NOY SKIPS MASS FOR DAD TO BE W/ ROBREDO / NATION
MARKS NINOY'S 29th DEATH ANNIVERSARY
[PHOTO COURTESY OF MANILA STANDARD: JESSE
ROBREDO (1958-2012)]
MANILA,
AUGUST 22, 2012 (ABS-CBN) By RG Cruz -
President Benigno Aquino III skipped the annual mass for his father's
death anniversary today to bring home to Naga his Cabinet member.
Aquino was supposed to attend the mass at the tomb of his parents, former
President Cory Aquino and former Senator Ninoy Aquino this morning.
It was only his sisters and other relatives present at the tomb today.
Aquino immediately flew to Masbate upon learning of news that authorities
have already recovered the body of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse
Robredo.
Ninoy Aquino died in 1983, the victim of an assassin's bullet, at the height
of the Marcos regime.
Flags at half mast
Meanwhile, it was around noontime when the Palace engineering staff started
to fly the Philippine flag at half staff inside the Palace Complex.
Top Palace officials, led by the President himself, were out of their offices
for the day.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa called for prayers for
Robredo and the two pilots, who figured in a plane crash on Saturday.
"Secretary Robredo was a dedicated public servant and a champion of good
governance whose track record in public service has been an inspiration to all
those who believe in government as an instrument for positive change," he said.
Ochoa also expressed his condolences to the Robredos, as well as residents of
Naga City, where Robredo was mayor prior to his appointment as Interior
Secretary. He said they "lost a leader who tirelessly worked and contributed
greatly to President Aquino's campaign for good governance as a means to improve
the lives of our countrymen."
Budget Secretary Florencio Abadfor his part said, "Even as we grieve, we look
forward to a Philippines that continues to be inspired by Sec. Jesse's passion
for and commitment to public service. He was a rare man whose exemplary deeds
spoke well and true for him. He will always be remembered as such"
Vice President Jejomar Binay also called for prayers for Robredo and the two
pilots. "I urge everyone to pray for them, that they trust God's plan for all of
us. They need our wholehearted prayers and support. I pray that the Almighty
will embrace them and give them the strength they need in this time of
grief."
FROM THE INQUIRER
5 Ninoy Aquino allies to get awards By Cynthia D.
Balana Philippine Daily Inquirer 12:51 am | Tuesday, August 21st, 2012
[PHOTO -29 YEARS AGO Former Sen. Benigno
"Ninoy" Aquino Jr. looks pensive shortly after being sentenced to death by
musketry by a military tribunal in 1977 (left), and on his flight home from the
United States on Aug. 21, 1983 (right), moments before being shot dead (center)
on the tarmac of the then Manila International Airport. Inquirer Photos
Five colleagues of the late former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. will be awarded
the first Ninoy Aquino Movement (NAM) Medal of Valor to commemorate his 29th
death anniversary Tuesday.
The awardees are Steve Psinakis, Danny Lamila, Victor Lovely, Doris
Nuval-Baffrey and the San Francisco-based Philippine News then published by Alex
Esclamado.
NAM founding chairman and former Sen. Heherson Alvarez said that NAM was
honoring these "patriots who labored with the movement to help restore democracy
back to the country."
The celebration will be held Tuesday on the tarmac of Ninoy Aquino
International Airport, where the father of President Benigno Aquino was shot
dead on Aug. 21, 1983.
A requiem Mass remembering the late senator will also honor a roster of
"patriot-members" who have passed away.
They include Raul Manglapus, Gerardo "Gerry" Esguerra, Francisco "Soc"
Rodrigo, Bonifacio Gillego, Salvador "Doy" Laurel, Ramon "Monching" Mitra, Jose
"Pepe" Calderon, Rashid Lucman, Fr. Toti Olaguer, Alejandro ''Chino" Roces,
Eddie Monteclaro, Manoling Maravilla, Fortunato Roxas, Geny Lopez, Art Taca,
Steve Agular, Esther Paredes, Otto Jimenez, Ric Manapat, Renato "Nats" Tañada,
Annie Tañada, Jesus Cellano, Rafael Baskinas, Ciriaco Sabilano and Cecilia
Muñoz-Palma.
