THE country will commemorate today the 35th death anniversary of the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
On August 21, 1983, Aquino returned home after three years of exile in the United States.
Despite the persistent advice of the people close to him not to return home as he was considered an enemy of the state by then dictator president Ferdinand Marcos, he still went home anyways. For him, "if it's my fate to die by an assassin's bullet, so be it, the Filipino is worth dying for."
Efforts were laid out for him to come home. He obtained a passport under the name of Marcial Bonifacio - Marcial for martial law and Bonifacio for Fort Bonifacio.
While on the plane, he told several journalists to “be ready with your camera because this action can become very fast in a matter of three or four minutes, it could be all over and I may not be able to talk to you again after this I have returned to join the ranks of those struggling to restore our rights and freedom through non-violence. I seek no confrontation."
Aquino, after he exited the plane of then Manila International Airport, was shot to death at the tarmac.
His death sparked the Edsa People Power Revolution, which eventually ended the dictatorship of Marcos and catapulted Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, to the presidency.
He gained popularity for being a staunch critic of the Marcos regime. He frequently challenged the dictatorship.
He was seen to be the successor of Marcos. Just before the dictator declared martial law on September 21, 1972, he was eyed to be the Liberal Party’s standard bearer but got thrown into jail instead.
This is after the time the administration shut down the Constitution, silenced the media and the dissent.
After the democracy was restored, when Cory took the helm, Ninoy was regarded as a national hero for his martyrdom.