MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday called on Filipinos to draw courage, conviction and a stronger sense of civic responsibility from the legacy of the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., as the country commemorated the 43rd anniversary of his assassination.
In his Ninoy Aquino Day message, Marcos said Aquino’s life and death remain reminders of the courage required to stand by one’s principles and participate actively in the country’s democratic journey.
“The memory of Ninoy Aquino reminds us of the courage of Filipinos to stand by their convictions and contribute to our nation’s democratic journey,” Marcos said.
He urged Filipinos to look beyond simply remembering the past and instead use the lessons of history to confront the challenges facing the country today.
“Ninoy Aquino Day, therefore, invites us to acknowledge the past and draw from it the resolve needed to safeguard freedom, strengthen our institutions, and deepen national unity,” the President added.
Marcos points to disinformation, division
Marcos said the challenges confronting Philippine democracy have evolved over time, but stressed that the public’s responsibility to protect democratic institutions remains.
Among the problems he identified were disinformation, division, distrust and civic indifference—issues that he said underscore the importance of Filipinos remaining actively engaged in national affairs.
“Ninoy’s legacy encourages us to meet these challenges with vigilance and faith in the Filipino people as we work together to deliver meaningful progress for all,” Marcos said.
The message comes as Marcos has also recently emphasized the importance of credible information and responsible journalism.
Just days before Ninoy Aquino Day, the President said a free, independent and responsible press remains indispensable to a democratic society, warning that factual and fabricated information—including AI-generated or manipulated content—can spread rapidly online and undermine public trust.
That connection gives added weight to Friday’s call for vigilance: for Marcos, protecting democracy involves not only remembering historical sacrifices but also confronting the information and civic challenges of the present.
Why Ninoy’s death remains a defining moment
Aquino, a leading opposition figure during the dictatorship of Marcos’ father and namesake, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was assassinated on August 21, 1983, shortly after arriving at the then-Manila International Airport following years of exile in the United States.
His killing triggered widespread outrage and intensified opposition to the Marcos dictatorship. The resulting political upheaval eventually contributed to the 1986 People Power Revolution, which removed Marcos Sr. from power and installed Corazon Aquino, Ninoy’s widow, as president.
August 21 is commemorated annually as Ninoy Aquino Day. The observance was established under Republic Act No. 9256, which declared the date a non-working holiday in honor of the former senator.
For decades, Aquino’s legacy has been associated with courage, sacrifice, democracy and resistance to authoritarian rule. A 2025 Manila Bulletin report looking at how younger Filipinos viewed Aquino found that many continued to regard him as a symbol of courage and conviction, even though most of today’s youth were born long after his assassination.
A complicated historical backdrop
Marcos’ decision to invoke Aquino’s legacy carries particular historical weight because Ninoy was one of the most prominent critics of the elder Marcos’ authoritarian government.
The President acknowledged the importance of history in his previous Ninoy Aquino Day message in 2025, when he urged Filipinos to treat the commemoration as an opportunity for reflection, reconciliation and responsible leadership.
The 2026 message shifts the emphasis more directly toward present-day democratic challenges, with Marcos urging Filipinos to remain vigilant and actively participate in the nation’s affairs.
The appeal also echoes his broader recent messaging on governance. In his July 2026 State of the Nation Address, Marcos framed the remaining portion of his presidency around completing reforms, strengthening accountability and defending democratic institutions, while emphasizing that government must remain responsive to the Filipino people.
From remembering Ninoy to living out his ideals
For Marcos, the significance of Ninoy Aquino Day ultimately lies not only in commemorating a historical figure but in translating the lessons of that history into civic action.
The President said freedom carries with it a collective responsibility to respect the dignity and rights of others and to contribute to the welfare of the nation.
That message places the focus on ordinary Filipinos as participants in democracy—not merely observers of political events.
More than four decades after Aquino’s assassination, the question is therefore no longer simply how the country remembers Ninoy, but how Filipinos respond to the challenges that test democratic values today.
For Marcos, the answer is vigilance, conviction, civic engagement and faith in the Filipino people.
And as the country marks another Ninoy Aquino Day, his message leaves Filipinos with a challenge that reaches well beyond August 21: remember the sacrifices of the past—but have the courage to protect the freedoms they helped make possible.
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