in History, News & Culture, Social Media

The once-young boy at the back of the old 500-peso bill shares a heartwarming encounter with VP Leni Robredo

The said banknote, which also featured a portrait of the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr, featured an image of a young boy offering a flower to a military officer. That young boy is Angelo Gutierrez.

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The once young boy who posted a photo with Vice President Leni Robredo is now a 39-year-old New Yorker.

Netizens are delighted to find out that the three-year-old boy depicted at the back of the old 500-peso banknote remains true to what he stood for—or at least to what that iconic moment he shared with a young soldier represented in the country’s quest to reclaim democracy.

The said banknote, which also featured a portrait of the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr, featured an image of a young boy offering a flower to a military officer. That young boy is Angelo Gutierrez.

Inquirer columnist Manuel L. Quizon III shared the original newspaper cut of the young boy and a screenshot of the 39-year-old Gutierrez’s facebook post. 

His caption reads: “Sunday’s history lives moment. Responding to this thread, a Then and Now moment; a child who went down in photojournalistic history during EDSA is around and well, a nurse on NYC greeting our VP. 

Gutierrez, in his original facebook post, shared how excited he was meeting the Vice President. 

“Bumped into the Vice President of the Philippines. Thank you for being so approachable and kind! God bless you! Leni Gerona Robredo,” he said, adding he got starstruck.

Also on twitter, user Migo expressed his fascination with how fast the years have passed since that iconic moment in history happened. 

“Does it ever drive you crazy, just how fast the night changes” he tweeted, which is a nod to the popular One Direction song ‘Night Changes.’

He attached a photo of the old 500-peso bill, and a screenshot of Gutierrez’s direct message to his college dean, with whom he shared that he saw VP Robredo in New York and informed her that he was the young boy on the 500-peso banknote.

“Tumindig noon, tumitindig ngayon (Stood up before, standing up now)” he added via a reply tweet, where he attached an image of an old news article that showed a three-year-old Gutierrez meeting Ninoy’s son, Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III, in person.

Nikkita went nostalgic seeing the old 500-peso design . “this makes me wish we still had the same print of our money so much history in it,” his tweet reads.

Jau, meanwhile, could not believe Gutierrez was that child 36 years ago when he looks so much younger today.

”How can someone be a young child during EDSA 1 revolution and still look like in his 20s today. Lord i wanna age like him.” 

The encounter between Gutierrez and Robredo was made possible by the latter’s visit to the Big Apple last week when she and her two other daughters, Tricia and Aika attended the graduation of the youngest child, Jillian, at the New York University.

500 peso bank noteVice President Leni Robredo

Written by JE C.C.

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