Pilipinas Kong Mahal

Ninoy’s Letter to his Daugther Pinky

2012-07-27T00:15:00.001-07:00

August 26, 1973

Fort Bonifacio

11:10 a.m.

Miss Aurora Corazon C. Aquino

PERSONAL

My dearest Double Mommie:

I have just heard Mass with Senator Jose W. Diokno and I received my communion in preparation for tomorrow’s big show. Last night I wrote Noy-noy and explained to him the crucial and vital decision I made yesterday after a lengthy conference with my lawyers.

During the Mass, while Pepe was reading the prayer of the faithful, the last paragraph struck me: “For all our fellow men, who suffer: may they know that if a grain of wheat dies, it yields a rich harvest.’ Let us pray to the Lord.”

As soon as I got back to my room, I looked up the complete quotation from your Bible, which Mommie sent me sometime ago and in the gospel according to John, I found the following:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

What does this mean? Is it an invitation to suicide? I think it simply means that there is much more than earthly comfort, joy and carnal pleasure in this world. The message of Jesus, as I understand it, is that we must be ready to sacrifice for our fellow men at all time, and if need be, even offer our lives for them. Unless we are willing to suffer with, and share our love with our neighbors, then we are like the grain that does not fall into the ground… and will always remain only a grain of wheat. But if we pick up our cross, and in the spirit of self-sacrifice and self-abnegation suffer for our neighbors, then like the grain that falls into the earth and dies, we will grow and bear much fruit.

In a way this is the rationale behind my decision. I have no doubt I will be convicted to a long prison term. I am prepared to spend the rest of my natural life behind bars because I will not defend myself and will accept the “tyrant’s revenge.” This is my act of protest against the deprivation of our people of their freedom and liberties and this is my act of defiance against dictatorship. I have deliberately chosen a life of loneliness, separated from you my loved ones and turned my back on the gaiety and comfort of life in this world in the hope that by so doing, I might awaken some latent forces that will cause a chain reaction and that will eventually lead to an explosion of human atoms wanting to be free.

I have watched and observed you very carefully and all these years and of all my children, you are the most sensitive, the most emotional and therefore the most artistically inclined. You have a keen eye for details and you are possessed with a sharp analytical mind and intellect. Unfortunately, you have not used your talents to the maximum and have been content to coast along, a trait I hope you will correct in time.

You will recall I have often told you of your responsibility, at least to me, because you carry the name of the two greatest women in my life, your grandmother and your mother. Hence, you are my double mommie. I have always planned to discuss many things with you and Ate because you are now young ladies but unfortunately we never had the time during those days when I pursued public office.

Now that I have all the time for you, we are limited only to two one-hour visits a week. Isn’t this ironical? At any rate, I decided to put down briefly in writing some of the things I really wanted to tell you.

1. Never sell yourself short. You are pretty, talented and gifted. Believe this and make the best of your assets. As in the parable of the talents, one day you will be made to account God on how you used your gifts. Do not be like the man who merely hid his talent and never allowed it to multiply. Be like the one who invested his talent wisely and watched it increase tenfold.

2. Be more tolerant to your brother and sisters. Most especially to the two younger ones. I hope you will take time to be charitable to our baby doll, Krissy. She loves to hear stories, please accommodate her for me. Do not provoke Viel, our little princess, especially now that her protector is in jail.

3. You are sometimes rather high-strung and spirited. Properly restrained, these tendencies can well be the source of your inner drive and motivations. But there are times when your spirit turns to unreasonable rebelliousness and intransigence, especially with your superiors. Learn to give and take because life is a continuous compromise. We cannot always have our own way all the time. And the world is made up of all kinds of people. Some are wonderful and sweet, others are simply downright boring and sour. Learn to live with all kinds of people as God sends His rain to all men, to both the just and the unjust.

4. Listen to Mommie’s advice. She has your welfare at heart. She brought you in the world in agony and pain, risking her very life. Spent the better part of her youthful years trying to bring you up healthy and strong. She sacrificed her own comfort and curbed many of her desires to give you the best. The least you can do for her now is to love her with all your heart and mind. Search the whole world, you will never find a more sincere friend than your mother.

