Recall Ninoy Aquino with service, people urged

MANILA, Philippines—Supporters of slain opposition leader Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. gathered Sunday morning on the spot he was shot dead 30 years ago and called on the public to give 30 minutes of their time every week to help those in need.

“We are asking the people remembering Ninoy to allot 30 minutes of their time in a week for community service,” said Cecile Guidote-Alvarez of the Ninoy Aquino Movement (NAM), which was among the organizers of the event.

The commemoration of Ninoy Aquino’s martyrdom was held on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport—since renamed the Ninoy Aquino International Airport—where Aquino was shot dead minutes after returning from three years of exile in the United States.

Guidote-Alvarez said the “30-minute community service” should be done throughout the year by those who look up to Ninoy, the father of President Benigno S. Aquino.

Alvarez noted that many Filipinos were currently suffering due to the recent floods caused by the monsoon rains and Tropical Depression “Maring.”

People clad in yellow came to the event, which was supposed to be held on Aug. 21, the day of the assassination, but was moved to Aug. 25 due to the bad weather.

The program opened with a traditional offering of flowers at the departure curve of the Naia and was followed by the awarding of the Ninoy Aquino Medal of Valor to freedom fighters, human rights lawyers, the press, and international personalities and groups who played major roles during the 1986 EDSA revolution.

Swiss Ambassador Ivo Siebar who helped in the asset recovery and repatriation of the stolen assets of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos was among those present to receive his medal.

Also in attendance were former Sen. Rene Saguisag, human rights lawyer Rod Domingo, head of the Commission on Human Rights Loretta Rosales, NAM president Raul Daza and chair Heherson Alvarez.

Aquino’s nephew, Roberto “Bobby” Aquino, son of former Sen. Butz Aquino, delivered a speech addressed to his 12-year-old son, Eiyo, on why the date Aug. 21 was so important.

“There were quite a number of us that day and we tried to make it festive for your Lolo Ninoy’s arrival. We wore white shirts with your Lolo Ninoy’s face in front. We had ‘Welcome’ banners made of katsa. Yellow ribbons were hung, from the song ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon.’”

“Benigno Servillano Aquino Jr. was not able to see the thousands of yellow ribbons that were tied not only around trees but also around lampposts and railings. By whom? By the people you see today,” he said.

He said the “indomitable spirit” of Aquino drove him to defy the pleas of his family to stay away from the Philippines and remain alive. Ninoy Aquino had said, “The Filipino is worth dying for.”

“The bullet shot on Aug. 21 actually called us together. It was a time when we all saw and felt renewed nationalism, patriotic involvement, bold courage and uncompromising vigilance… Look at their faces around you, Eiyo, and see the values that you and your generation must embrace. These are the Filipinos worth dying for,” Bobby Aquino said in his speech.

Ninoy Aquino’s assassination set off street protests that culminated in a People Power revolt that ousted Marcos in 1986 and swept his widow, Corazon Aquino, in to office.