It has been 43 years since the fateful day of his assassination.
Friday, August 21, is Ninoy Aquino Day in the Philippines. Declared a special non-working holiday, the entire country commemorates one of the turning points in the nation’s history that occurred on this very day in 1983.
The late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., who is known by his nickname “Ninoy,” was killed upon his arrival at the then-Manila International Airport.
His death is widely recognized as one of, if not the, major catalysts that drove resistance and calls for political reform following the massive crowd that gathered for his funeral procession.
Eventually, that would catapult his widow, Corazon Aquino, as the main opposition of then-President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., whp would later be deposed through the 1986 People Power Revolution.
Meanwhile, to mark the occasion, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) jointly unveiled the repositioned marker commemorating his martyrdom.
This marker has now been placed directly in front of the repositioned Ninoy Aquino International Airport signage on the facade of Terminal 1 in Parañaque City.
Present during the unveiling were representative from the said agencies and companies, as well as the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission, Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, Project Gunita, ATOM – August Twenty-One Movement, Chino Roces Foundation, NAMSERV, and Earthsaver.
Also there to witness were members of the family of the late senator.
For his part, incumbent Senator Bam Aquino, who is a nephew of Ninoy, also sent a wreath and paid tribute to his uncle through a post on his social media page, where he recalled his times with his “Tito Ninoy.”
According to his parents, the icon used to quip to leave Senator Bam behind so that he has a companion—a joke that the latter would understand and emphatize with growing up, learning that his uncle was jailed and thereby lived far away from his family.
“Kung iisipin, matinding lungkot at pag-iisa ang pinagdaanan niya. Pero sa kabila ng lahat, hindi siya nawalan ng pananalig sa Diyos at tiwala sa mga Pilipino,” Senator Bam wrote.
He also told that he also understood the gravity of the decision that late senator made in 1983 to return to the Philippines, in spite of being safe with his family in the United States, risking his life even before stepping foot in the country.
“Siguro ito ang pinakamahirap unawain tungkol sa tunay na pagmamahal sa bayan: hindi mo minamahal ang Pilipinas dahil sigurado kang may kapalit. Hindi ka naninindigan dahil alam mong mananalo ka. At hindi ka naglilingkod dahil sigurado kang kikilalanin ka. Ginagawa mo ito dahil naniniwala kang karapat-dapat ipaglaban ang Pilipino, kahit hindi mo alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa iyo,” the current senator added.
He also linked it to the present realities of the country, where it is easy to feel dejected and tired of the many issues that affect the entire nation. “Pero kung si Tito Ninoy, sa pinakamadilim at pinakamalungkot na bahagi ng kanyang buhay, ay hindi nawalan ng tiwala sa Pilipino, sino tayo para sumuko sa isa’t isa ngayon?” he asked, before thanking and praising the act that “Ninoy” did for the country.
Meanwhile, on the same day, another incumbent official, no less than President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., also shared a message for the occasion.
“The memory of Ninoy Aquino reminds us of the courage of Filipinos to stand by their convictions and contribute to our nation’s democratic journey,” he told. “Ninoy Aquino Day, therefore, invites us to acknowledge the past and draw from it the resolve needed to safeguard freedom, strengthen our institutions, and deepen national unity.“
For him, while challenges that the democracy is facing have already changed over time, the shared responsibility of individuals to reinforce it remains.
“Disinformation, division, distrust. and civic indifference underscore the importance of active engagement in our nation’s affairs. Ninoy’s legacy encourages us to meet these challenges with vigilance and faith in the Filipino people as we work together to deliver meaningful progress for all,” he furthered.
Marcos, Jr. also noted that the day reaffirms that freedom carries with it a “collective duty to respect the dignity and rights of others and to contribute to the good of our nation.”
“For its part, this administration will remain steadfast in protecting our sovereignty, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring that the liberty we cherish is matched by real opportunities for every Filipino,” he said, adding that the country should “carry forward” the lessons of history for a more peaceful country.
