GROUPS gathered on Sunday, August 21, 2022, at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani for the commemoration of the 39th death anniversary of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
They were carrying placards and tarpaulins containing messages like “Never Again” and “Never Forget,” which are attributed to Martial Law during the administration of late president Ferdinand Marcos, the father of the current President of the country.
Aquino’s daughters Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and Viel Aquino-Dee went to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, where he was laid to rest, to offer flowers and prayers.
Aquino, a staunch critic of Marcos, was assassinated on August 21, 1983 upon embarkation from an airplane at the then Manila International Airport during his return to the country from self-exile in the United States.
This resulted in a chain of events that ended in the ouster of Marcos from his 20-year ruling of the Philippines—more than half of which were under Martial Law.
In 2004, Republic Act No. 2956 was signed into law declaring August 21 of each year as Ninoy Aquino Day. It is a non-working holiday nationwide.
In 2020, then president Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 986, including Ninoy Aquino Day in the list of special non-working holidays for 2021. (SunStar Philippines)