The awardees
"Ninoy's martyrdom, like Rizal's, is a historic high point of Filipino
patriotism which the living witnesses of that period must share with the nation
for all times, especially the younger generation of Filipinos who will continue
to keep alive the legacy of democracy and freedom," Alvarez said.
Psinakis, one of the Medal of Valor awardees, is a Greek citizen married to a
Filipino, Precy Lopez-Psinakis. Organizers cited his commitment in the struggle
to restore democracy in his adopted country.
Lovely had been maimed in a bomb explosion when he was brought to the United
States to testify before a grand jury against the anti-Marcos opposition
leadership. Lovely refused to testify against the group and instead denounced
the Marcos dictatorship for its brutality.
Lamila, a supporter of NAM, was a participant in the "Light-a-Fire Movement,"
which carried out bomb attacks against the dictatorship.
Baffrey, imprisoned by the Marcos regime after she came home to the
Philippines from the United States, was described by event organizers as a
symbol of resistance against persecution.
Esclamado was the publisher of the Philippine News, a US-based Filipino
newspaper that became the vehicle of anti-Marcos groups disseminating
information on the abuses and corruption of the dictatorship.
The NAM has spearheaded the annual celebration of Aquino's martyrdom since
1987. The first celebration was presided over by the late President Corazon
Aquino and attended by Coretta Scott King, widow of US civil rights leader
Martin Luther King.
Tuesday's celebration starts at 9 a.m.
A special feature of the celebration is a joint performance of a delegation
from the Seoul Institute of the Arts headed by Duk Hyung-yoo and the Earthsavers
Unesco Dream Center directed by Cecile Guidote-Alvarez.
FROM MANILA STANDARD
Nation marks Ninoy's death anniversary
[PHOTO -A fateful day in history. This statue of Ninoy Aquino in Makati
shows aviation security officials escorting the former senator down an aircraft
moments before he was killed at the tarmac]
Airport officials, various groups and supporters will offer flowers and
prayers during a Mass to commemorate the heroism and assassination of the father
of President Aquino at Manila's international airport 29 years ago, airport
officials said on Monday.
A fateful day in history. This statue of Ninoy Aquino in Makati shows
aviation security officials escorting the former senator down an aircraft
moments before he was killed at the tarmac.
Airport General Manager Jose Honrado said the commemoration activities would
start with a wreath laying at the tarmac where former senator Benigno Aquino was
shot dead as he stepped down the aircraft that brought him home from exile in
the United States.
At the departure lobby, flowers will be offered at the foot of the bust of
the former senator where a program will be held to present the First Ninoy
Aquino Medal for freedom fighters awards.
The death of Ninoy Aquino triggered a "people power" revolt that led to the
downfall on February 25, 1986, of strongman Ferdinand Marcos, who fled to exile
in the United States.
The name of the airport has been changed to Ninoy Aquino International
Airport to honor the former senator. August 21, the date of his death, has been
declared a national holiday.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, a known Aquino supporter, said the
assassination "stirred the minds of the Filipinos from apathy and moved the
nation to stage a non-violent campaign to fight a repressive regime."
"There is no better way to commemorate Ninoy's death than to continue and
live by his principles and pursue our commitment to truth, accountability and
service to our people," Binay said.
Many people recall that the assassination sent shock waves across the country
and many wept as word spread that the charismatic opposition leader has been
killed.
His death came at a time of turmoil in the Philippines with the government
battling Muslim and Communist rebels and the gap between the rich and the poor
was widening because of the faltering economy.
Aquino was a formidable opposition figure when Marcos declared martial law in
1972. He was thrown in jail and sentenced to death by a military commission.
The death sentence was never carried because he was allowed to go to the
United States to seek medical treatment for his heart ailment. After three years
in America, Ninoy decided to come home and was killed at the tarmac by a
suspected assassin identified as Rolando Galman, who authorities said,
penetrated the tight security at the airport.
The killing of Aquino led to the Edsa revolt on February 22-25, 1986 that
ended Marcos 20-year authoritarian rule. With Ben Cal and
Sara Fabunan
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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