Yellow ribbons for Ninoy’s 20th year

Streets in Metro Manila will be decorated with yellow ribbons for all of next week starting on Monday to commemorate the 20th death anniversary of the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., the organizing committee said Wednesday.

Loretta Lina, executive director of the EDSA People Power Commission, said that Metro Manila will turn yellow during the affair, dubbed “Remembering Ninoy,” to be held from August 18 to 21.

“All freedom-loving Filipinos are invited to participate in any of the following activities to honor the great martyr of the nation,” Lina said, adding that the death of Aquino will be commemorated nationwide.

The EDSA commission members expressed hope that the activities will help leaders of the country and the new generation to remember the great sacrifice done by Ninoy for the country to achieve democracy.

Victoria Garchitorena, commission cochairman, said the recent coup attempt is different from the military uprising which was supported by the people fighting martial law and the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand Marcos.

“We suffered extremely, suffered for our freedom. The situation before [compared to] now is really different,” Garchitorena said.

The commission said the coup plotters against Marcos should not take sole credit for the ouster of the dictator because the EDSA revolt succeeded with the support of the people.

Members of the commission warned the people that such democracy achieved now should be protected for “the price of democracy is ‘eternal vigilance.’”

Although President Arroyo declared August 22 a public holiday to commemorate Aquino’s death anniversary, the commission said there will be a nationwide celebration after officials from other regions already extended their support by displaying yellow ribbons in their plazas and streets on August 18. 
C. Mocon

 

 

 

Stop too much politics - GMA
President joins nation in observing 20th death anniversary of 'Ninoy'
By Ferdie J. Maglalang

 

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday urged Filipinos, especially the opposition party, to refrain from engaging in too much partisan politics which, she said, has further aggravated the difficulties of the nation.

The President made the call as she joined the nation in observing the 20th death anniversary of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., whose martyrdom inspired a peaceful popular uprising that ended the 20-year rule of President Ferdinand Marcos in the country.

"It is high time for our nation to break away from excessive preoccupation with politics and to consolidate our energies towards the indispensable tasks of public order and development," Arroyo said in a press statement.

"Partisan politics is aggravating the already steep difficulties of our people. I ask them to resist being distracted away from the focus on poverty, terrorism, crime and corruption - to which the government is devoting its undivided attention," she said.

The Arroyo administration blamed excessive partisan politics for the latest attacks on the President's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, who has been accused of laundering some P270 million in campaign funds of the administration party.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a staunch critic of the Arroyo administration, had charged that accounts in the millions of pesos were in the names of "Jose Pidal," who, he said, was Arroyo, and several other persons, including the First Gentleman's personal secretary and accountant.

The government has also blamed some opposition leaders for the July 27 failed coup by some young officers and men who demanded the resignation of the President, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, and some military and police officials.

"We must strengthen the ramparts of political stability that were shattered by the Oakwood incident through the instruments of justice and reform," the President said.

The government has charged before a civilian civilia and a special court martial the rebel military officers and soldiers who stationed themselves at the Oakwood Hotel on July 27.

It is also running after the alleged mastermind, presidential aspirant Senator Gregorio B. Honasan, and other suspected benefactors and financiers of the July 27 mutiny.

The President called on the public to rally behind the government to help rebuild the country's battered economy and stabilize the socio-political situation.

"Confidence in the economy has to be sustained through an effort on the part of each and every Filipino to productively contribute to the fundamental tasks of nation building. Enough of the politics of ruin and stagnation," she said.President Macapagal Arroyo yesterday said she draws inspiration from the first People Power president, former President Corazon Aquino, on how to hurdle the nation's problems, including surviving the recent coup attempt.

The President said she considers Aquino, the wife of the slain senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and who had survived several coup attempts during her term, her role model mainly for her experiences as the first female President of the country.

Arroyo, wearing a yellow shirt, joined the Aquino family in the commemoration of the 20th death anniversary of the senator at the Manila Memorial Park.

The President, Mrs. Aquino and the latler's successor Fidel Ramos later attended a confetti tribute and a gathering in Makati City.

Following the mass at the tomb of Aquino, Arroyo and Aquino sat for a live interview over ABS-CBN 2's "Morning Girls" with Korina Sanchez and Kris Aquino.

