy of NPPA