NINOY AND CORY: A BRUSH WITH GREATNESS



       Dr. Carlos Dator (left) with his colleagues
at St. Joseph Hospital in Syracuse

Picture this young doctor.

One morning, his superior asks, "Would you like to go to the US?"

"Of course, yes!" He eagerly replies.

"But you'll need to fly tonight!" His boss clarifies.

"What?! I don't even have a passport or a visa."

"Your passport, visa and ticket will be waiting for you at the airport. Just have your passport picture taken, go home and prepare for your departure."

Real? Yes, in the Philippines. This happened at the Philippine Heart Center. 

Dr. Carlos Dator, budding  cardiologist and one of the hospital's senior fellows, was informed early morning of  May 8, 1980, that he was to accompany then senator Ninoy Aquino, Jr., to the United States of America. Ninoy apparently suffered his second heart attack after seven years of detention, mostly in solitary confinement.

Ninoy was one of  then President Ferdinand Marcos' fiercest opponents. He was imprisoned with many more "dissidents" when martial rule was declared September 1972. 

Marcos considered Ninoy as one of the biggest threats to his hold on power even as his wife Imelda managed to strengthen her position as the most likely successor should this ailing president die. 

Two reasons emerged as to why Ninoy could not have his operation in the Philippines: That the Aquinos didn't trust the doctors assigned to him; or that the doctors themselves didn't want to because of the possible backlash if the procedure failed.

The only option left was for Ninoy to be flown ASAP to the US.  

For Charlie---young doctor---this thorny situation was something he never aspired for. The assignment fell on his lap and he just had to do it as any committed physician would. 

He was never even given a chance to say goodbye to his parents in Quezon. All they got was a letter he asked his cousin Dondon to send through the BLTB bus headed for their town (Sampaloc).

Sans valid papers, he was barred entry from the airport until someone came with his passport, visa and ticket and introduced him to Ninoy and his family: Cory, 16 year old Noynoy, Ballsy, Pinky and Viel (Kris was then vacationing in Hong Kong). 



Ninoy exercising with heart surgeon Dr.
Rolando Solis after his operation

"From then on, inalalayan ko na sya (I propped him up)," says Charlie, "because he was very weak and frequently complained of chest pains."

He adds, "Cory was very kind but initially seemed to maintain her distance---maybe because she thought I was a Marcos person."

She and Ninoy were in the first class section while Charlie and the Aquino children sat in economy.

"Afterwards, Cory came and exchanged seats with me because Senator Aquino complained more of chest pains."

"Kung me mangyari sa akin, ikaw na ang bahala sa pamilya ko (If something happens to me, please take care of my family)," the Senator said in the thick of their conversation.

Charlie was dumbfounded and didn't know how to react. They hardly even knew him. What if something really happened?

But from that time on, Charlie knew he was rubbing elbows with greatness---but a greatness which was willing to be vulnerable, to trust and let go.

"He was so down-to-earth, kind, insightful and thoughtful," he adds. Ninoy even regaled him with stories of his being a correspondent during the Korean war, his stint as a CIA agent once---showing off his special watch to prove it.

Hordes of reporters waited for the Aquinos on their arrival in San Francisco.

Charlie cautioned against entertaining any interviews because of Ninoy's worsening condition. Besides, Ninoy needed to rest for another flight the following day to Dallas, Texas. At Dallas' Baylor University Medical Center, Charlie endorsed Ninoy to Dr. Rolando Solis and promised to visit him after the operation. 

The next time young doctor and famous patient saw each other, Ninoy was already on his feet. Charlie had earlier visited his fiance---then working as a nurse in Texas--- then asked Ninoy to be one of their wedding sponsors.

"It would be an honor," he readily responded, then promised that since he could not be physically present, his mother Aurora would instead take his place.

Dr. Dator went back to the Philippines soon after, settled down with his new bride, but later made his home in the US---earning his fellowship in interventional cardiology at St. Joseph Hospital, Syracuse. 

She would later return to the Philippines and become president after the Marcoses' escape from Malacanang---fueled by the "people power" revolution after the assassination of Ninoy who was then returning to the country August 21, 1983.

"Did you ever have a chance to visit Cory (or current president Noynoy since then?" I ask.

"I intended to, whenever I visited the Philippines, but never got around to doing it," he says.  




Charlie with our childhood friend Ate Genia (right) and me, with Niagara Falls as backdrop

 But Charlie waited for Mrs. Aquino when he happened to be at the Philippine embassy after her well-applauded speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 1986.

"Uy, me bigote ka na!" She kidded, then they exchanged pleasantries. Another tete-a-tete with greatness.

In both of these encounters, "greatness" didn't try to overpower or attempt to boast or make one feel suffocated or uncomfortable. Nor was there any sense of arrogance. 

No wonder many of our countrymen regard Ninoy Aquino and Cory Aquino as heroes. They were true to their cause but never lost their humanity and simplicity.

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).

 (Charlie is my nephew from my mother's side of the family. I write this blog today from his home in Upstate New York where he continues his successful practice as a cardiologist. I'm on a one-week break from my apostolic [caring for apo or grandchild] mission to bond with relatives and friends, some of whom I never met, or saw last when I was yet a scrawny seven year old.)