‘Patriotism’: Ninoy Aquino remembered on his 41st death anniversary

As they commemorated his death anniversary, the family of the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. on Wednesday remembered his patriotism, 41 years to the day he returned to the Philippines despite threats to his life.

"Sana alalahanin natin na ang kabayanihan ni Ninoy Aquino ay ipinakita niya noong pinili niyang makiisa sa mga Pilipinong ipinaglalaban ang Pilipinas, kahit na buhay niya pa ang maging kapalit, dahil sa kaibuturan ng kaniyang puso, 'The Filipino is worth dying for'," his nephew, former senator Bam Aquino, said in a Facebook post.

(I hope we remember that Ninoy Aquino showed his patriotism when he chose to reunite with the Filipinos fighting for the Philippines, even in exchange for his life, because from the bottom of his heart, "The Filipino is worth dying for.")

He and other members of the Aquino clan held a Mass at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, where Ninoy and his widow Corazon "Cory" Aquino are buried.

On August 21, 1983, Ninoy Aquino was shot dead at the Manila International Airport, now named NAIA in his honor, as he walked down the stairs of the plane that had brought him back to the Philippines.

A staunch critic of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Ninoy's assassination ignited what would become the People Power Revolution, which three years later would oust the Marcos family from power.

His family in Conception, Tarlac, also celebrated a Mass on Wednesday.

“Ngayon araw, ito po ang hamon sa atin: Tuklasin natin ang pag-ibig natin para sa kapwa Pilipino na walang pinagkaiba natin para sa ating mga sarili. Higit pa sa pag-aalay ng sariling buhay, ito siguro ang halimbawa ni Lolo Ninoy na gusto niya masunod,” the late senator’s grandson Kiko Aquino Dee said at the event.

(Today, this is the challenge for us: Let us discover our love for our fellow Filipinos that is not different from how we love ourselves. More than sacrificing his life, this is probably the example that Ninoy wanted us to follow.)

The Conception local government also held a wreath-laying ceremony at his statue on the municipal grounds.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines also honored Ninoy by offering flowers on his monument at NAIA.

Ginunita ngayong araw, 21 Agosto 2024, ang ika-41 anibersaryo ng pagkamatay ni Senador Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., sa bantayog nito sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, Lungsod ng Parañaque.#NinoyAquinoDay pic.twitter.com/ynBTmzxrNI

— National Historical Commission of the Philippines (@NHCPOfficial) August 21, 2024

The Aquino family earlier honored the late senator’s role in prompting the EDSA People Power Revolution in February 1986.

This was after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. moved the observance of Ninoy Aquino Day from August 21, Wednesday, to August 23, Friday, saying the long weekend would promote domestic tourism. — BM, GMA Integrated News