MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III on Friday led the country's commemoration of his father's 32nd death anniversary.
Aquino visited the tomb of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
The president prayed the rosary with his sisters, friends and some Cabinet members like Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
According to Malacañang, Aquino will also attend a Mass offered for his father at 1 p.m. at the La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City.
The martyred Aquino, a staunch critic of the Marcos dictatorship, was assassinated on August 21, 1983 at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport.
He was gunned down on the same day he returned to the Philippines after years of exile in the United States.
His death sparked more anti-Marcos protests that culminated in the 1986 EDSA Revolution. The peaceful revolt catapulted Aquino's widow, Corazon, to the presidency.
Malacañang is urging Filipinos to remember and reflect on Aquino's life and legacy.
"It has been 32 years since Senator Ninoy Aquino laid down his life for his country. He came home to try to convince the dictator to restore democracy to avoid plunging the country into a violent revolution. But he paid for this idealism with his life," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.
"His assassination inspired millions to fight against the dictatorship through peaceful means. Today, these sentiments remain strong even among those who were not yet around at the time, as history has seared this image of ultimate sacrifice into our collective memory," Lacierda added.