Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III should create his own identity and prove his mettle if he is sincere and determined to become president of the country, Malacanang said Sunday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar echoed the advice of Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu City, that Senator Aquino must step out of the shadow of his famous parents if he wants pursue his ambitions for higher office next year.

Olivar said while the senator has all the rights to project himself as the son of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and President Corazon Aquino, he has to “set up his own record” and not just lean on his parents’ good name so people will accept him.

“Hindi naman tayo dapat magtataka kung gagamitin nya lahat ng puhunan at assets nya kasama na dyan ang pagiging anak niya ni Senator Benigno Aquino at saka ni Presidente Cory upang magtagumpay sa kanyang mga plano sa pulitika.

“Naiintindihan natin yan at sa palagay ko naiintindihan ng ating mga kababayan kaya hindi natin ipinagkakait sa kanya yun,” Olivar said over government radio.

“Pero paalala lang kay Senator Noynoy kung puwede, ‘Be your own man.’ Huwag na siyang kumakampanya siya dahil anak siya nina ano, ng magagaling na mga magulang niya. He has to show that he is his own man kung gusto po nya na maging magaling na presidente ng bayan natin,” he added.

Several groups have lobbied for Aquino to run for president next year following the death of his mother early this month. Senator Aquino earlier said he is open to run for higher public office in next year’s elections but still has to consult his family on the matter.

Olivar said the Aquino family has some sort of similarity with the Kennedys, a famous political family in the United States. He noted, however, that the political success of US President John F. Kennedy was not replicated by his siblings and relatives whom he claimed didn’t work hard enough to take their own place in history.

“Yun din siguro ang payo ni Cardinal kay Noynoy na kailangan magtayo ng sarili niyang identity. He has to set up his own record,” he said.

As to the other politicians capitalizing on the memory of Ninoy and Cory, Olivar said they should be ashamed of themselves especially if they were not supporters of the Aquinos back then.

“Yung ibang pulitiko dyan through the years hindi pa nga pinapansin si Tita Cory. Nung namatay biglang nagsilabasan yung kanilang mga t-shirt na dilaw. Di naman yata tama. Ika nga ay wala po silang K na gamitin ang pangalan ni Tita Cory nang ganun,” he said.