In the face of challenging problems apparently including the short-lived July 27 rebellion, Arroyo admitted she emulates Aquino's strong faith in God when she faced the same predicament.

Both female leaders are devout Catholics.

Arroyo said she remembers Aquino's advice to do what is right and put trust in the Lord. "I derive my inspiration from that," she said.

The two female leaders also asserted they were proven stronger than their male predecessors, who were both ousted by popular revolts due to corruption.

Aquino said she remained in office despite seven failed coup attempts against her administration.

"Hindi naming sinasabi na mas magaling kami pero siguro kasing-galing man lamang ano at mas malaki ang aming pananampalataya," the former president said in the interview.

In Makati City

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Makati City Mayor Jejomar C. Binay yesterday led some 2,000 to 3,000 marchers in a "salubungan" (meeting) at Ayala Ave. marking the 20th death anniversary of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino.

The meeting was held in front of the Ninoy Aquino statue on Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Ave. in the heart of the city's central business district.

It was preceded by separate marches of the groups of President Arroyo and Mayor Binay and culminated in a wreath-laying rites for the slain senator.

With President Arroyo in the march that started at the corner of Ayala and Gil Puyat Avenues were former Presidents Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos, officials of the Ayala Corp., some members and employes of the Cabinet.

In the Binay-led march were Vice Mayor Emesto Marcado; Makati City Representatives Agapito "Butz" Aquino, Ninoy's younger brother, and Teodoro Locsin, other members of the August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) and the PDP-Laban, residents, and representatives and members of various non-government organizations.

It was the first time that the salubungan was held in the city to pay tribute to Ninoy and a people's revolution that ended years of authoritarian rule in the country. (Felix Mediavillo)

Oreta

Sen. Teresa Aquino Oreta urged the people yesterday to be vigilant against all threats to civil liberties and systematic maneuvers by the government to drift back to the "garrison state" which her eldest brother, martyred Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, had warned of three decades ago.

Oreta, Ninoy's youngest sister, said that for the Arroyo administration, remembering her brother's martyrdom today would have been more significant had it been marked by genuine efforts towards unity and reconciliation that Ninoy had hoped for when he decided to return to the country 20 years ago despite grave threats to his life and liberty.

But sadly, Oreta said, Malacañang has made a mockery of Ninoy's ideals by sliding towards a garrison state which the Arroyo administration seems to have mimicked just weeks before the nation marked the 20th anniversary of Ninoy's death.

"As we remember Ninoy's martyrdom, let us all pause and seek Divine Providence to give us the courage and strength to remain vigilant, to defend our freedoms and liberties, so that no garrison state will ever descend upon our land now or in the future," Oreta said.

In a privilege speech delivered on the eve of Ninoy's death anniversary, Oreta said that 20 years after Ninoy was assassinated at the then Manila International Airport, the Philippines appears gradually sliding back to the dark era that her brother warned about 30 years ago.

The said Ninoy's warning was initially greeted by widespread public skepticism but later proven correct with the 1972 declaration of martial law.

In Pampanga

SAN FERNANDO City, Pampanga - This province joined the nation commemorate the 20th death anniversary yesterday of the great Kapampangan martyr, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., with ceremonies at the provincial capitol here.

Gov. Lito Lapid led other government officials and civic leaders in the observance of Ninoy's death anniversary with a wreathlaying ceremony.

The observance coincided with the 48th birth anniversary of Lapid.

Filmer Abrajano, provincial legal officer, said in his brief remarks that Ninoy's death sparked the EDSA revolution and changed the destiny of the nation.

"The senator's death led to the greatest Filipino moment - the fall of the Marcos dictatorship and martial law in the country," he said.

Lapid said Aquino's martyrdom "will always be reminded as the great moment in our history when the Filipinos were honored, respected, and envied around the world." (Fred Roxas)

Ninoy honored with int'l commemorative coin

The late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. will be honored with a newly minted commemorative gold coin by Meyer’s Mint of Germany as commissioned by Gold Quest International on the 20th anniversary of his martyrdom.

To be launched on August 19, the commemorative gold coin is the sixth in the premiere series of Gold Quest International’s “Champions for Peace.”

The series honors men and women who have made valuable contributions to world peace and human development.

