Aquinos commemorate Ninoy's 78th birthday

MANILA, Philippines –  President Aquino and his sisters Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and Viel Aquino-Dee yesterday heard mass at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City to mark the 78th birth anniversary of their father, slain senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

The family and their close friends attended a mass that lasted 20 minutes. After the mass, Aquino prayed at the tomb and immediately left. His sisters also did not grant interviews to the media.

Among those who attended the mass were Odette Ong and Philip Juico, former cabinet secretaries of Aquino’s mother, the late former president Corazon Aquino.

On the other hand, the President’s two other sisters Pinky Aquino-Abellada and television personality Kris Aquino-Yap were absent.

Ninoy’s former classmate and marketing researcher Roberto Sarreal was also present at the mass. He told The STAR that he has never failed to visit Ninoy’s tomb during his birth and death anniversary (August 21) since the senator was assassinated 26 years ago.

“People ask me, why? I told them: To remind me of his life and what he fought for,” he said. “Because if nothing reminds you, you tend to forget what he fought for.”

Sarreal and Ninoy were classmates in a Latin course at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1948. He remembered Ninoy as someone “very talkative.”“Name it, he had it!” Sarreal said with a hearty laugh.

Sarreal, now 81, said he would continue to visit Ninoy’s tomb.

“By hook or by crook, until there is breath in my body, I’ll be here.”