Labor group pays tribute to Ninoy

NEGROS Occidental-based labor group General Alliance of Workers Association (Gawa) commemorates the 37th death anniversary of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino on Friday, August 21, with a highly resolved determination never to forget the latter's sacrifices.

Its secretary-general Wennie Sancho said the group is honoring the late senator's memory to carry on his valiant struggle as immortalized in his words:

"I believe the cause delaying our liberation may be found in ourselves, in our reluctance to assert our rights and frontally confront the forces of evil. We are afraid to die and our fear has immobilized us. We have forged our own chains with our cowardice."

For Gawa, this is the challenge that we have to face amid the political oppression to honor the declaration of "Ninoy" that the Filipino is worth dying for.

"We shall always remember the precious blood he shed and the life he has given," Sancho said, adding that the death of "Ninoy" brings to mind his heroism for leading the onward march so that freedom would not be lost.

The former senator was assassinated on August 21, 1983, on the tarmac of Manila International Airport now named Ninoy Aquino International Airport in his honor.

The local labor group considered him as a messenger who inspired people into action. He was sent to proclaim the resurrection of our Filipino spirit amid apathy and cowardice.

Our legacy from "Ninoy" was that he gave us our pride, not the arrogant and conceited pride that goes before a fall, but pride that means self-confidence and strength or much more than that, self-respect, Gawa said.

It added that he (Aquino) reminded us all of what the Filipino used to be and could be again, brave, steadfast, patriotic and sincere.

The labor leader exclaimed that "Ninoy" is a shining light in the midst of the still encroaching darkness.

Sancho said it would be wrong for us to believe that "Ninoy," by his sacrifice, has saved and redeemed us and that the battle has been won.

"By his death, he was telling us that the battle must begin. What Ninoy had done by dying was in effect to die for us," he said, adding that "and if the man thought that we were worth dying for, perhaps we could make ourselves even more worthy by having a bit more of his courage, his wisdom and his determination."

Sancho further said "shed no tears, yourselves for Ninoy, for he came to us as a forerunner of the dawn, which is surely and soon to break in glory. Ninoy is our hero."

In the end, "Ninoy" put all his fears and pettiness behind him and stepped bravely to meet his appointment with destiny and death. His was attainable heroism to which everyone may aspire, he added.