MANILA, Philippines – Remember the boy in the 500-peso bill who’s now a nurse in New York City? He was able to once again meet the soldier he had given flowers to during the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution (as shown on the bill).
The young boy was identified as Angelo Gutierrez a few years ago. By then, he had already grown into a fine young man who works as a nurse in New York City. Although he works abroad, he had completed his nursing degree at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) in the Philippines.
He also revealed that he had studied at Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary and is actually a former seminarian (a student in a theological seminary, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, who is preparing for the priesthood).
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| Reunion of Angelo Gutierrez and the soldier, 5th Marine Battalion 2LT Mario Arizala Abanes PN(M) RET. Photo credit: iJuander |
Meanwhile, the soldier in the 500-peso bill seen receiving the flowers from Gutierrez was identified as 5th Marine Battalion 2LT Mario Arizala Abanes PN(M) RET.
Through iJuander of GMA Public Affairs, the two were able to meet again after nearly 40 years. The show also provided flowers for Gutierrez to once again hand to Abanes, and the two hugged each other.
Gutierrez narrates that he and his family were traveling along EDSA at the time but got stuck in traffic because of the People Power Revolution. His family told him that at the time, he got lost and they were having a difficult time finding him through the crowd.
So, they were surprised to eventually find him some distance away, handing out flowers to the soldiers who were trying to keep the peace throughout the protests.
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| Angelo Gutierrez was photographed giving flowers to the soldier. Photo credit: John K. Chua/Reddit |
According to the retired soldier, he was 26 years old at the time, while Gutierrez was just 3 years old.
The poignant moment was caught on camera by a photographer covering the event, John K. Chua. This photo would also inspire the designers of the peso bill, leading to its inclusion in the Php 500 bill, which also features EDSA People Power Revolution figure Ninoy Aquino and former President Cory Aquino.
Watch the reunion of Gutierrez and Abanes here:
Bata at sundalo sa lumang 500 peso bill, nagkita nang muli matapos ang apat na dekada! | I JuanderBata at sundalo sa lumang 500 peso bill, nagkita nang muli matapos ang apat na dekada! #IJuander LINGGO | 8 PM | GTV
Posted by GMA Public Affairs on Wednesday, May 28, 2025
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
