Broken heart can't be healed here, PNoy told priest-friend in last talk

“‘Yung isang klaseng broken heart, hindi kaya dito.”

(That other kind of broken heart, they can't fix it here."

This was one of the last messages sent by former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to his friend Rev. Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, more than a month before he succumbed to his illness.

In his homily during Friday's Mass commemorating the former President's life, Villarin said Aquino informed him that doctors discovered a 70% to 80% blockage after his May 16 angiogram that was in a good position for access.

“He said the heart... got enlarged because it was working so hard to remove the fluid because efficiency was down due to the blockage,” Villarin said, quoting Aquino.

Villarin replied that the former president should rest, adding that if his heart was a machine it would be overheating.

“Akala ko tapos na, sumagot na naman… Sabi niya, ‘yung isang klaseng broken heart, hindi kaya dito. I guess he meant dito sa ospital. He could have meant dito sa Pilipinas,” Villarin said.

[I thought that was the end of the conversation. He however replied that the other kind of broken heart could not be fixed over here. I guess he meant here in the hospital. He could have meant here in the Philippines.]

“Kung broken hearted si Noynoy, alam ko dahil din ito sa hati ang puso ng bayan. Ang dalamhati ng bayan siya ring dala-dala ng taong ito,” he later added.

[If Noynoy was broken-hearted, it was likely because the country's heart was broken too. He was also burdened by the country's sorrow.]

Villarin said Aquino’s pain was doubled by the injustices in the country.

“Ang broken heart ng bayan ay lalo pang nagagasgasan ng kagaspangan, ng kung ano anong dahas na walang pinagpipitagan. Ang karahasan at pananakot na panakip butas lamang sa isang malalim na kahinaan,” Villarin said.

[The country's broken heart is being roughed up by a vicious roughness that is shameless. The Violence and threats are mere illusions designed to cover up a deep flaw.]

But aside from lamenting about his heart, Villarin recalled how the former President also uttered words of hope despite his situation.

“Ang broken heart di kayayanin, pero kung may grade school hamburger may pagasa.”

[There's nothing for the broken heart. But when there's a grade school hamburger, there's hope.]

“Ito ang huling pangungusap, Noy. Ito ‘yung huling pangungusap sa akin. Pagkain. Pagkatapos sabihing ang broken heart hindi kakayanin, nagawa mo pang alalahanin ang iyong kabataan at ang mga pook ng sariwang pagaalaga at ligaya,” Villarin said.

[This was the last thing Noy said to me. Food. After saying he had a broken heart that could not be healed, you managed to recall the days of your youth, a place of caring and happiness.]

Concluding his message, Villarin said it was time for Aquino to pray for the country from heaven.

“Noy, sa grade school wala na yung hamburger, eh. Siguro diyan sa langit marami, ewan. kung nakakahinga ka na ng malalim. alam ko na sa langit, gutom ka pa rin at broken heart ka pa rin para sa amin,” Villarin said.

[Noy, they no longer have that hamburger at the grade school. Maybe in heaven there's lots of it, I don't know. If you're finally breathing easy, I know that in heaven you will hungry for us and your heart will be broken for us.]

“Noy, ikaw naman ngayon ang pray from home. ang pray from heaven. ikaw naman ang manalangin,” he added.

[Noy, it's your turn to pray from home, pray from heaven, it's time for you to pray.]

Friday's Mass was led by Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) President Rev. Fr. Roberto Yap from the Society of Jesus. The homily was given by Rev. Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin.

In opening the mass, Yap said the ADMU community is welcoming one of the university’s sons. Aquino spent his elementary to tertiary education in the said university.

Yap said the mass is to celebrate Noynoy’s life, his service, his life as a leader, and as a president of the nation.

He said Aquino has led the country with “competence, conscience, commitment and compassion.”

The sisters of the former president— Ballsy, Viel, Pinky, and Kris were present during the mass.

Also seen at the Church of Gesu were Kris’s children— Josh and Bimby Aquino.

Meanwhile, Noynoy’s nephew— Miguel Aquino-Abellada thanked the volunteers and the visitors who paid his uncle their last respects.

After the mass, the family offered songs to the former President,  including Minsan Minahal Ako, said to be Aquino's favorite.

Singer Jaya Ramsey sang the song during the tribute to Aquino.

Apart from that, Kris requested Moira dela Torre and husband Jason Hernandez to rewrite some parts of her hit song “Paubaya” which they also sang during the tribute.

Kris likewise apologized to Noynoy’s supporters in Tarlac as they were not able to bring his ashes to their home province due to the current COVID-19 situation.

Meanwhile, Reverend Father Albert Alejo said Aquino’s death is a special message to the public in the wake of a new political era.

In his homily at Aquino’s 8 p.m. Requiem Mass, Alejo shared that despite the former President’s doubts about God, his faith, as well as the Church, he did his best to serve the public.

“I could feel that Pnoy was in contact with his God. He had problems with his faith, and yet he went practicing his faith,” Alejo said.

“That’s why I can say tonight that PNoy’s death— PNoy, your death has a special message for all of us. This death comes in the wake of a new political era,” he added.

Alejo said his appreciation for Aquino grew upon reading Pope Francis’ newest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, which read: “belief in God and the worship of God are not enough to ensure that we are actually living in a way pleasing to God.”

“A believer may be untrue to everything that his faith demands of him, and yet think he is close to God and better than others,” Alejo said, quoting the Pope.

“When I read this, I appreciated PNoy. He had some questions about faith, about God, about the Church, and yet he was doing God’s will. Paradoxically, those who claim to be unbelievers can sometimes put God’s will into practice better than believers,” he said.

The Philippines needs more politicians like Aquino, according to Alejo.

“[T]here must be a message to this death... And what could be that message? Please, please enter into politics. In our own ways, we cannot and must not say, 'Wala akong pakialam sa politika, wala akong pakialam sa eleksyon, wala akong pakialam sa gobyerno,'” he said.

“Pnoy, God bless you. You’re in good hands. Please whisper to potential candidates, do your share. Potential good voters and organizers, it’s your turn,” he later added.

Aquino succumbed to renal disease secondary to diabetes on Thursday. — Hana Bordey/DVM/NB, GMA News