News update Noynoy pleases crowd with ‘unrehearsed’ songs in post-inaugural concert

He thinks being gunned down in a coup d’etat attempt is easier than singing on stage. Nevertheless, Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III showed another kind of bravery by giving in to the crowd’s request for him to sing, as he ended his first day as President with a post-inaugural concert on Wednesday night.

To the cheers of an estimated 120,000 people who attended the free concert and “street party" at the Quezon Memorial Circle, Aquino performed two songs: Michel Legrand’s 1960s hit “Watch What Happens" and Freddie Aguilar’s 1970s favorite “Estudyante Blues." A bit of awkwardness showing in his voice, Aquino chose to cut short his first song. But the crowd demanded another performance, to which the new president obliged. “Yung talumpati ko ho kanina, hindi ko na ho na-practice. Pati ho itong kanta ho, hindi ko na na-practice. Mas madali pa ho noong na-coup d’etat ako noong 1987. Pero kung pinipilit niyo po talaga ako, pababalikin ko po sila (his back-up singers)," he said. (I wasn’t able to practice the speech I gave earlier today. Even this song, I was unable to practice. It was easier when I experienced the 1987 coup d’etat. But if you’re really pushing me, I can call on my back-up singers to come back.)

Aquino — who sustained gunshot wounds during a coup attempt in 1987 to oust his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino — said he still performed during the concert despite not being comfortable with singing, to thank the crowd who braved the rains just to attend the event. “Para ho sa bayan, bilang pasasalamat sa mga taong pumunta rito kahit maulan para lang makisaya sa ating pagkapanalo (For the people, as my thanksgiving to the people who came to attend despite the rains just to share our victory celebration)," he said in an interview after his performance.

Shortly before 10 p.m., wearing his trademark yellow collared shirt imprinted with a Philippine map, Aquino arrived at the Quezon Memorial Circle — a landmark monument to the country’s first President, Manuel L. Quezon, in the center of the city also named after him. Aquino joined his nephews Josh and Baby James, children of sister Kris, at the front row. Aquino sisters Ballsy, Pinky and Viel were also present. A few minutes after, the president’s girlfriend and Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, wearing the same shirt as Aquino’s, joined him. Also at the concert were Quezon City congressman Feliciano Belmonte, Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri and former Akbayan Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel

Aquino’s close-in team, which included Liberal Party senatorial candidates Nereus Acosta and Martin Bautista, performed a surprise song number for the president during the concert. Other musical performers included Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Gary Valenciano, Gabby Concepcion, Zsa-zsa Padilla and Arnel Pineda. Kyla, Jay-R, Nina, Jed Madela, Coco Martin, Jake Cuenca, Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu, Pooh, Pokwang and Kamikazee also performed during the concert. The concert ended shortly before midnight with a 10-minute fireworks display.—JV