Part 2 – Do I think Sen. Benigno Aquino III is autistic?
November 19, 2009 | Posted by raissa robles My personal opinion
This is a most difficult piece to write. But since I vowed to myself when I started this blog that I should tell the truth no matter how painful, I’m writing this.
Do I think Sen. Benigno Noynoy Aquino III is autistic?
Before I answer that, I need to make a full disclosure. My son, 15, was initially diagnosed PDD-NOS (Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified) at age 3. That puts him in the high-functioning end but still within the autistic spectrum. Because of all the negative connotations that the word “autism” has in Philippine society I prefer to call him non-neurotypical (NNT).
Relying solely on my personal experience and close encounters with other NNT persons I would say that when I interviewed Sen. Aquino up close and when I covered him on two occasions he did not strike me as NNT.
Senator Benigno Aquino III, photo by Raissa Robles
Many NNTs have atypical linguistic and speech patterns. For instance my son has a hard time saying “I” and often says his own name when talking about himself. Like other NNTs I’ve met, my son tends to speak in a monotone. His voice doesn’t go up at the end of a question sentence. He also doesn’t like looking directly into other people’s eyes.
I found Sen. Aquino’s speech pattern totally normal compared to, say, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero who sounds robotic during interviews. But Sen. Chiz is also not NNT and he sounds perfectly normal when he talks casually with other people, like the time he recently sat down with bloggers. Actually, Sen. Aquino’s voice sounds like that of his uncle, Congressman Agapito Butz Aquino, whom I’ve interviewed many times.
What I’ve noticed about Sen.Noynoy is that in certain photos there is a marked resemblance between him and Kris Aquino’s son, Joshua, a confirmed NNT. They are after all family.
Also, if you look at that part of his Youtube video where he’s walking, you’ll notice he doesn’t move with ease and grace.
Noynoy Aquino \” Hindi Ka Nag iisa \” Music Video
Motor movement is a neurological function. But you’ll have to ask a neurologist whether the five bullets that struck different parts of his body including his brain – where one bullet remains lodged today – affected his movement and balance somehow.
Business Mirror columnist Butch del Castillo hinted heavily that Sen. Noynoy was indeed autistic, citing this recent incident:
What intensified public curiosity about the state of his “neurological development” was the way he blew his top when a reporter asked him what he could say about the charge that one prominent candidate was autistic. “Do I have to respond to that?” he shot back, rather testily, adding that he would not entertain further questions from that reporter. In that brief instant, Noynoy, the otherwise affable presidential wannabe, unwittingly made a public display of a streak of meanness that other candidates would painstakingly hide while on the stump.
During his brief tantrum, Noynoy followed through with the vow that he would not entertain further questions from the media on the subject. And then, in a calmer moment minutes later, he defensively pointed out that he had earned an economics degree from a prestigious school. But it was too late to undo the damage. Clearly, he knew and tacitly admitted that he was the candidate alluded to by Manong Ernie.
By reacting so childishly to a perfectly legitimate question, Noynoy only succeeded in giving the impression that the actual state of his neurological development has been a closely guarded family secret over the past 45 years. And now, the speculations just wouldn’t die down.
I think if he were autistic he could not have reacted like that because autistic persons usually display a lack of affect or emotional response and have a hard time reading social cues.
Butch called him childish and testy and his retort a tantrum and a streak of meanness that other candidates would painstakingly hide.
Sen. Noynoy was indeed testy. I would attribute that to his not being used to facing a highly critical press. It’s nothing personal, senator. You’re running for the highest office in the land and many journalists, including me, have been burned before by taking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at face value.
What I can fault Sen. Noynoy with, and this I’ve confirmed with other reporters who have interviewed him, is that he takes questions too personally. He thinks when a reporter asks him tough questions that puts him on the spot the reporter has this thing against him or is angry with him for some reason.
When I asked him about Hacienda Luisita, he suddenly crossed his arms in front of his chest – which is usually a sign for me that a source does not want to talk about it.
As for his testy response, his cousin and presidential rival Gilberto Teodoro, is equally blunt. When I interviewed Teodoro recently and asked him if as a lawyer he personally found any basis for all the allegations against President Arroyo his retort to me was:
That’s an inappropriate question to ask a cabinet member of the president.
When I told him I was asking him as a presidential candidate he said,
No, it’s inappropriate and I’m a cabinet member and there are institutional loyalties and courtesies that warrant -
But that’s another story 
Categories: Journalism, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, his mental health | 
Tags: autism, Journalism, Senator Noynoy Aquino and autism | 
23 Comments »
I really don’t care about autism…if Noynoy is autistic or not…but there are so many questions in my head about him, about his 49 years in this world ….questions that i think haunting other people too…BUT i just hope and pray he can do miracles for this nation… the reality is..this is not all about popularity..this is not all about him and his family..BUT everything is about this country and our people. our government is rotten like hell…just thinking how rotten its system, would make u wish u are better dead.. and will no longer dream of raising a family …
Dear B.,
The entry was supposed to be satirical.
