On Aug, 21, 1983, Benigno Aquino Jr., better known as Ninoy, was shot dead on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport only seconds after he stepped out of the plane that brought him home after a three-year exile in the US
What were you doing on Aug. 21, 1983? If you belong to the largest population of young people in the Philippines in its history, 30 million of you between the ages of 10 to 24 comprising 28 percent of all of us Filipinos in the country right now, according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund or UNPF, then you have no firsthand memory of how emotional a day it was, almost as emotional as a point two decades further back in history, the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated in the light of the noonday on Nov. 22, 1963.
On Aug, 21, 1983, the political leader and archenemy of then President Ferdinand Marcos, Benigno Aquino Jr., better known as Ninoy Aquino, was shot dead only seconds after he stepped out of the airplane that brought him home after a three-year self-imposed exile in the US.
It was a day highly emotional for me. If it wasn’t the first time, it was one of very rare times I saw my father get emotional, let alone cry openly. My mother too was crying. I have very vague recollections of that day, except my father crying. I don’t know if we were watching it all on TV or just hearing it on the radio, but I remember my father lamenting that with all the press on board the plane with Ninoy and all the cameras awaiting his arrival, none of what really happened was caught on camera.
It was a turning point in our history. In the death of Ninoy he became a far worse enemy of the Marcoses who by that time had been the ruling family since 1965. As a result of what happened in 1983, which consolidated the opposition, turning every gripe against the dictatorship into a national crusade for freedom and democracy, the EDSA Revolution of 1986 became possible.
As a result of what happened in 1983, which consolidated the opposition, the EDSA Revolution of 1986 became possible.
In commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, “Pangarap ng Bayan,” a tribute song as well as a music video, has been released featuring the world-acclaimed Philippine Madrigal Singers with Mark Anthony Carpio as choirmaster. A project of Kilusang Pamana, the song was written by the poet Gil Yuzon and musically arranged by composer Noel Espinida in keeping with Kilusang Pamana’s stated objective “to pay tribute to and keep alive the patriotic and civic legacies of outstanding Filipinos, past and present, which remain relevant and needed for our times.”
In the music video, Ninoy’s wife, former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, and their only son, former President Noynoy Aquino or Benigno Aquino III are also featured, as well as snippets of the circumstances under which they led the nation.
Produced by Yuzon and Aurora Oreta, the music video was directed by Jeremy Carlos with Richwell Espinida in charge of mixing and mastering, Celine Perpiñan as project coordinator, and Victoria Benoit as communications consultant.
Scan the QR code to watch the listen to the song and watch video.