The other “Champions for Peace” are Pope John Paul II, Mahatma Gandhi, Princess Diana, John F. Kennedy and Mother Teresa.

Former President Corazon C. Aquino will receive the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. commemorative gold coin from Bernhard Meyer, B.H. Meyer’s Mint chairman and Gold Quest International Network Development director; Joseph Bismark, who will arrive for the launch; and Christopher Carrion, founding chairman of the Spirit of edsa Foundation, the local partner for the project.

Aquino was honored for his aspirations for freedom and peace, which inspired the Filipinos to seek and act toward attaining democracy. At an age when most young men had nothing more in their minds than getting by in school, he was already a two-time recipient of the Philippine Legion of Honor, the highest honor accorded to civilians by the Philippine government. At 17, he was a foreign correspondent for The Manila Times reporting on the Korean War.

He rose meteorically through sheer brilliance and charisma in the national political scene, becoming the youngest mayor of Concepcion, Tarlac, the youngest vice governor of the province and youngest senator. He won a Ten Outstanding Young Men award for public service and was on his way to becoming Ferdinand Marcos’s successor as president when he was imprisoned when martial law was declared.

For seven and a half years he was incarcerated but he was never cowed by the dictatorship. He made peace, particularly to his countrymen, his special quest and believed that his beloved country could be freed from the shackles of martial law through peaceful means.

His murder at the airport tarmac at the hands of government soldiers, which came just as he was going home to seek peace and freedom for his people, awoke the country from years of apathy and fear.

 

 

 

Kris Aquino: Danding innocent in Ninoy slay

Twenty years after her father died, Kris Aquino believes that her uncle Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco was not in any way involved in the assassination of Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino.

"I don't believe he is capable of that [killing Ninoy]," Aquino said about his uncle, a business tycoon and ambassador during the Marcos presidency.

"Blood is thicker than politics," said Aquino at the press conference of movie Mano Po 2 on Monday.

The TV host said Cojuangco, long considered by many as a Marcos crony, was even helpful to her family when the senator was exiled in the United States, Kris said.

She recalled that Cojuangco helped in paying for the mortgage of their Boston house.

Aquino added that she is no longer interested in knowing the mastermind behind his dad's death.

"What for, patay na lahat sila!" said Aquino.

If the former senator were alive today, Aquino said she believes he would be proud of her achievements.

She, however, said he would also tell her to patch things up with her brother, Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

"[Maybe he'd tell me "Huwag mo nang dagdagan ang sakit ng ulo ng nanay mo at mag-ayos na kayo ni Noynoy," the youngest of the Aquino children said.

Cory sends Estrada a gift
Posted: 0:32 AM (Manila Time) | May 24, 2003
By Volt Contreras
Inquirer News Service

JOSEPH Estrada's critics may cringe at hearing him compare himself to the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., but it appears that the ex-senator's widow is partly responsible for putting such ideas in his head.

The ousted president on Friday showed up at his hearing at the Sandiganbayan carrying a hard-bound book that he said was a "gift" sent to him last Saturday by former president Corazon Aquino. The book, titled "Testament from a Prison Cell," is a collection of Ninoy's reflections, letters and other writings as a political prisoner of the Marcos dictatorship.

Former president Aquino confirmed to the Inquirer that she had indeed sent Estrada the book so that "he would pray more," she said. "It is to help him cope," her spokesperson Deedee Siytangco quoted the former president as saying.

In a press conference after the hearing, Estrada held up "Testament" for the cameras and said it was "a source of inspiration" that had brought him "closer to God."

Estrada drew "parallels" between himself and Ninoy, saying that the assassinated opposition leader "did not trust the military tribunal" that was then trying him, "while I don't trust the Supreme Court justices because of their conspiracy with the lawyers" of President Glroria Macapagal-Arroyo.

For good measure, the former matinee idol gave a twist to the famous Ninoy quote: "If he said 'The Filipino is worth dying for,' I will paraphrase it as 'The rule of law is worth fighting for.'"

Estrada said Aquino sent him the book through Philip Juico, who served as her agrarian reform secretary. He said Aquino might have heard from his former finance secretary, Jose "Titoy" Pardo, that he had been depressed lately.

