Ninoy Aquino: A life in photos
Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. started his career as the youngest journalist to cover the Korean War at 18 years old before he made his way to politics, running for the local elections in his home province of Tarlac. After marrying Corazon Cojuangco, scion of a prominent Tarlac clan, Aquino proceeded to run for Senate and became dictator Ferdinand Marcos' most formidable political foe.
Aquino's rhetoric and imprisonment became a resounding voice of a military-suppressed citizenry and an icon for freedom after his assassination believed to have been ordered by Marcos.
In this photo essay sourced from the Presidential Museum and Library's online collection, Aquino is gleaned from images that show his personal life, political career and influence.
AQUINO FAMILY. Antonio, Milagros, Benigno Sr., Aurora (parents), Linda, Billy, Maur, Lupita, Butz, Ditas, Ninoy. Not in this photo are Tessie and Paul Aquino. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
Ninoy Aquino's graduation picture as seen in their batch's 1948 yearbook from San Beda College, Manila. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
YOUNG JOURNALIST. Aquino, 18, as the Korean War correspondent for the Manila Times as seen in this October 4, 1950 photo. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: The Willing Martyr"
Ninoy in his home office goes through countless of correspondence. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
A 27-year-old Ninoy joins the race for vice governor of Tarlac Province. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
WEDDING WITH CORAZON COJUANGCO.. In this photo taken October 11, 1954, Ninoy, Cory and the bride's father, Jose Cojuangco Sr. in Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Pasay City. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
Ninoy Aquino receiving his second Legion of Honor Award on October 14, 1954 for successfully bringing insurgent Luis Taruc down from the hills. He was conferred with the rank of Commander by Defense Secretary Sotero Cabahug assisted by wife Cory. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: The Willing Martyr"
ROAD TO SENATE. Ninoy seen here campaigning for senator. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
CHILDREN. Ninoy bidding goodbye to his children Ballsy, Noynoy and Viel before leaving for the Senate. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
PRIVILEGE SPEECH. In this Sept. 13, 1972 photo, Ninoy rests his head in his hands after delivering the privilege speech that revealed "Oplan Sagittarius"—President Ferdinand Marcos' plan to place Metro Manila and outlying areas under the control of the Philippine Constabulary as a prelude to martial law. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: The Willing Martyr"
Ninoy on August 27, 1973 before the Military Commission No. 2, flanked by his wife Cory and Senator Lorenzo Tañada. Aquino was the first of the martial law detainees. Eleven months after his arrest, Ninoy was brought before Military Commission 2 to face the charges against him—from illegal possession of firearms to subversion and murder. Before the court in Moran Hall, Ninoy delivered a scathing denunciation of the Marcos regime. "You have your duties to perform, I have my sad fate to meet," he told the commission. "I have chosen to follow my conscience and accept the tyrant’s verdict. I would rather die on my feet with honor than live on bended knees in shame." Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: The Willing Martyr"
Thinner and weak after his hunger strike as seen in this April 4, 1975 photo. The move was in protest of what he felt was a sham trial, subsisting only on salt tablets, sodium bicarbonate and amino acids, and two glasses of water. Despite this, the Military Tribunal forced Ninoy to be brought to the session hall everyday. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: The Willing Martyr"
AT THE SUPREME COURT IN 1977. Ninoy making the case for his innocence, at the Supreme Court on Oct. 18, 1977—come November 25, the Military Commission would find him guilty of the charges of murder, illegal possession of firearms and subversion. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: The Willing Martyr"
Ninoy undergoing medical check-ups at the Heart Center prior to his departure for the United States. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
AT DETENTION. Ninoy was detained on Sept. 22, 1977 at the MSU Compound of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
Ninoy at Baylor Medical Center, Dallas, Texas in 1980, after his successful triple heart bypass operation. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
Ninoy in Taipei, August 21, 1983, prior to his flight aboard China Airlines for the Philippines. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
Ninoy saying his prayers, prior to landing at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
Ninoy being escorted by military people from China Airlines. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
ASSASSINATED. Aquino's remains lies on the ground shortly after he alighted from the plane seen in this image from the photo library of Asiaweek. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
Ninoy's funeral march on August 31, 1983 when people begun railing for justice for victims of Marcos' Martial Law. Presidential Museum and Library/PCDSPO/"Ninoy: Ideals & Ideologies 1932-1983"
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