Friends, relatives, and supporters gathered to mark the 42nd anniversary of the assassination of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. outside Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which is the very spot where he was gunned down in 1983.
The ceremony was led by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and featured a short program. Senator Bam Aquino served as the guest of honor, along with Mrs. Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, who offered flowers in memory of Ninoy.
In his statement to the media, Senator Bam stressed that many of the causes Ninoy fought for, such as good governance and a more just society, have yet to be fully achieved. He emphasized the need for collective action.
“Yung isa sa mga sikat na nasabi ni Tito Ninoy Aquino noong buhay pa siya ay we cannot depend on one man, we have to depend on all of us. Kumbaga yung nais po nating mangyari sa ating bansa ay hindi magagawa ng isang tao kailangan tulong-tulong tayo rito. Kailangan magsasama tayo, nagkakaisa tayo,” Senator Bam Aquino said.
Yung kanyang hangarin po na magkaroon ng pagbabago sa politika, at least nakita naman natin na may demokrasya tayo ngayon. Pero yung ibang pinaglalaban niya gaya ng good governance, mas patas na lipunan alam po nating hindi pa naman [ito] nakakamit at marami sa mga pinaglaban niya kailangan pa natin ipaglaban pero hindi lang po yan pwede gawin ng iisang tao kailangan sama-sama tayo,” Senator Bam Aquino added.
Following the ceremony, the August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) held its own program, including a motorcade from NAIA to Ninoy Aquino’s mausoleum at Manila Memorial Park.
