Members of the Federation of Urban Poor mark Ninoy Aquino Day at Araneta Avenue in Bacolod City on Sunday morning. (Photo courtesy of Joy Jarabelo)
BACOLOD CITY – Members of the Federation of Urban Poor (FedUp) in Negros Occidental marked Ninoy Aquino Day by laying wreaths at the foot of the former senator’s statue at Araneta Avenue here on Sunday morning.
“Heroism is not being buried in the hero’s park. It is not having fake medals and a lavish interment with a forever flame on one’s tomb. Heroism is standing up to and doing what is right in the midst of repression,” said Joy Jarabelo, FedUp head.
Clad in yellow shirts, 64 FedUp members got up early on Sunday “to shout to the world, Ninoy is the hero, Marcos is not.”
“Thank you Ninoy for showing us that indomitable spirit to stand for what is right and for freedom and democracy in our country,” Jarabelo said.
Ninoy Aquino Day is held every August 21 to mark the assassination of former senator Beningo “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. at the then Manila International Airport in 1983.
Aquino, a longtime political opponent of then president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was returning to the Philippines after three years of self-imposed exile in the United States when he was shot at the tarmac of the airport.