By Raïssa Robles
My hubby Alan warned me when I started my own website that people can be very vicious on the Internet.
It’s true. There are those who would otherwise bite their tongue to stop themselves from saying anything hurtful face-to-face; but they park all decency at the door before entering the World Wide Web.
I’m a believer of free speech.
But I also do believe that speech ought not to bludgeon the truth. And speech ought not to express discrimination of race, color or physical or mental handicaps.
One of the slurs thrown against President Benigno Aquino III during the poll campaign last year was that he was autistic.
Ergo, someone autistic is incapable of being president.
Someone autistic is an object to be laughed at.
Just as in childhood, bullies coin hurtful words to taunt their victims, Senator Noynoy then was called “Abnoy”.
And he continues to be called ‘Abnoy’ to this day even if what Butch del Castillo wrote has been proven wrong when PNoy delivered major speeches in China and New York recently.
In October 2009, Butch del Castillo wrote why he did not think Sen. Aquino should be president:
My reasons for rejecting outright Noynoy Aquino’s bid for the presidency of the land are neither whimsical nor personal. In the first place, he doesn’t think, act and speak like a leader, or one who would do Filipinos proud when he takes center stage before an international gathering of eagles. Sometimes, he looks and acts even silly. Besides, he has got nothing going for him by way of an academic or legislative track record that would suggest he may be ready to take on the nation’s toughest, most thankless job. His acceptance speech after his acclamation by the Liberal Party was a big disappointment. He was reading from a prepared statement, and he couldn’t even read it without stumbling. It became obvious to many then that here was a man who would be president but couldn’t think on his feet. That speech left many people wondering if Sen. Mar Roxas hadn’t made a colossal blunder by yielding the standard- bearer’s slot to Aquino.
For the sake of history and our understanding, I’d like to repost here how the word “Abnoy” came about. It was all triggered by Butch del Castillo’s column Omerta in Business Mirror entitled, “What, pray tell, is Autism?”
That particular piece has since been erased from the Internet’s vast databanks. But just so we don’t forget, I’m reposting what Butch said and what I wrote in reaction below:
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Part 1 – Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is “autistic”?
Here’s the proof
By Raïssa Robles
November 16, 2009
The evidence that Sen. Noynoy is abnormal – and therefore should not be voted president – seemed all there.
And Business Mirror columnist Butch del Castillo recounted it in excruciating detail using unnamed sources who had seen Noynoy acting “autistic.”
Butch wrote:
As a 3-year-old, Noynoy was a hyperactive tot. His boundless energy made him run around here, there and everywhere in their residential compound. For his own safety, he had to be put on a a makeshift leash controlled by his yaya or nanny.
“Before he was put on a leash, he was running around the yard as usual when the family’s guard dog, a Doberman, somehow escaped from its kennel. It took a courageous Kris Aquino to save her helpless brother from being mangled, but she herself got bitten in the lower leg.
This must be true, I thought in horror. Except for one tiny detail . Let’s see, Noynoy was 3 when this incident happened. And how old was Kris?
Noynoy was born February 8, 1960 and Kris was born February 14, 1971. So when Kris saved Noynoy from the Doberman she was what —- a mote in God’s eye?
You get the picture. But that Doberman scene that Butch retold sure was realistic.
Butch del Castillo also wrote:
Another old acquaintance of the family confirms that, notwithstanding former senator Butz Aquino’s vehement protestations about his nephew’s condition, “it’s a fact that Noynoy had to be sent to a special school.” That was when Noynoy was 5 or 6 years old, the family acquaintance says. Trouble is he can’t recall the name of the particular school where Noynoy was supposed to have received specialized guidance.
Hmm. Special school, eh. Let’s look at Noynoy’s school record. Got it. In 1965 or at the age of 5 he did enter a special school. It’s still standing and because it has a strange name let me spell it out for you, Butch.
It’s called A-T-E-N-E-O D-E M-A-N-I-L-A U-N-I-V-E-R-S-I-T-Y.
