Ballsy Aquino-Cruz on PNoy: We will forever be proud of and grateful to you

Former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III or PNoy will forever be remembered as people are proud of him, his sister Ballsy Aquino-Cruz said on Saturday.

"Habang-buhay ka namin na ipagmamalaki, pasasalamatan at hahanap-hanapin at mamahalin," Ballsy said in a statement read after the necrological Mass at the Church of the Gesu at Ateneo de Manila University.

(We will forever be proud of you, grateful to you, and will miss you and love you.)

"Si Noy ayaw niya talaga na maging pabigat siya, ayaw niya na kami na nag-aalala at ayaw niya na hindi kami nakakatulog ng dahil sa pag-iisip sa kanya," she said.

(Noy did not really want to be a burden to anyone. He did not want us to worry. He did not want us to lose sleep worrying about him.)

"Si Noy ay pinili ng ating mahal na Ama na mauna sa aming lahat na makapiling uli ang aming mga magulang dahil siya ang nagpatuloy ng kanilang mga hindi natapos," Ballsy said.

(Noy was chosen by our beloved Father to go ahead of us all to join our parents because he finished what they were not able to finish.)

As of posting time, the funeral convoy bearing the ashes of the former President has already left Ateneo and is on the way to Manila Memorial Park for the inurnment. 

Aquino passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 61 due to renal disease secondary to diabetes. —KG, GMA News