5. Learn not only to like but love Noy-noy. When I wan your age, I continuously fought with my sisters. I had daily battles with your Auntie Maur. Yet look at her today. Now that I am helpless, your Auntie Maur is showing such concern and love which I will never repay. It will be the same with you and Noy. I have not doubt Noy will be your “refuge and staff” in the not too distant future.

6. Please do this great favor for me. I want you to serve Lolo Pepe and Lola Ma in their declining years. They have lavished paternal love and understanding on your mommie and I through all these years. They went our of their way to get us started in life starting with the purchase of Magao through all my political battles. I had hopes of serving them in the twilight of their years, but this privilege is now denied me. I hope you will make up for your daddy’s inability to repay them for their many kindnesses. Love and serve them well!

7. I do not know what career you will eventually pursue. I wish you would finish your college education before thinking of marriage because the world is getting more and more partial to college graduates. The present trend is for both spouses to work and earn to meet the rising cost of living. If you have a career of your own, you will not only be an asset to your family but can always fall back on vital reserves in case of any unforeseen tragedy or reverses. One of my greatest regrets is not to be able to bequeath you with a modest inheritance to get you fully started in life. I squandered your legacies in the numerous political battles I was engaged in. And it is too late now for tears and lament!

Finally, please pray for your daddy, who loves you very much and whose sufferings will be greatly eased if your will grown up into a real fine lady whom everybody will be proud of. Your success will be the most soothing balm for my tortured heart.

I thought of writing you this letter on the eve of my trial to fill the vacuum of my loneliness. Alone with no one to talk to on a fine Sunday morning, I retreated into my little corner of make-believe and imagined that you sat in front of my table discussing with me some vagrant thoughts.

Never ever forget you are my double mommie and therefore my love for you is doubled.

Lovingly,

Dad

Ninoy’s Letter to his Daugther Ballsy

2012-07-27T00:07:00.000-07:00

August 18, 1973

Fort Bonifacio

Makati, Rizal

Ms. Maria Elena C. Aquino

25 Times St. Quezon City

My dearest Ballsy,

I write you this letter with tears in my eyes and as if steel fingers are crushing my heart because I wanted so much to be with you as you celebrate your legal emancipation. Now that you have come of age, my love, a voice tells me that I am no longer young and suddenly, I feel old.

An old poet gave this advice very long ago “when you are sad, remember the roses will bloom in December.” I want to send you bouquet of roses, big red roses from my dreamland garden. Unfortunately for the present, my roses are not in bloom, in fact they have dropped all their petals and only the thorns are left to keep me company. I do think it is fitting to send you a thicket of thorns on this memorable day!

I am very proud of you because you have inherited all the best traits of your mother. You are sensible, responsible, even-tempered and sincere with the least pretenses and affection which vehemently detest in a woman. I am sure like your mother, you will possess that rare brand of silent courage and that combination of fidelity and fortitude that will be the life vest of your man in the tragic moments of his life.

During my lonely hours of solitary confinement in Fort Magsaysay, Laur, Nueva Ecija last March and April with nothing else to do but pray and daydream, with only my fond memories to keep me company, I planned a weekend barrio fiesta for you in Tarlac for your 18^th birthday. I fooled myself into believing that my ordeal would end with the fiscal year. I planned to invite all your classmates and friends and their families for the weekends.

The schedule called for an early departure by bus from Manila and the first stop will be Concepcion, where lunch will be served by the pool. And after lunch, you were to visit the Santa Rita Elementary School to distribute cookies and ice cream to the children of that public school where you were first enrolled.

I guess sheer nostalgia prompted me to include Santa Rita. We were only three then: Mommie, you and I. Those were the days of happy memories little responsibilities, tremendous freedom, a great future ahead and capped by a fulfillment of love. You are the first fruit of our union, the first proof of our love and the first seal of our affections.

From Concepcion we were to proceed to Luisita for the barrio fiesta. I intended to invite a friend who could roast an entire cow succulently. Swimming, pelota, dancing and eating would have been the order of the day.

