Ninoy's writings to live by launched in 23 languages / Angara book on Quezon out

“Tula, Liham at Talumpati ni Ninoy” was launched at the NAIA last Aug. 21 by GM Jose Honrado to mark the 28th year of Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.’s martyrdom.

Ninoy’s poem “Candle of My Life” was translated by his friends: Portuguese President of East Timor Jose Ramos Horta, former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara and Seoul Arts Institute President Duk Hyung Yoo.

Isagani Cruz, Frank Rivera and Tomas Ongoco comprised the team that translated Ninoy’s writings into 23 languages — launched by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino headed by Jose Laderas Santos, the Ninoy Aquino Movement led by founding chair, former Sen. Heherson Alvarez, and Deputy Speaker Raul Daza and the Philippine International Theatre Institute, Earthsavers and UNESCO Center under Cecile Guidote Alvarez, recipient of the Magsaysay Outstanding Asian Award and a Benigno Aquino, Jr. Award for Nationalism.

Ninoy’s letters and speeches were translated into Filipino, his farewell poem into Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Malaysian, Mandarin, Fukien, and 17 local dialects. The six languages represent the six countries with which Ninoy had direct links while in exile.

 Readings were by Alvarez in Ilocano; Daza, Waray; Datu Norodin Lucman, Maranao; Mexican Ambssador-poet Tomas Javiier Clavillo Unna, his own Spanish translation; Kiyoshi Wakamiya, Japanese, Seong Un Hwang, Korean.

Ninoy’s words (excerpts)

We must teach our people to respond, not merely to react. We must criticize to be free, because we are free only when we criticize.

The cause delaying our liberation may be found in ourselves; in our reluctance to assert our rights and frontally confront the forces of evil. We are afraid to die and our fear has immobilized us. We have forged our own chains with our cowardice!

We must tell our people not to be mere objects of history, but history’s creators. We must remind them of the constant need for martyrs, if we are to create ever better tomorrows.

What is more tragic, in the midst of all these miseries, than Filipinos killing each other in ever-increasing numbers. This blood-letting must stop. This madness must cease.

It can be stopped if all Filipinos can get together as true brothers and sisters and search for a healing solution, in a genuine spirit of give and take. We must transcend our petty selves, forget our hurts and bitterness, cast aside thoughts of revenge and let sanity, reason, and above all, love of country prevail.

A time comes in a man’s life when he must prefer a meaningful death to a meaningless life. I would rather die on my feet with honor than live on bended knees in shame.

The Filipino is worth dying for.

I have often wondered how many disputes could have been settled easily had the disputants only dared to define their terms. I shall define mine.

1. Six years ago, I was sentenced to die before a firing squad by a military tribunal whose jurisdiction I steadfastly refused to recognize. It is now time for the regime to decide. Order my immediate execution or set me free.

I was sentenced to die for allegedly being the leading Communist. I am not a Communist, never was and never will be.

2. National reconciliation and unity can be achieved but only with justice, including justice for our Moslem and Ifugao brothers. There can be no deal with a dictator, no compromise.

3. In a revolution, there can really be no victors, only victims. We do not have to destroy in order to build.

4. Subversion stems from economic, social and political causes and will not be solved by purely military solutions; it can be curbed not with ever increasing repression but with a more equitable distribution of wealth, more democracy and more freedom.

5. For the economy to get going, the working man must have a just, rightful share of his labor, and to the owners and managers must be restored the hope where there is so much uncertainty if not despair.

I return from exile and to an uncertain future with only faith in our people and faith in God.

Angara writes book on Rizal

The highly respected and much admired Sen. Edgardo F. Angara recently launched “Manuel L. Quezon” he co-authored with Sonia Ner, “The book,” explains Sen. Angara, commemorates the life and legacy of this quintessential Filipino statesman and the man who chartered our nation’s path to independence.” A kababayan of Quezon, the senator adds: “The book gives us a fresh look at Quezon’s life and politics.”