MAN OF THE HOUR. President Benigno C. Aquino III (Nikki Careen Palacios)

Photos by Gianfranco Geronimo, Nikki Careen Palacios, and Rogelio Tubije II

One look at this inauguration ceremony and one could say that this was  no ordinary transition of power.

Amid the sea of bright yellow that covered every inch of Luneta, hundreds of spectators witnessed the first regular electoral transition of government since Fidel V. Ramos transferred power to Joseph Estrada 12 years ago, in 1998.

An era ended, as a new one began. After nine years under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the country witnessed the son of Ninoy and Cory Aquino take his oath and promise, “Kayo ang boss ko.”

Benigno C. Aquino III ran for president under the platform of hope and change, akin to his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama. It is yet to be seen if he can make good his sweeping promises of cracking down on corruption and reforming government, among others.

On site during the presidential inaugural on June 30 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, TNP brings to you the images of this historic transition, as it unfolded on that fateful Wednesday morning.

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By Roehl Nino Bautista

This is one of the most colorful seasons in the university. All of a sudden, hues of red, yellow and blue — and this time, green — are worn by groups of people in semi-formal wearing big laminated name tags that scream to be remembered. Campaign season is definitely a highlight of each academic year, with students getting a taste of hot politics right at the comfort of their own colleges.

The colors, events and personalities during the campaign season are scenes that students love to remember. These shots were taken at one of the political events at the College of Mass Communication: a mudslinging event organized by Mass Communicators Organization on Feb. 20.

(Text and some photos originally published in Tinig Ng Plaridel’s 2009 Election Special.)

Candidates for Broadcast Communication department representatives Sherwin Ian Su (above) and Randolph Longjas (below) of the Interdependent Student-Centered Activism Party (ISA) expound their views on the different college-based issues to the TNP staff. The interviews were conducted on Wednesday, Feb. 20. (Photos by Neil Jerome C. Morales)