The Inauguration of Benigno S. Aquino III as the fifteenth President of the Philippines took place on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. The oath of office was administered by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Conchita Carpio-Morales. The theme of the inauguration was "Tagumpay ng Taumbayan, Panata sa Pagbabago". The Inauguration was organized jointly by the Presidential Transition Cooperation Team of outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Transition Team of incoming President Aquino.
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 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.
Inaugural events
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". 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.
