Remembering August 21: Ninoy Aquino Day

Every August 21, a national non-working holiday is being celebrated in commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Jr.’s death. But who exactly is Ninoy and what did he do for him to merit his own holiday?

 

(Photo grabbed from choosephilippines.com)

 

Benigno Aquino Jr., or simply Ninoy, is a former Philippine senator, who was imprisoned for eight years after the Martial Law declaration in the Philippines. He is one of the fighters for democracy in the country during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. He also fought for the oppression of the Filipino people, together with his wife Corazon Aquino.

 

(Photo grabbed from eskwelahanplanner.tumblr.com)

 

Ninoy was a staunch advocate of democracy, a known opposition figure in the Martial law era.  When he went back for medical treatment from the States to the Philippines, he planned to challenge Marcos for parliamentary elections in 1984. Upon returning on August 21, 1983, he was shot at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport (which is now the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which was renamed in his honor) after landing and was killed. This sparked several protests that led to the 1986 snap presidential elections where his wife Corazon Aquino defeated Ferdinand Marcos. Ninoy Aquino is also the father of former Philippine president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

The August 21 holiday was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 2004, twenty-one years after Aquino’s death. The holiday was created by Republic Act 2956 sponsored by then Senator Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia. A commemoration is held at the People Power Monument.

Up to this date, August 21 is considered to be an important holiday for Filipinos, in remembrance of the start of reclaiming freedom. Ninoy, who has always been a figure of freedom in the country, once said an important quote to live by: “The Filipino is worth dying for.”