Remembering Ninoy

Nations need heroes to serve as inspiration during moments of crisis and to remind its people about their potential for greatness. In the aftermath of the massive destruction caused by Typhoon Yolanda and the struggle to return to normalcy, it is good to remind ourselves that November 27 was the birthday of Ninoy Aquino, a modern day hero who steadfastly remained proud to be a Filipino.

In this column I would like to reprint excerpts from “Ninoy Aquino: Not a Mere Exile “ by Neni Sta. Romana Cruz  (translated into Filipino for the book Eksilo, a 1999 UP publication). It is a story that always nourishes my pride in my heritage and in our heroes — the story of a Filipino who could have led a very comfortable life in the United States but decided to come home to join in a struggle for a nation’s future — a people worth dying for.

In a speech in Boston in 1986, Cory Aquino said, “Throughout the three years of exile, Ninoy never lost sight of his desire to see the restoration of democracy in the country. It was not all sweetness and light in Harvard for while there the Marcos regime filed, in addition to his already existing death sentence, two more subversion charges against him and publicly announced that he would be served with an arrest warrant the minute he stepped on Philippine soil. But the distance and clime of the academe gave Ninoy the leisure and the atmosphere on the meaning of his prison years for his country. And it was from our house in Newton, so close to Harvard, that he made his final trip to bring home the fruit of his reflections.”

A difficult issue Ninoy had to reckon with during his exile was deciding between the violent and nonviolent options. Should Marcos’ ruthlessness be matched by violence? It seemed the only way to remove the dictator from office. He devoted hours of academic research studying the use of violence as a means to achieve national liberation. By coming home the way he did, it was obvious what his preferred option was.

When he made known his plans to return home to friends, fellow detainee and media personality Jose Mari Velez and Free Press publisher Teodoro Locsin Sr., he made it clear that nothing could change his mind. Not the foreshadowing of what awaited him in Manila, spoken by Imelda Romualdez Marcos herself, at a meeting with Ninoy in New York. Not Velez’s concern for his life or freedom. His mind was set: “I’m willing to give up my freedom and go back to Fort Bonifacio [then still a military camp where Ninoy was imprisoned] for just ten minutes of Mr. Marcos’ time. I have to convince him that unless he (Marcos) immediately starts us back on the road to democracy through fair and honest elections, the Philippines faces the grim and bloody prospects of a military takeover and a revolution.”

There is a story told that Teodoro Locsin Sr. reminded him of the prospect of again being placed in solitary confinement or even the possibility of being shot. But in their book Six Modern Filipinos, Dalisay and Azurin immortalized Ninoy’s answer: “If they had not recalled Rizal and shot him he would have ended his life as a mere exile. He would be nothing in our history...If they make the mistake of shooting me, they will make me a hero and they will lose and I will win.”

Ninoy’s prepared and undelivered arrival statement speaks of the consequences of his homecoming. “I have prepared for the worst...and return to an uncertain future.” He had imagined solitary confinement and even death by firing squad. But what happened that Sunday, August 21, 1983 is a story that has been replayed in many television documentaries. But it is a story that should also continue to be replayed in people’s memories.

The murder of Ninoy Aquino marked the beginning of the end for the Marcos dictatorial regime. Rather than being stilled and silenced, Ninoy’s message and the voice of the opposition gained renewed life.

The people paid tribute to Ninoy as he lay bloodied in the same blood soaked white safari suit he came home in. Two million fearless Filipinos lined the streets in a funeral procession that took almost 12 hours from Sto. Domingo to Manila Memorial.

How could a single man inspire a people to rise and fight to restore democracy to their suffering nation? How could a single person restore a people’s pride in themselves?

In ancient Greek mythology a hero was a man of great strength and courage who found favour with the gods. In modern times. The term “hero” is used to describe a person who possess courage, nobility, nobility of spirit and extraordinary exploits. Ernest Hemmingway described courage as showing “grace under pressure.” The root of the word “hero” is the Greek word heros which means “to watch over others.”

Heroes are persons, therefore, whose life of courage have influenced the lives of others, as well as the course of history. Ninoy Aquino has joined the ranks of Filipino heroes like Rizal, Mabini, Bonifacio, Quezon and Magsaysay.

As we commemorate his birth anniversary, it can only be hoped that his martyrdom, which saved the Filipino people from the evils of the Marcos dictatorship, will continue to be inspired by his heroism.

We hope his sacrifice will be a beacon of hope during every moment of crisis for our people. And we can hope that Ninoy’s colossal courage and heroism will continue to inspire those leaders who want to make a difference in the lives of the Filipino.

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