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Friday, August 22, 2008
3 ex-Presidents meet in rites to honor Ninoy
MANILA -- A mass commemorating the 25th death anniversary of the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Thursday brought together three former Presidents -- Corazon Aquino, Joseph Estrada, and Fidel Ramos.
The event also marked the “I Am Ninoy” campaign launched by the Benigno S. Aquino Foundation (BSFA) that aims to keep the memory of the late freedom fighter alive.
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Held at the Don Bosco Church in Makati, the mass saw Ninoy’s widow, Mrs. Aquino, recalling her life with the anti-Marcos politician.
She expressed happiness that people, especially the youth who never knew her husband, have embraced what he stood for during the dark years of Martial Law.
“It is difficult to ponder how young Filipinos who never got to know Ninoy would retain something about him that would go beyond the name of the airport or what is being mentioned in our history books,” she said.
Clad in her trademark yellow dress, Mrs. Aquino said that she and the entire Aquino family are gladdened by this development.
The former President added: “This only shows that Filipinos especially the youth have not forgotten the ideals forged by her husband in their struggle.”
“It fills me with great joy to see young people revisiting Ninoy and interpreting what he stood for in a contemporary perspective,” Mrs. Aquino said.
A leader of the opposition to the Marcos dictatorship, Ninoy was assassinated upon his arrival at the Manila International Airport, which was later renamed in his honor as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) after a brief exile at the United States.
Despite former strongman Ferdinand Marcos’s denial of complicity in the act, Ninoy’s death triggered massive street protests that eventually culminated three years later in the 1986 People Power uprising.
Incidentally, Thursday’s event also brought together under one roof former President Estrada and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim who was recently booted as president of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
Also seen at the mass were former President Ramos, Senator Manuel “Mar" Roxas II, former Senate President Franklin Drilon, United Opposition (UNO) president and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, and former senator Ernesto Maceda.
Early Thursday morning, the Aquinos first dropped by Ninoy’s burial site at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City to offer prayers and flowers.
Also attending the Parañaque gathering was the Aquino couple’s daughter, TV host Kris Aquino, who was accompanied by her son, Joshua.
Similar event were also held at the Bantayog ng Maynila and attended by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, UNO spokesman Adel Tamano, and Ninoy’s son, Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
Last Monday, authorities installed a bronze bust of the late lawmaker at the Naia Terminal 3. On Wednesday, Binay led a wreath-laying ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino statue at Makati City’s business district. (AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (August 22, 2008 issue)
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