Robredo, Noynoy attend mass for late former senator Ninoy Aquino
By Roel Tibay
Published Aug 21, 2018 07:42 pm
By Raymund Antonio
Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday joined the mass at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City for the commemoration of former Senator Ninoy Aquino Jr.’s 35th death anniversary.
Vice-President Leni Robredo and Former President Noynoy Aquino (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo attended the mass with former President Benigno Aquino III, his Cabinet officials, and opposition senators and congressmen, to remember Ninoy, whose assassination in 1983 drove Filipinos to join the EDSA Power Revolution.
In her message, she said Ninoy fearlessly fought for the country's democracy and "never lost faith in his fellow Filipinos and the nation he loved" in the face of death.
"Our remembrance of Ninoy tends to focus largely on this martyrdom, when, through his courage in the face of death, he inspired a people to find their own," said Robredo.
The former senator was assassinated on August 21, 1983 at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport (now the Ninoy Aquino International Airport). He had just returned from a three-year self-exile in the United States.
He was considered as one of the staunchest opponents of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. His death led to the overthrow of Marcos three years later, and then the election of Ninoy's widow, Corazon Aquino, as president.
Robredo remembered Ninoy for his famous quote, "The Filipino is worth dying for," which she said, reflects the "sentiment that speaks not only of the willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for Filipinos," but also "teaches the lesson on faith" and reveals an "invincible belief in the dignity and nobility of the Filipino spirit."
"Faith that despite years of silence, passivity, and acceptance, ultimately, the Filipino will choose to be truly free," said Robredo.
"Filipinos may cower under the fist of oppression, may fall prey to dazzling lies, may succumb to the alluring numbness of indifference. But ultimately, Filipinos will always find the courage to choose, and fight for, what is right," she said.
The Vice President considers Ninoy as one of the influential people in her life.
In her speeches and interviews, it is a recurring line for Robredo that the former senator’s martyrdom led to her “personal political awakening.”
Like Robredo, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay recalled Ninoy’s assassination triggered his political awakening and inspired him to become a lawyer for the people.
“I was nine years old then. My cousin came home and said Ninoy died. That’s when I started to ask who is Ninoy and why he was killed,” said Hilbay.
With his curiosity about the democracy icon, Hilbay then read and listen to speeches to his wife Cory, who became the leader of the opposition against Marcos.
“That was when I saw Filipinos had no freedom during dictatorship. I realized that we had to fight for our rights,” Hilbay, who then worked for seven years under former Senate President and human rights leader Jovito Salonga, said.
On Ninoy Aquino Day, Hilbay said the Filipinos should not forget Ninoy’s ultimate sacrifice in the restoration of country’s democracy amid the challenges and threats under the present administration.
“Now we face an enormous challenge, we should not forget the lessons from Ninoy, who sacrificed his life for the country to achieve the democracy we have right now,” he said.
Among those who attended the mass were Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Francis Pangilinan, LP vice president for external affairs Erin Tañada, and opposition congressmen Miro Quimbo and Edgar Erice.
Also present were Aquino's Cabinet officials such as former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, former Education Secretary Armin Luistro, former Presidential Peace Adviser Ging Deles.
Vice-President Leni Robredo and Former President Noynoy Aquino (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo attended the mass with former President Benigno Aquino III, his Cabinet officials, and opposition senators and congressmen, to remember Ninoy, whose assassination in 1983 drove Filipinos to join the EDSA Power Revolution.
In her message, she said Ninoy fearlessly fought for the country's democracy and "never lost faith in his fellow Filipinos and the nation he loved" in the face of death.
"Our remembrance of Ninoy tends to focus largely on this martyrdom, when, through his courage in the face of death, he inspired a people to find their own," said Robredo.
The former senator was assassinated on August 21, 1983 at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport (now the Ninoy Aquino International Airport). He had just returned from a three-year self-exile in the United States.
He was considered as one of the staunchest opponents of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. His death led to the overthrow of Marcos three years later, and then the election of Ninoy's widow, Corazon Aquino, as president.
Robredo remembered Ninoy for his famous quote, "The Filipino is worth dying for," which she said, reflects the "sentiment that speaks not only of the willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for Filipinos," but also "teaches the lesson on faith" and reveals an "invincible belief in the dignity and nobility of the Filipino spirit."
"Faith that despite years of silence, passivity, and acceptance, ultimately, the Filipino will choose to be truly free," said Robredo.
"Filipinos may cower under the fist of oppression, may fall prey to dazzling lies, may succumb to the alluring numbness of indifference. But ultimately, Filipinos will always find the courage to choose, and fight for, what is right," she said.
The Vice President considers Ninoy as one of the influential people in her life.
In her speeches and interviews, it is a recurring line for Robredo that the former senator’s martyrdom led to her “personal political awakening.”
Like Robredo, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay recalled Ninoy’s assassination triggered his political awakening and inspired him to become a lawyer for the people.
“I was nine years old then. My cousin came home and said Ninoy died. That’s when I started to ask who is Ninoy and why he was killed,” said Hilbay.
With his curiosity about the democracy icon, Hilbay then read and listen to speeches to his wife Cory, who became the leader of the opposition against Marcos.
“That was when I saw Filipinos had no freedom during dictatorship. I realized that we had to fight for our rights,” Hilbay, who then worked for seven years under former Senate President and human rights leader Jovito Salonga, said.
On Ninoy Aquino Day, Hilbay said the Filipinos should not forget Ninoy’s ultimate sacrifice in the restoration of country’s democracy amid the challenges and threats under the present administration.
“Now we face an enormous challenge, we should not forget the lessons from Ninoy, who sacrificed his life for the country to achieve the democracy we have right now,” he said.
Among those who attended the mass were Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Francis Pangilinan, LP vice president for external affairs Erin Tañada, and opposition congressmen Miro Quimbo and Edgar Erice.
Also present were Aquino's Cabinet officials such as former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, former Education Secretary Armin Luistro, former Presidential Peace Adviser Ging Deles.