I understand First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and his son, Congressman Juan Miguel Arroyo, as well as the former President Joseph Estrada all had to be sent to the same special school you alluded to.
And President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo once taught there.
It must really be very special.
One other thing, Butch. You wrote:
In the circles that I circulate in, I was taken aback by the little anecdotes about Noynoy, all of which only seem to add credence and depth to suspicions of his actual condition. For example, there is this councilor from Makati who claims to have known Noynoy since he was a boy. This councilor swears he used to see this “quiet” boy whenever politicians and supporters of the late Cory would pay her a call at her residence on Times Street, Philam Village, Quezon City.
“He would just sit in a corner, mouth open but never saying a thing, and drooling,” the Makati councilor loudly tells everyone he meets. For all we know he is just making this up, considering that he belongs to a rival political party. But still, it would be very hard to cook up such things.
Wow, Noynoy was just scrunched up in a corner, stupidly quiet, and drooling.
But two paragraphs later, you described a very different kid:
As a 3-year-old, Noynoy was a hyperactive tot. His boundless energy made him run around here, there and everywhere in their residential compound. For his own safety, he had to be put on a makeshift leash controlled by his yaya or nanny.
You sure you’re talking about the same kid? Not yourself maybe or your own kid? [Full disclosure: I knew your wife Julie when she and I were working in Business Day newspaper. I don’t know if I ever meet you. I heard then you were spinning in behalf of then dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ very best spinmeister – Gregorio Cendana.]
P.S. I’d love to read your next spin on Noynoy. It’s highly entertaining.
FTW! says
tanong lang, did they even bother to actually READ UP on autism? asperger’s? and related topics? since when pa naging napakalaking insulto ang tawaging autistic ang isang tao? to use that as an insult only serves to show that the user himself is a moron, not to mention insensitive. and ignorant.
ella koh says
When Kris was 5 years old in 1976, Noynoy had a mentality of a 3 year old at age 16. Right now at 52, Noynoy is not yet weaned out of teenage still looking for a girlfriend when people his age are already talking about their grandkids. If only Noynoy married in the right age, Grace Lee should have been his youngest kid. Obvious na man di ba?
raissa says
Paano mga pare. Ni walang girlfriend. Retard ba sila sa logic mo?
ella koh says
PNoy is special case and you know it. Ika nga ni Confucius:
Look at the means a man employs
Consider his motives
Observe his pleasures
Indeed, man can not conceal himself
Well, apply your own logic to yourself PNoy fan.
raissa says
Special meaning…
Mel says
Pihikan.
Mapili o namimili.
baka mataas ang standard ni PNoy.
Nakita at naramdaman na niya ang pagmamahal ng isang dakilang ina, at spoiled mula sa mga kababaihang marangal.
mahirap tumbasan ang ehemplo ng Aquino sisters.
di bale, may grasya at awa ang diyos. Ma leeleeta din niya siya.
o baka, siya na nga.
Grace be with you.
Mel says
Mel says
LOL!
Ang tanong mo, ‘Retard ba sila sa logic mo’?
Hindi ooii, kung pumatol sa baliw, mababaliw ka lang Ginang Raïssa.
Eto ang sagot ko sa mga taong marangal at may pinag-aralan.
Deviant
Eh iyong mga pari. retard ba sila? at iyong mga madre. ganuon din ba sila? Retard ba?
iyong ganitong argumento, sa palengke na nag lalako ng isda. ang isang tindera walang tigil sa kadidilig sa mga isda na umaalingas ngas na, dahil nuong isang linggo pa nahuli. ang ganang sigaw niya. ‘O bili na, bagong huli ang mga eto, halina na’. kung sa baboy, botcha. anu ang sa isda? ella koh!
(no pun intended sa mga mangingisda at maglalako, halimbawa lang po)
ella koh says
Retard nga.
Mel says
Misprint.
@ella koh, you missed or had a mental fit.
You should have completed it by , “Retard nga ako.”
Don’t mention it, once in awhile, people like you needed a wake up call.