Raissa
Hey KYO,
Maybe you should be more careful of the words you choose to say. Obviously, Sen. Noynoy Aquino has NO down syndrome. Maybe you should do some research before saying anything. Whoever is the president your rooting for, I pity him. I think people like you are the reason why our country is on the down side. You will definitely make it harder for any president to lead this country.
baka down syndrome.
MAAWA KAYO SA PINAS! WAG NYONG BABUYIN ANG bansang ito. Sa mga naniniwalang Autism ang makakasagot sa Korapsyon! mga Tangang naniwala sa isang slogan! mga putaness kayo! mag-adik adik na lang kayo!.. Gumawa kayo ng Sarili nyong Bansa! at Gawin nyong Presidente si noynoy! Tawagin nyong Noy’s Island or Abnoy’s Island o kaya No Korap Island.. pero abnoys marami! hahahaha! the hell… kakatawa-tawa tayo sa ibang bansa.. wala na ngang pag-unlad.. inde na natanggal ang korapsyon! Abnoy pa ang presidente! Hinde ba obvious?? namana nga ni Joshua! hoy!!! mga tanga! isa-alang alang nyo ang inyong mga anak in the near future! maging basehan sana nyo ang inyong mga anak sa pagboto! hinde kung sino-sinong artista! mga siraulo!
hi, i enjoyed reading your write-up and I find your opinion fair and intellectually written. I’ve seen some posts in the internet saying some mean things regarding Noynoy wether he is autistic or not. Some bloggers are really rude and disrespectful. All I can say is that, as a person from the medical field, Noy is definitely not autistic. And I would really vote for him, despite all those comments some people give, why because simply I believe in his advocay. Especially when he said, he wants to focus on education, that if you have a good education, your skills go up and then your chances of employment go up here and abroad. As evident in the many graduates that we have now, even if you are a university graduate you still have a hard time looking for a job. So education really is important. And I like Kris…hehe
Regarding that issue of him being testy when asked with that question, I would like to ask all of you, won’t you act the same?
Dear Laila,
I agree with you that Sen. Noynoy is by far the most honest presidential candidate when stating his true feelings.
You know, when choosing whom to vote, I find that initially it is good to keep an open mind about all the candidates and learn as much as I can about each one of them.
Then, when decision time comes, I ask myself – what is my gut feel – whom should I vote. Then by that time, my mind would have processed all the info I’ve gathered and I let my subconscious take over.
Long live the Filipino nation. May it get better leaders,
Raissa
autism is so different; its just that noynoy is honest about how he feels. When i watch his add campaign with quote “HINDI AKO MAGNANAKAW” I i feel that this person is much likely to be his parents
An Authistic for president? NO WAY!!!
An athustic for president? NO WAY!!!!
Maybe people have gone too far on fault finding. Weither he is autistic or not, just let him. There are many autistic people who have been sucessfull on their field. And we should be a proud citizen if 1 day an autistic president would solve all the nation’s problem. anyway, tnx for the blog…love reading it
as pseudo propagandists you would make GOEBBELS squirm in his grave….tigil na nga kau.!
Raisa, I too, have a son on ASD. And I laughed (for different reasons) why people would think Noynoy is autistic.
1) Laugh for joy – thinking that if Noynoy is autistic, then I have hope for my son’s future; and
2) Laugh (sa sobrang inis) because that columnist obviously does not know a thing about autism
Raissa, keep up the good work. i read a lot of blogs but i think you have nailed this blog thing, something many journalists have yet to do.
Thanks for that info, Rock.
Brace yourselves folks, things will get dirtier.
business mirror is owned by a villar backer.
Reynz,
I enjoy looking at your site.
Raissa
Hi johnonline,
My hubby Alan (a seasoned journalist) did warn me I might come across as Sen. Noynoy’s publicist.
To answer your question, no I’m not.
It’s just that I started this new blog writing about the leading contender but I do intend to write about all the others – Sen. Manny Villar, ex-Pres. Joseph Estrada, ex-defense chief Gilberto Teodoro and Sen. Chiz Escudero – whom I’ve all recently interviewed.
Some of my entries will be personal opinion, some analysis, others feature.
I’m new to this. I’m trying to break out of the newspaper writing style. Give me some time.
But thanks for your concern.
Just a question Ma’am, are you one of Noynoy’s campaign managers or publicists?
I find all your blog entries to be in favor of Noynoy. Just asking. I have nothing against him. In fact, if we need two Presidents here in the Philippines at the same time, I’ll vote for him after his cousin, Gibo.
Regarding the cliffhanger in your post, hope you find time to write that “another story
”.
Regards!
Of course Noynoy will go ballistic! This is like asking say, Butch Castillo… “Bakla ka ba?”
Even if Noynoy responds with “No, I’m not.” I don’t think this answer will be good enough for Noynoy detractors as I see them deeply wanting that the autistic issue will stick with Noynoy. Mamaya nyan, they started asking for DNA. “Anak ka nga ba ni Ninoy?!” Hahaha!
And the strategy is very simple, create doubts even if the source was tsismis – then push for your candidate. Ganun lang yon.