PRESIDENT Aquino on Monday singled out house help Yolly Yebes to thank her for looking after all his needs for two decades, even in Malacanang.
“You never fail to make sure I am able to eat my meals at the proper time; you prepare my things for all my trips, whether domestic or foreign; and you have cared not just for me, but also for those I work with in government,” the President said as he saved Yebes’ name for last in the list of people he thanked in his final State of the Nation Address.
“I never have to worry about those preparations, because you think of everything,” he said.
Yebes, who was among those who attended the joint session of Congress, was teary-eyed when Aquino acknowledged her.
The people whom President Aquino acknowledged made up a motley list, ranging from his family and all his Cabinet members to his fashion designer and hairstylist.
Besides his sisters Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris and their spouses and children, the President thanked the following in his last SONA:
PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS
- Journalist Deedee Sytangco
- Urban Poor Associates project coordinator Alice Murphy
- Yoly Ong, founder of Campaigns & Grey in the Philippines
- Fr. Catalino Arevalo
- Sr. Agnes Guillen
- Fr. Jett Villarin
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
- Cardinal Orlando Quevedo
- INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo
- Bishop Socrates Villegas
- Bishop Jonel Milan
- Jesus Is Lord’s Brother Eddie Villanueva
- Blogger Joe America
- Francesca Santiago, student of the University of St. La Salle-Integrated School
Singer Noel Cabangon - Fashion designer Paul Cabral
- Hairstylist Cherry Reyes
GOVERNMENT (Current and former)
- Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa
- Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras
- Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario
- Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima
- Socioeconomic Planning Secretary General Arsenio Balisacan
- Undersecretary Cosette Canilao, PPP Center
- Trade Secretary Gregorio Domingo
- PEZA Director General Lilia de Lima
- Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson
- Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. and his wife, Abby
- Former Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla
- Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin
- National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia
- Health Secretary Janette Garin
- Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman
- Education Secretary Armin Luistro
- CHEd Chairperson Patti Licuanan
- TESDA Directory General Joel Villanueva
- Science Secretary Mario Montejo
- Agriculture Secretaries Proceso Alcala
- Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Secretary Francis Pangilinan
- Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio Gil de los Reyes
- Environment Secretary Ramon Paje
- Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection and Laguna Lake Development Authority General Manager Nereus Acosta
- Climate Change Commission’s Lucille Sering
- Interior Secretary Mar Roxas
- Budget Secretary Florencio Abad
- Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
- Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma
- Former Press Secretary Ricky Carandang
- Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
- Press Undersecretary Manolo Quezon
- Solicitor General Florin Hilbay
- Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Ben Caguioa
- Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles
- Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chairperson of the peace panel of the Government of the Philippines to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
- Presidential Management Staff Secretary Julia Abad
- National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao
- MMDA Chairperson Francis Tolentino
- Mindanao Development Authority Chairperson Lu Antonino
- National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Joel Rocamora
- Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairperson Imelda Nicolas
- Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas
- Governance Commission for GOCCs Chairperson Cesar Villanueva
- Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs Manuel Mamba
- Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco
- ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman
- National Housing Authority General Manager Chito Cruz
- MWSS Administrator Gerry Esquivel
- Pagcor Chairman Cristino Naguiat
- Former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo
- Senate President Frank Drilon
- Speaker Feliciano Belmonte
- Rep. Neptali Gonzales Jr.
- Rep. Mel Sarmiento
- Gen. Chito Dizon, former head of the Presidential Security Group
- Gen. Raul Ubando, current PSG head
- Lt. Col. Francis Coronel, head of the presidential close-in security
- SPO4 Lito Africano and PO3 Bong Fuyonan, close-in security
- Social Secretry Susan Reyes
- Jun Reyes, Gigi Vistan, and people who worked with him since he ran for Congress
- Undersecretary Rochelle Ahorro and Assistant Secretary Jun Delantar of Malacañang Private Office