Sunday morning was reserved for a trip around the Hacienda and the mill and maybe golf for some of the parents and later a picnic-lunch on Uncle Tony’s Island. Return to Manila after lunch. I am afraid this will have to remain as one of the many dreams I had in Laur.

Our future has suddenly become uncertain and our fate unknown. I am even now beginning to doubt whether I’ll ever be able to return to you and the family. Hence, I would like to ask you these special favors.

Love your mother, whose love for you, you will never be able to match. She is not the greatest mother in the world, she is your sincerest friend.

Take care of your younger sisters and brother and lavish them with the love and care I would like to continue giving them but am unable to do so.

Help Noy-noy along and pray hard that he will grow to be a real, responsible man who in later years will protect you all.

You are the model for your three younger sisters. Your responsibility is therefore great. Please endeavor to live up to our highest expectations. Be more tolerant to Pinky, more accessible to Viel, our little genius-princess, and more charitable to Krissy, our baby doll, and make up for my neglect.

Finally, forgive me, my love, for not having been an ideal, good and thoughtful father to you all as I pursued public office. I had hopes and high resolve of making up, but I am afraid my destiny will not oblige.

I seal this letter with a drop of tear and a prayer in my heart, that somehow, somewhere we shall meet again and I will finally be able to make up for all my lapses, in the kingdom where justice reigns supreme and love is eternal.

I love you,

Dad

Parts of the last letter of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino to the former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino

2012-07-26T23:41:00.000-07:00

My dearest Cory,

In a few hours, I shall be embarking on an uncertain fate which may be the end of a long struggle. I slept well last night for the first time I left Boston maybe because I’m just plain tired or I’m really at peace with myself. I want to tell you many things but time is running out and I do not have my machine. After a few more paragraphs, my penmanship will be illegible.

All the things I want to tell you may be capsulized in one line I love you! You’ve stood by me in my worst trying moments and there were times I was very hard on you. But if anyone will ever understand me, it is you and I know you will always find it in your heart to forgive and unfair and ironic as it is it is because of this thought and belief that I often took you for granted.

Early on I knew I was not meant to make money so I won’t be able to leave anything to the children. I did what I thought I could do best which is public service and I hope our people in time will appreciate my sacrifices. This would be my legacy to the children. I may not bequeath them material wealth but I leave them a tradition which can be priceless.

I realize I’ve been very stingy with my praise and appreciation for all your efforts but though unsaid you know that as far as I’m concerned you are the best. That’s why we’ve lasted this long. There will only be one thing in the world I will never accept that you love me more than I love you because my love though unarticulated for you will never be equaled.

If all goes well, I should be back in my cell before sundown. Should I be detained, do not rush to get home. Take your time and enjoy a side trip to Europe with the girls.

I’ll try to call you tonight if authorities will allow me. Otherwise, just remember me in your dreams.

Love,

Ninoy

P.S. I offered a special rosary for Papa and I asked for his intercession. You know he never failed me.

(Ninoy here is referring to Cory’s father, Jose Cojuangco, who died on August 21, 1976.)

Biography of Benigno Servillano “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

2012-07-26T03:55:00.000-07:00

Benigno Ninoy Aquino

BENIGNO “NINOY” AQUINO .

A Memory that Lives Forever

PERSONAL

Ninoy Aquino

Benigno Servillano Aquino, Jr. is know as a Filipino Hero and Martyr

Born on November 27, 1932

Birthplace is Concepcion , Tarlac, Philippines

Parents are Benigno S. Aquino, Sr. (Nationalist Speaker, Philippine Senator) and Aurora A. Aquino

Paternal grandfather is General Servillano Aquino, famed revolutionary who first fought the Spaniard and then the Americans at the turn of the century.

His brothers and sisters include: Mila Aquino Albert, Linda Aquino Martinez, Maur Aquino Lichauco, Ditas Aquino Valdez, Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara, Agapito (Butz) Aquino, Paul Aquino, Tessie Aquino Oreta.