According to Siytangco, former President Aquino had been planning to send the book even before Juico's visit because "she realized that while Ninoy was in jail, he welcomed visitors" and little gestures of thoughtfulness.

Estrada quoted Aquino's dedication thus: "To President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, with my prayers and good wishes."

He said Aquino's note referred him to Page 136, which contained Ninoy's letter to then senator Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo.

Rodrigo's letter had tried to console and counsel the incarcerated Ninoy saying in part that God may have wanted him in jail for him to realize that when things were going well for him, he had forgotten the Lord.

He said he was "grateful" to Aquino for her gift, but became rather evasive when asked how he would reconcile her gesture with the leading role she played in the January 2001 uprising that removed him from office.

At the hearing, Estrada told the justices that his recent motion seeking the dismissal of his plunder and other criminal cases was a "reiteration" of his long-held position of not recognizing the Sandiganbayan.

 

Aquino, Diokno prison cells
now a shrine to heroism
Posted: 11:50 PM (Manila Time) | Feb. 25, 2003
By Anselmo Roque
Inquirer News Service

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija -- "Let this shrine be a memorial to life, not death; peace, not war; and faith in the Filipino, not in the United States."

Thus spoke Carmen Diokno, widow of Sen. Jose W. Diokno, in her response after the inauguration on Tuesday afternoon of the Aquino-Diokno National Shrine here.

The shrine was the reconstructed detention cell of Diokno and murdered Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. at the Army camp here. The building used to be the Philippine Army's intelligence service office, and is located about 150 meters from the camp's main gate.

At the outset of martial rule, Aquino and Diokno were arrested in Metro Manila and detained in Camp Crame. Six months later on March 12, 1973, they were brought to the military camp here. They were kept in solitary confinement.

Former President Corazon Aquino said she agreed with Diokno that the memorial for the two former senators, both leading figures in the fight against the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos' martial rule, was not only for "Pepe and Ninoy, but for all of us Filipinos."

"We look for heroes and so here are these two men who were ready and willing to sacrifice everything so that we could enjoy our freedom and restore democracy in our country," Aquino said.

President Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated the shrine, which used to house the military security detachment of the Army's Military Security Unit in this 35,000-hectare military reservation.

In their respective cells, measuring 3 by 4 meters each, Diokno and Aquino never knew whether it was night or day as lights in the facility were on 24 hours a day.

Their wives were allowed to see their husbands starting only on April 8, 1973. The two women said they never had the chance to touch their husbands as they were not allowed to enter the facility, which was secured by barbed wire.

Maj. Gen. Alberto Braganza, commanding general of the Army's 7th Infantry Division, said Ms Macapagal ordered him last year to reconstruct the building for a memorial to Aquino and Diokno.

Braganza said Ms Macapagal issued the order during her visit to the Ninoy Aquino Museum in Tarlac City on Dec. 17 last year.

"The command is deeply proud and honored to be part of this celebration. It has been a dream of past 7th ID commanders for this memorial to be set up. Now it is realized and we are lucky this happened during our time," Braganza said.

 

 

Statement of the President on Ninoy's 
19th Death Anniversary

The death of Ninoy Aquino 19 years ago was a historical event in our nationhood. It breathed life to the restoration of Philippine democracy after a dark period of dictatorship.

In life, what Ninoy gave to the people was already greater than freedom. He inspired us to fight for it. He inspired us to be tough in struggle, even in despair and isolation; to be loyal to principles, and to a high vision.

Ninoy was motivated by his profound love for the Filipino. He truly believed that the Filipino was worth dying for. It was supreme human faith that drove him.

His assassination jolted our people from lethargy and galvanized the nation to put an end to decades of tyranny and exploitation. This is what we learned from his martyrdom: We must never let terror and injustice rule our lives again. We must safeguard our democracy and never allow the ascendancy of dictatorship.

Through the supreme sacrifice, Ninoy contributed a most valuable stone in building the edifice of a strong Republic.

Let this inspire us to commit ourselves to our fight against poverty, crime, terrorism and corruption. Let us all be vigilant for the rule of law and decency.

I shall continue to lead our people under the same principles that Ninoy lived and died for. Let us all set aside our differences and gather our energies so we can forge ahead – each citizen casting his own stone, as Ninoy did, in the national edifice.