Today, August 21, the Philippines celebrates Ninoy Aquino Day, a national holiday to commemorate the life and death of a martyr, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, who, like thousands of Filipinos during the Martial Law of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, fought for the restoration of freedom and democracy. Ninoy Aquino — the husband of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino and the father of President Benigno “Noynoy Aquino III — was assassinated the very moment he came back to the Philippines on August 21, 1983. There are great documentaries about the life, struggle and death of Ninoy. The best informative video, in our opinion, is not a documentary but the speech delivered by Ninoy two years before his death. On February 15, 1981, Ninoy was the speaker in a symposium by the Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles. Please take time (almost 2 hours) to watch the full speech (divided into nine parts): Continue reading Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Day: The Speech You Should Watch
Tag Archives: Benigno Aquino
Full Text of the Second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno S. Aquino III
(Note: This is the full text of the State of the Nation Address delivered by His Excellency Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, President of the Philippines, at the Session Hall of the House of Representatives, Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City on 25 July 2011. Or see English translation.) Continue reading Full Text of the Second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno S. Aquino III
First State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno “NoyNoy” Aquino III
(Full text of President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address [SONA], his first during his term, delivered on 26 July 2010 before the Congress of the Philippines, Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City. English translation is here. Comments and messages below. See also Second SONA on 26 July 2011.)
Continue reading First State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno “NoyNoy” Aquino III
Cory Aquino Memorial Shrine and Ninoy Aquino Monument (Manila City)
Names are confusing. There’s a Cory Aquino Memorial Shrine located at the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and Padre Burgos Drive in Manila City. Beside the monument of Cory, within the same fenced premises, is the Ninoy Aquino Monument. Continue reading Cory Aquino Memorial Shrine and Ninoy Aquino Monument (Manila City)
Inaugural Speech of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III
Today’s event is hailed as historic. June 30, 2010 is the inauguration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Vice-President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay. The highest officers of the Republic of the Philippines took their respective oaths of office minutes ago. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Continue reading Inaugural Speech of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III
Ninoy Aquino Monument (Quezon City)
Perhaps you’re wondering why this “shrine” deserves a separate post, when it could easily be incorporated in our previous post on the Ninoy Aquino Day. Or why not feature the more famous Ninoy monuments/statues in Makati City or in Tarlac? Continue reading Ninoy Aquino Monument (Quezon City)
Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21) - Regular Holiday
In 2004, Congress passed Republic Act No. 9256, declaring August 21 of every year as Ninoy Aquino Day, a special non-working holiday, in order to commemorate the death anniversary of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino, Jr. It’s one of the regular and national holidays contained in the subsequent law “rationalizing” the national holidays. Continue reading Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21) - Regular Holiday