He married Corazon Cojuanco on October 11, 1954

Ninoy and Cory have five, children, they are: Maria Elena (Ballsy) who became the wife of Eldon Cruz, Aurora Corazon (Pinky) who is married to Manuel Abellada, Benigno III (Nonoy),Victoria Elisa (Viel) who is married to Richard Joseph Dee and Kristina Bernadette (Kris) who is married to James Yap.

EDUCATION

Young Ninoy Aquino

San Beda High School, 1948

Ateneo de Manila University

College of Liberal Arts (Pre-law), 1950

University of the Philippines

College of

Harvard University

Center for International Law – Fellow

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Center for International Studies – Fellow

EARLY JOURNALISM YEARS:

1950

Manila Times Newspaper Reported (at age 17) Manila Times War correspondent in Korea.

1952

Manila Times Foreign Correspondent in Southeast Asia (assigned to Indo-China, covered the last moment of French colonialism in Asia, at Dien Bien Phu. He was later posted to Malaya to cover the British counter-insurgency efforts under General Templar.

(Journalism remained his particular vocation in spite of his entry into politics and from time to time he wrote “perspective articles” for such publications as “Foreign Affairs Quarterly” and the “Pacific Community”.)

1952

He agreed (while already a Senator and in the name of Journalism) to conduct a weekly television news analysis, entitled “Insight” for Channel 5, upon the urging of his former publisher of the Manila Times, Mr. Chino Roces. He kept this up until his arrest in 1972 by the people responsible for the Martial Law regime.

GOVERNMENT SERVICE


Benigno Ninoy Aquino

1954

Special Assistant to President Ramon Magsaysay. He negotiated the surrender of HUK Supremo Luis Tarux (May 16, 1954).

1955

Elected as youngest mayor of his hometown, Concepcion, Tarlac at the age of 22.

1956

Press Officer, Philippine-American Military Bases Agreement negotiations.

1957

Special Assistant to President Carlos P. Garcia.

1959

Elected as the youngest Vice-Governor of Tarlac Province at 26 years old. He was elected Secretary General of the League of Provincial Governors and City Mayors.

1961

Became Governor in 1961 after the Governor’s resignation.

1963

Elected Governor of Tarlac Province at age 31. He won in all 17 towns of the province, posting the highest majority ever garnered by a gubernatorial candidate in the province. He was dubbed as the “Wonder Boy of Philippine Politics.”

1964

Philippine Delegate, Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA) Conference held in Korea.

1965

Special Assistant to President Diosdado Macapagal. He accompanied President Macapagal in State visits to Cambodia and Indonesia. Spokesperson of Philippine Delegation – Afro-Asian conference in Algiers, Africa.

1966

Project Director of Tarlac “Project Spread”. A joint understanding of the National Economic Council (Philippine Government) and the U.S.A.I.D., which was designed to increase rural income.

1967

Elected as the youngest Senator of the Philippines at 35 years old as the lone opposition (Liberal Party) candidate to survive the election sweep made by President Marcos Nacionalista Party. He was also elected as Secretary-General of the Liberal Party.

1968

Author of several speeches, and many articles while serving as a public servant. These are contained in the book “A Garrison State in the Make and other Speeches” by Senator Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino, Jr. (BSAF Publication). Senator Aquilino also authored / co-authored several bills filed in approved congress to benefit the masses. He also authored several privilege speeches printed in the “Ninoy Aquino – Speech Series,” 1968 – 1970s.

1970

Resource person for the Philippines in the International Institute of Strategic Studies, London.

1971

Member of the Philippine Delegation of the Asian Conference on the Cambodian Question, Jakarta, Indonesia.

1972

Philippine Delegate to the International Conference on Japan and the Evolving world, sponsored by the International Institute for Strategic Studies of London, at Mount Fuji, Japan. He was also the July 4^th guest speaker of Filipino communities in Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco U.S.A.

MAJOR AWARDS

Benigno Aquino Jr.

1950

Philippine Legion of Honor, Officer Degree, awarded by President Elpidio Quirino for “Meritorious Service” to the Philippines for his coverage of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to the Korean War.

1954

Philippine Legion of Honor, Commander degree, awarded by President Ramon Magsaysay for “exemplary meritorious service” to the Filipino people negotiating the coverage of HUK Supremo Luis Tarux.

