Former president Benigno S. Aquino III. (AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — A year after former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III died, his long-time house helper Yolly Yebes is still emotional as she vividly recalled the last moments leading to his passing.
Voice cracking, Yebes remembered the last night she prepared dinner for the late President.
“Nung time na ‘yun, ‘yung gabi nga, nagpa-ano siya ng pagkain, pang-dinner. Naka-ready na lahat. Tapos sabi niya tatawag na lang siya ‘pag kakain. Tapos ni-ready ko sa kitchen kasi hindi na siya nagtatawag eh,” she said in an interview with television anchor Jing Castañeda that aired on Thursday, a day before the first death anniversary of Aquino.
(That time, it was evening, he asked me to prepare dinner. It was all ready. Then, he said he would just call when he would eat. I left it in the kitchen while he was not calling yet.)
However, Aquino had not asked for the food until the next day, prompting Yebes to check if he was doing fine.
“Nung mga umaga, 5:45, maaga akong gumising kasi parang hindi nagtawag eh. Hindi ako ginising. Tinanong ko sa duty kung nagtawag, sabi, ‘hindi.’ Pagkasabi nu’n, pasok ako sa kwarto niya. Nakita ko si sir, sabi ko, ‘parang iba ‘yung itsura niya.’ Tinawag ko ‘yung nurse. ‘Yung nurse na ‘yung pumasok sa kwarto. Ayun po ‘yung last na nakita ko siya,” she narrated.
(By morning, 5:45, I woke up early because he had not called. He did not wake me up. I asked the duty security if he had called, and he said, “no.” After that, I went to his room. When I saw him, I said, “his appearance seems different.” I called the nurse. The nurse went to the room. That was the last time I saw him.)
After learning of Aquino’s death, Yebes recounted that she cried her heart out in the kitchen and remembered the moments he would call her there when coming home from a firing activity.
“Hindi na ‘ko nagsasalita. Iyak na lang ako nang iyak doon sa kitchen,” she replied when asked what she felt during that time.
(I was not talking. I just cried and cried in the kitchen.)
“Kasi lagi silang nagfa-firing eh. Tuwing gabi na parating siya, sa kitchen siya dumadaan, tatawag ulit ‘yan sa akin. Tinatawag niya ako, andito pa lang naglalakad sa may papuntang hallway sa kitchen, tumatawag na siya,” the house helper went on.
(He always goes on firing activity. Every night when he comes home, he passes by the kitchen and calls me. He will call me even as he is just approaching the kitchen hallway.)
Despite having been gone for a year already, Yebes said she sometimes feels Aquino’s spirit in the house.
“Recently lang – ewan ko kung siya ‘yun ah – nagpatay siya ng electric fan. Nagluluto ako sa kitchen. May nag-off. Tumingin ako, akala ko ‘yung mga boys niloloko ako. Pero wala, mag-isa ko lang sa kitchen. Tinignan ko ‘yung electric fan, tapos in-on ko ulit. Sabi ko, ‘sir, alam ko naman nandito ka lang’,” she said.
(Just recently – I’m not sure if it was him – he turned off the electric fan. I was cooking in the kitchen when someone turned it off. I looked around, I thought the boys were playing a trick on me. But, none, I was alone in the kitchen. I turned on the fan again and I said, “sir, I know you are here.”)
Meanwhile, another house helper, Ivy Bermudo-Reanzares, shared that she dreamt of Aquino, who was in good condition.
“Minsan po may sumagi sa isip ko na – sa panaginip ko na parang nagpakita si sir. Ano na siya – dati payat, parang malusog na po siya nagpakita tapos naka-smile,” she said.
(Sometimes, sir appears in my dreams. Before, he was thin, but now, he shows up in a healthy body, smiling.)
Yebes said that even if she had served the country’s 15th president through the years, she is still willing to further take care of the Aquino ancestral home in Quezon City while she still can.
“Pinagdadasal ko po ‘yun na huwag siya mag-alala, na habang nandito pa ako, aalagaan ko ‘yung bahay,” she said, referring to Aquino.
(I’m praying that he won’t worry. While I’m here, I will take care of the house.)
Aquino died “peacefully in his sleep” on June 24, 2021. His death certificate showed that the cause of his death was renal disease secondary to diabetes.