Four years, four months and thirteen days after I was born — someone died. It would have been any ordinary day. That person would have any ordinary person. He could have lived any ordinary life. He could have died for any ordinary reason.

But no.

August 21, 1983 is no ordinary day. Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino is no ordinary man. He did not live an ordinary life. He did not die for an ordinary reason. And that is precisely why he is a hero. He is our modern-day hero — our modern-day Jose Rizal. Elected youngest Mayor and Vice-Governor at 22 and 27, respectively. Governor 2 years later. And youngest Senator at 34. His life and death inspired a country to revolt in a bloodless way — that brought a perceived infallible dictator regime to its knees and ultimately gain us back our democracy.Can any man of our generation be more extraordinary than that?

He was dubbed as the “greatest President we never had”. And at a time like this, how we wish we could raise him back from the dead and lead us to victory from the turmoil of demoralized politics and unstable economy. How we wish he lived longer to inspire us with his policies and reforms. How I wish he lived longer to occupy the highest seat in the land — the seat he deserved the most. How I wish he lived longer for me to hear his voice at a time when I can digest to the very fiber the words he uttered. How I wish that I was older then so I wouldn’t busy myself playing with toys — so that when I watched the television then or heard the news, I’d find more delight and pleasure from listening to his wise counsel on politics and good governance. But no. I was younger then. So young to even care if we were under Martial Law or if the President was a dictator or if human rights violation was commonplace on a daily basis. So young to realize that during that time, a man walked among us who stood up for something higher than the frivolities of life or of the Filipino’s usual undertakings. So young to realize that within my lifetime, I have the rarest chance of sharing life on earth with a hero.

I regret that I was never old enough then to bear witness to his courage, his values, his brilliance, his strength and his character — all that made him who he was then, and all that makes him who is to us now. But I consider myself privileged to share four years four months and thirteen days of my life with him on earth. I feel pride and gratitude that we once breathe the same air.

And if you are Filipino, believe that he is in you. He lives in you — in people he believed were “worth dying for”. Let us never forget Ninoy. Let us make his inspiration, his works, his values, his beliefs, his aspirations and convictions alive in our hearts. And let it not stop there. Let it show. Let this heroism we feel and carry in our hearts shine in visible things — in tangible things. It is in the simplest and yet most tangible thing that we can be “living Ninoys”. Let us not allow his idealism to die with him.

Sense of nationalism is now a rare commodity. Apathy rules the country today. Filipinos have become detached to our national issues because they no longer find sense in it. They no longer find value in it. They’d rather occupy their schedule with work, their thoughts with fleeting amusement in television and shun current-affairs programs. They have been too tried.

This country’s future, regardless of what has been happening, I maintain and believe — still rests in the youth of today. They are tomorrow’s leaders. They are our salvation. Ninoy’s life is marked not only of brilliance and courage but also of the vitality of his youth. He is the epitome of “youth at its best”.

I call on the youth of today to heed the call for “change”. I call on the youth of today to show the world what the Filipinos are all about. I call on the youth of today to stand for truth, justice, courage, nationalism and heroism. I call on the youth of today to take on the challenge for which Ninoy gave up his life. Be today’s “living Ninoy”. Let us show the world that Ninoy did not die in vain. Let us show the world that the Filipino is indeed “worth dying for”.

I am a hero.
I do what I believe is right.
I do what I believe is good.
I fight for justice.
I fight for freedom.
I am a hero.
In a big way, in a small way.
In my own way.
I am a hero.
I am Ninoy.

Be a Ninoy Now!

I am Ninoy. Are you?

Recommended “Ninoy” Readings:
Articles about Ninoy on his 25th Death Anniversary which I consider our Democracy’s 25th Birthday.
The day Ninoy died is the day we got our democracy back, albeit not formally, because what sparked a re-birth of democracy is as important as the act of gaining democracy itself.

“25 Years Since” by Nick
“Ninoy’s Specter” by Marck
“25 Years of ATOM-ic Progress” by Benigno