1957

First Bronze Anahaw Leaf, Philippine Legion of Honor, conferred by President Ramon Magsaysay, for services in the peace and order compaign.

1960

Voted one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM) in the field of public service.

1968-1971

Outstanding Senator, voted yearly by the Philippine Free Press, the Philippine leading political weekly magazine.

1971

Man of the Year, voted by the Philippine Free Press, citing him for the leadership he showed when his party’s leadership was bombed in Plaza Miranda, the Philippines’ equivalent to Hyde Park. He led his party’s campaign “with courage, with distinction” despite threats to arrest him, made by then President Marcos. He led the Liberal Party to a 6-2 victory in the Philippine Senate elections, which catapulted him to become the No. 1 presidential contender in the 1973 elections.

MARTIAL LAW YEARS

Ninoy Aquino

September 22, 1972

Ninoy was arrested, detained and imprisoned at Fort Bonifacio and in Laur, Nueva Ecija for 7 years and 7 months, mostly in solitary confinement.

April 4, 1975 – May 13, 1975

He went on a protest hunger strike while in prison.

May 8, 1980

Released from Fort Bonifacio to undergo a triple heart bypass at Baylor Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.

May 13, 1980

Operated and successfully given a triple bypass in Dallas, Texas.

1980-1982

Fellow at Harvard University’s Center for International Affairs.

1982-1983

Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for International Studies.

August 21, 1983

Assassinated at the airport seconds after disembarking in China Airlines jet from Taipei.

August 31, 1983

Ninoy’s funeral march from Sto. Domingo Church, Quezon City to Manila Memorial Park, Paranaque, was the “longest funeral march in world’s history.” Around two million people joined the funeral.

The Candle Of My Life

2011-08-16T02:40:00.000-07:00

The Candle Of My Life

The Candle of My Life

I am burning the candle of my life

in the dark with no one to benefit

from its light,

The candle slowly melts away

soon its wick will be burned out,

and the light is gone!

If someone will only gather

the melted wax, reshape it,

give it a new wick

for another fleeting moment

my candle can once again

light the dark

be of service

one more time

and then

Good-bye

By: Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino

March 12, 1976

(3^rd Anniversary of the exile to Laur, Nueva Ecija)

Bayan Ko (My Country)

2011-07-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

Bayan Ko (My Country)

“Bayan Ko” was written in 1928. This song was originally a nationalistic anthem against American colonialism. Its melody and lyrics cry for a freedom long caged.

During the 1960’s it became a symbol of the radical student movement, and so was banned at the outset of martial law in 1972.

When Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino was assassinated in 1983, it became a song of defiance as much as a song of hope. With clenched fists raised, thousands sang Bayan Ko at rallies, in hotel lobbies, in restaurants, on picket lines, and ultimately, through the February 1986 rebellion.

It is a tribute to the strength and courage of those who taught us its meanings, the Filipino people.

Bayan Ko

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas

Lupain ng ginto’t bulaklak

Pag-ibig ang sa kayang palad

Nag-alay ng ganda’t dilag

At sa kanyang yumi at ganda

Dayuhan ay nahalina

Bayan ko, binihag ka

Nasadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad

Kulungin mo at umiiyak

Bayan pa kayang sakdal liyag

Ang di magsanang makaalpas!

Pilipinas kong minumutya

Pugad ng luha ko’t dalita

Aking adhika,

Makita kang sakdal laya!

My Country

Philippines! My country, my homeland

Gold and flowers in heart abound

Blessings on her fate did love bestow

Sweet beauty’s grace and splendor’s glow

How her charms so kind and tender

Drove the stranger to enslave her…

Land of mine! In fetters keep,

You suffered as we wept.

Birds that freely claim the skies to fly

When imprisoned mourn, protest and cry!

How much deeper will a land most fair

Yearn to break the chains of sad despair.

Philippines! My heart’s sole burning fire,

Cradle of my tears, my misery…

All that I desire:

To see you rise, forever free!

(Original Tagalog lyrics by Jose Corazon de Jesus, melody by Constancio de Guzman, translation by Ed Maranan)