Sarah says
OMG, I can’t believe this is an issue. Ikaw ata yung may pagkukulang sa pag-iisip eh. Tantanan nyo na yung tao. Mabuti na yung bachelor at 52 kesa married pero may kabit naman.
ella koh says
Fight for PNoy to the death old lady. Who knows you will be his next chick.
raissa says
That kind of comment can only come from a piddling brain.
That is, if what is left of yours hasn’t oozed out of your mouth already.
ella koh says
That’s what we call a tooth for a tooth. Pag bastos yung kausap mo, you have all the reasons in the world to hit back. But anything that comes out oozing out, definitely it’s yours. Sane minds can clearly see the difference in the statements above. Hi Piddle Baby? How are you?
raissa says
You’d better take your medication now, ella.
ella koh says
Birds of the same feather as their idol.
Sarah says
Alam mo, sa ating dalawa ikaw yung nagmumukhang tanga. YOu’re foaming in the mouth over his personal life? Really? If you don’t see how shallow and ridiculous that is, you must be mentally impaired.
ella koh says
I broke in into this blog hoping to find somebody to engage in a healthy, intellectual debate about the president’s capability to lead the nation only to find out I stumbled into a bunch of autistic. Sane people do not take debates personal but your tantrums proved otherwise that you are indeed autistic. Bye-bye morons.
Mel says
Hey @ella koh, HOLD ON. sandali muna.
You broke into this blog… to engage in a healthy, intellectual debate about the president’s …?
You wrote, “Sane people do not take debates personal but your tantrums proved otherwise that you are indeed autistic.”
Your initial post/comment is the opposite of what you claim. Derogatory, to say the least for your first entry.
Another commenter, @truth_seeker1961, who hails from your side of the fence is very active here. Check his comments, they are plausible compared with your entries. @truth_seeker1961 needs some to cheer him up.
Mabalos.
idde says
@ella koh: you claim to seek sane and civilized debate yet you attack the character of your fellow commenters as a first salvo. there is a difference between getting emotional and frustrated during an argument and engaging in character assasination at the onset as a way if discrediting another person’s views. you assertions will prove more effective if you try and stick to hard facts rather than bad mouthing and mud slinging.
Mel says
Does it warrant a Reply or to comment?
A shiela who dons a moral superiority complex to whip.
Wouldn’t be surprised the A Hole’s a bitch.
Rochie says
Is Butch del Castillo related to the Delgago, err, Delgado spouses? They seem to have frolicked on the same playground.
Rallie F. Cruz says
I believe I was raised not to say anything bad against the person but sadly I have to admit that I am guilty of doing that just to release the feeling of frustration and disappointment. Fortunately however, I have said those negative thing up close and personal only to a very few friends and most often than not only to myself.
Perhaps maybe to show some respect to any human being much more to someone who need to be respected because of the title and the responsibility placed on his shoulder.
Sadly those harsh words that is hurting often comes from people you were told to have studied in exclusive sometime even religious schools who are supposed to teach decency and mild manners. More that anything else, they are also leaders who are supposed to lead us rightful way of using our mouth, our mind, our hand and our eyes.
manuelbuencamino says
Those were pre-election slurs. Today, Teddy Boy Locsin and his Carambola gang at DWiz radio call Noynoy an orangutan.
raissa says
I guess it makes them feel good. Consuelo de bobo for not becoming the president.
Political Jaywalker says
There is a name for that kind of woman este man she is aptly called a…… TSISMOSO, LOL….. but I think he is more of a village idiot, hehehe.
The EQualizer says
Based on EQ polls, Pinoys TRUST Noynoy.So dramatically different from the way they viewed Gloria.
Wendy says
Why does he do that- because he has nothing else to write about? Sounds like he has an axe to grind with P-Noy. what did P-Noy ever do to him to make him “spin” bad things about him.? Maybe he was absent when we were taught to keep out mouths shut if we didn’t have anything good to say about anybody.
And is “spinning” a legit “profession” what does one get out of it..spinning about somebody..an audience?.a following…hmm I wonder.