Ninoy's letter to son in book launched at NAIA tarmac today

MANILA, Philippines - Benigno Aquino Jr.’s letter to his son is included in a book of the late senator’s poems, letters and speeches that will be launched today at the tarmac of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), site of his martyrdom 28 years ago.

“Ninoy: Mga Tula, Liham at Talumpati,” published under the auspices of the Ninoy Aquino Movement (NAM), Philippine International Theater Institute and the Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino, gathers 13 poems, eight letters, and two speeches of the senator, with their corresponding translations.

Launch is set at 10 a.m., with assembly 30 minutes earlier at the tarmac and NAIA departure area.

The poems, most of which sound like prayers or meditations written in prison, include “The Candle of My Life,” here translated into 23 languages among them Malaysian by recent Manila visitor Anwar Ibrahim, and “I Have Fallen in Love with the Same Woman Three Times,” which had been set to music by Jose Mari Chan and now translated into Filipino as “Tatlong Ulit” by Isagani Cruz.

As a bonus, the poems also list “Prayer for a Happy Death” by former President Corazon Aquino.

The letters gather under one cover Ninoy’s singular correspondence with each of his five children, wife Cory, and good friend and fellow senator and detainee, the poet Soc Rodrigo, during the years of his incarceration under martial law.

In his letter to his son and namesake Noynoy, who would ascend the presidency at the same age as Ninoy’s death at 50, the senator writes: “I may no longer be around to give you my fatherly advice.” This book however may be that advice and constant guide.

The speeches include one that remained undelivered and was meant to be made upon his arrival that fateful day in August, and indeed was prescient: “A death sentence awaits me.”

Added features are a collection of winning text poems about Ninoy Aquino, and a copy of Republic Act 6639 enacted in July 1987 renaming the airport to NAIA.

In an opening message, Rafael Lopa of the Ninoy & Cory Aquino Foundation said the book “Ninoy” makes more historic and meaningful the 28th commemoration of the senator’s martyrdom.

In commemoration of Ninoy Aquino’s death anniversary, a simple celebration will be held at the NAIA tarmac at 9:30 a.m. today.

The program will start with music by a lyre band from Tambo Elementary School at 9:30 a.m. followed by the book launching of “Ninoy: Mga Tula, Liham at Talumpati.”

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Honrado would give the welcome remarks followed by several other speakers.

A Mass would follow after a quick response from the Aquino family and from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and dialogue partners.

The last part of the celebration will be the ASEAN flag display and floral offering at the departure area. - With Rudy Santos