Tribute to Ninoy on 76th birthday

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim will lead today the tribute to the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. on his 76th birth anniversary in simple wreath-laying ceremonies at the hero’s monument at P. Burgos Street corner A. Bonifacio Avenue in Intramuros, Manila.

Batang Mayor 2008 Oliver Lorenzo Felisilda will join Lim in the ceremonies.

Mayor Lim cited Aquino’s courage and selfless love for his countrymen. 

Lim said that Aquino sacrificed his life and decided to come home to help restore democracy in his beloved country despite warnings that his life was in danger. Aquino was assassinated upon his arrival at the Manila International Airport (since renamed Ninoy Aquino International Airport) on Aug. 21, 1983.

Aquino was born on Nov. 27, 1932 in Concepcion, Tarlac. 

He was serving his term as senator when martial law was declared on Sept. 21, 1972.

As the leading critic of the administration of the then authoritarian President Ferdinand Marcos, Aquino was arrested and imprisoned at the military camp in Fort Bonifacio, Makati and later transferred with several other detainees to a military detention center in Laur, Nueva Ecija. He was detained for seven years.

To protest the atrocities of martial law and his continued imprisonment, Aquino went on hunger strike from April 4 to May 13, 1975.

He was convicted of subversion, illegal possession of firearms and murder in November 1977, and was sentenced to die.

Widespread international pressure forced the government to reopen his trial and allow the presentation of new evidence and Aquino’s death penalty was deferred.

While still in prison, Aquino led the political opposition in forming the party Laban and fielded candidates during the 1978 parliamentary elections. As expected the candidates of Marcos won by a landslide.

Aquino was released in 1980 and was allowed to undergo triple bypass surgery at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

He stayed in the United States for three years until he went home on that tragic day in August 1983.

The death of Aquino galvanized the Filipino people and the protest rallies against the Marcos dictatorship grew and became the catalyst for the EDSA People Power revolt, the peaceful revolution that catapulted his wife Corazon to power on Feb. 25, 1986.

Lim said city officials, employees and students would attend the simple rites for the late senator.