Video of the Day: Ninoy Aquino's humorous, insightful 1981 speech

MANILA, Philippines – After Ninoy Aquino went to United States to seek medical treatment, he had been requested to deliver a speech on a freedom rally symposium by the Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, California.

On the speech he delivered, he shared his struggles and experiences during the Martial Law under former President Ferdinand Marcos. Instead of delivering his speech with a frown and traces of sorrows on his face, he delivered it with wit, enthusiasm, and hope.

Ninoy’s Speech:

I have been asked by many people, 'What is the actual situation in the Philippines?' I think I owe it to a Japanese executive, one of the leading industrialist of Japan, whose company invested 450,000,000 million dollars in the Philippines. They set up a big plant in Mindanao. It was a sintering plant. And this plant is now completed and this Japanese official came to the Philippines and he spoke at the opening ceremony. I think this Japanese explained the situation in the Philippines very well. As you very well know, the Japanese have a difficulty pronouncing their 'r' - Manila becomes 'Manira.' And so this Japanese gentleman stood up and said,
'My dear Filipino pipor, you are very raki,’
and I consider he said,
‘The Filipino people the most raki people in Asia.’
And the people were of course surprised and wanted to know why they were lucky.
He said, 'You know why you are raki? You have a president who 'rabs' you and you have a first lady, who 'rabs' you more.’

Watch video below:

YouTube (NinoyAquinoTV)