IT is said that the greatest art in the world is to speak well of the absent. Speaking ill of people who are not around is the usual way gossips do. They are artless and heartless for degrading the name and reputation of persons who can’t defend themselves. Much for maligning the name of the one who is already dead.
Just as recent as last August I read an article of a columnist who, to borrow his own word, was disrespectful to the memory of a man who is considered by many as icon of democracy.
I am referring to Ninoy Aquino.
In his article, the columnist sort of questions President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaring Ninoy Aquino’s death anniversary a special working holiday.
There are many he averred that also deserve recognition because these people were also incarcerated for defying the Marcos dictatorship. But were these people as fiery and as blatant in condemning the Marcos regime which Ninoy did resulting to his death upon disembarking from his plane on the airport because of killers who were commissioned to do the job waiting for his arrival?
The man also contended that Ninoy did not even fight in the battlefield like what del Pilar, Bonifacio and others did. Did he ever know that during the Korean war, Ninoy volunteered to join the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) but was rejected for being a minor?
But determined to serve his country, Ninoy signed as a war correspondent and from his pen people at home knew of the gallantry of our soldiers who were commended and lauded for their bravery.
Ninoy Aquino, therefore, is worth it.