FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III speaks during a briefing with members of the Malacañang Press Corps inside the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on March 6, 2012. Photo by Ryan Lim
MANILA, Philippines — Benigno S. Aquino III, the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines, died peacefully in his sleep early Thursday morning (June 24). He was 61.
His first crack at politics was in 1998, after winning a seat in the House of Representatives as congressman of the province’s second district. He represented the Tarlac district in Congress for three terms.
He then became a senator from 2007-2010 and chaired the Senate committee on local government. He was also vice-chairperson of the Senate committee on justice and human rights.
During his presidency, Aquino actively participated in various international conferences and engaged in state visits to push the country’s interests and fortify partnerships with other nations.
Here’s a peek at some of his official engagements within and outside the country as witnessed by his former official photographers Gil Nartea, Lauro Montellano, Benhur Arcayan, and Ryan Lim, who is also a former Inquirer correspondent:
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III during the inspection of the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City on June 11, 2013. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III during his state visit to New Zealand in 2013. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III (L) is given a traditional Maori greeting – the hongi – during his state visit to New Zealand in 2013. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III (L) is welcomed by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae (R) during his state visit to New Zealand in 2013. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III in Cebu in 2012. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III during a Cabinet Meeting in Malacañang. Contributed photo by Lauro Montellano
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III (center) in Davos for the World Economic Forum on January 24, 2013. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III attends the ASEAN Summit in South Korea in October 2013. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III smiles during a meeting with the Filipino Community in South Korea in October 2013. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III recognizes Executive Secretary Paquino N. Ochoa Jr. (R) for the latter’s role in the country’s hosting of the APEC 2015 in the Malacañan Palace. Gil Nartea/Contributed Photo
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III during a visit to Bohol with Liberal Party members on September 26, 2012. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III during a review of honor guards at the lakeside lawn of the Government House in Australia on October 24, 2012. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III bows his head to pray during a Cabinet Meeting in Malacañang. Contributed photo by Lauro Montellano
FILE PHOTO: President Benigno S. Aquino III leads a Cabinet Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room in Malacañang. Benhur Arcayan/Contributed Photo
FILE PHOTOS: U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III (R) at a joint press briefing during the former’s state visit to the Philippines in April 2014. Photo by Ryan Lim
FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis (L) and President Benigno S. Aquino III (R) during the pastoral and state visit to the Philippines in January 2015. Photo by Ryan Lim