This 40th anniversary of the tragic loss of the revered late Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr. beckons us to reflect on the circumstances shrouding his death—events that ultimately propelled his heroism to the forefront of national consciousness. His assassination on the fateful day of August 21, 1983, becomes a perennial anecdote resonating throughout generations, yet the plot twists in this era where the populace rests heavily upon the accounts and narratives etched in history's annals, constantly beclouded by indoctrination and historical distortion.
Over the years, Aquino’s legacy is undoubtedly marked by his valor to confront injustices and the incompetence of the government, embarking on a political resurgence of capsizing the dictatorial leadership of the former Marcos Sr. Albeit, his monumental pavement of freedom trailed just as the investigation of his death did. The struggle for democracy and the protection of civil liberties was frequently met with opposition from those in authority who sought to maintain control. This reflects the emergence of political trolls to rewrite the course of history by concealing extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, repression of free expression and press freedom, cronyism, and pervasive corruption through manipulating the public with tales of economic progress.
In these present times, Ninoy Aquino and the principles he stood for might be overshadowed by the growing indifference of the common Filipino people, in which the essence of commemoration ends up being veneration without understanding. The context of familiarity breeds contempt, which reinforces the notion that people take it for granted, and as subsequent generations emerge, the emotions of admiration and respect that were initially associated with his legacy diminish due to his story becoming a familiar narrative rather than a vivid, immediate experience. And that the man in martyrdom will be remembered only in a peso bill and not in such a way where celebration is a form of reverence.
Furthermore, the current status quo has failed to champion the ideologies manned by such a staunch critic due to the concave reflections of his democratic endeavor, which picture the contemporary political environment, where administrative change consistently jeopardizes the authority of the state and its attempts to create a functioning society. How guaranteed rights were corrupted by rifles and bullets; how the promised economy turned out to have bigger taxes and a low employment rate; and how bourgeoning grassroot exploitation skewed our vulnerabilities. In the words of Richard Heydarian, UP instructor of international affairs, in a Time Magazine article, he urged the public about the "toxic cocktail of massive disinformation and historical denialism" that set the leverage for authoritarians to persist in power.
As we stand at this juncture, it is our responsibility to bridge the temporal chasm—to convey, to educate, and to ensure that the pages of history bearing Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.'s story are not eclipsed by the passage of time. For in comprehending his ideals, struggles, and ultimate sacrifice, we unveil not only the portrait of a man but also the mosaic of a nation's enduring fight for democracy and justice. The fate of holidays connected to the uprising is uncertain, and their future is in limbo. Just as his execution was fabricated by shams and conspiracies, Ninoy’s legacy that brought freedom to the motherland still lies in the hands of those who seek the truth.
Hence, his true death is not assassination; it is the apathy that grows among ourselves.
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