Inauguration of Benigno Aquino III

Context

The inauguration formally ended the Presidential transition of Benigno Aquino III that began when Aquino won the 2010 Philippine presidential election. On June 9, 2010, the Congress of the Philippines in joint session proclaimed Aquino as the President-elect of the Philippines at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. Upon his accession, Aquino subsequently resigned his seat in Senate, which remained vacant until the following election in 2013.

Oath of Office

Aquino took his Oath of Office at the Quirino Grandstand, at noon PST (GMT+8) on June 30, 2010 as mandated by the Constitution The Oath was administered by Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, who officially accepted Aquino's request to swear him into office, making her the first female magistrate to administer the Oath to the President of the Philippines. This evoked the decision of his mother, President Corazon Aquino, who was sworn into the presidency by Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee in 1986. Aquino refused to allow Chief Justice Renato Corona to swear him into office, due to Aquino's opposition to Corona's "midnight appointment" by outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Inauguration ceremony

The inaugural ceremony was hosted by Jim Paredes from APO Hiking Society and Mae Paner, a comedian and political satirist known for her character, Juana Change. The inaugural started at around 11:00 PST with Charice singing the Lupang Hinirang. A musical ensemble followed featuring the APO Hiking Society, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Noel Cabangon, Gary Valenciano, Nina, Christian Bautista and other musicians. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile then read the proclamation of the election results. Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay was then sworn in a few minutes prior to Aquino to secure the line of succession. At 11:50 PST, Associate Justice Carpio-Morales administered the Oath of Office to Aquino. He then delivered his inaugural address as the 15th President of the Philippines. Later on, the assembled crowds were led in the recitation of the "Panata sa Pagbabago" (Oath for Change).

Eighty-one countries and foreign organisations sent 101 delegates to attend the ceremony, among them East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta and Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, both personal friends of the Aquino Family.

Post-ceremony events

A luncheon featuring the new president's favourite Japanese dishes was held at the Kalayaan Hall at the Malacañan Palace followed by a mass oath-taking of local officials and the new cabinet members. Later on, the cabinet was called for its first meeting, followed by a street party at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City later that night. Aquino sang two songs in a surprise musical number during the program.

International guests at the Inauguration

One-hundred one dignitaries of eighty-one countries and organizations attended the inauguration. Twenty-one states sent high-level delegations, who comprised heads of states and/or heads of governments, and/or foreign ministers of the countries being represented.

Heads of State

1. Timor-Leste - President Jose Ramos-Horta

Other Representatives

1. United States of America - Trade Representative Ron Kirk

2. People's Republic of China - National People’s Congress Vice-Chairwoman Yan Junqi

3. Japan - State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Osamu Fujimura and Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara

4. Holy See - Titular Archbishop of Pia and Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, the Most Reverend Osvaldo Padilla

5. Spain - Minister of Defense Enrique Mugica and the Director General for Foreign Policy for Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José Eugenio Salarich

6. Singapore - Foreign Minister George Yong-Boon Yeo

7. Saudi Arabia - Minister of State of the Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar bin Abaid Madani

8. Brunei Darussalam - Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Lim Jock Seng

9. Cambodia - Minister of Information Khieuk Kanharith

10. Indonesia - Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare H.R. Agung Laksono

11. South Korea - Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection Kim Hwang-Sik

12. Laos - Chief of Cabinet to the President Souban Srithirath

13. Malaysia - Minister for Women, Family and Community Development Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil

14. Thailand - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ongart Klampaiboon

15. Vietnam - Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang

16. Australia - Julie Owens

17. Canada- Jim Abbott

18. New Zealand - John Hayes

19. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation - Assistant Secretary-General Samir Diab

20. Peru - Ambassador to Indonesia Jorge Castañeda Martínez

21. United Nations - Resident Coordinator Jacqueline Babcock

22. Food and Agricultural Organization - Kazuyuki Tsurumi

23. Food and Agricultural Organization - Jean-Daniel Tauxe

24. International Labor Organization - Linda Wirth

25. International Monetary Fund - Dennis Bothman

26. International Organization for Migration - Duc Tran

27. United Nations Children's Fund - Vanessa Tobin, represented by Colin Davis

28. UN Development Program - Renaud Mayer

29. UN High Commission for Refugees - Rico Salcedo

30. UN World Food Programme - Stephen Anderson

31. World Bank - Bert Hoffman

32. World Health Organization - Dr. Linda Milan