PHILIPPINE Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday has recognized the sacrifices of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. in commemoration of his 38th death anniversary today.
In a statement, Robredo expressed that marking this historical day is different from the previous ones as Ninoy’s son, former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, just passed away last June 24.
“Ngayong araw, ginugunita natin ang ikatatlumpu’t walong anibersaryo ng pagkamatay ni Ninoy Aquino. May dagdag na kalungkutan ang paggunita natin ngayong taon, dala ng pagpanaw ng anak niyang PNoy nitong nagdaang Hunyo lang,” Robredo stated.
The Vice President, whose political journey came across with the opposition Liberal Party, further honored the entire Aquino family, acknowledging that they have had a fair share of sacrifices for the country which was once so bereft of freedom.
“Kasama si Pangulong Cory, isang mag-anak silang nagpamalas ng kabayanihan at pagmamahal sa bayan. Binibigyang-pugay natin ngayon ang tapang ni Ninoy nang pinili niyang talikuran ang pansariling kaginhawahan upang ialay ang kanyang buhay sa ngalan ng ating kalayaan. Sakripisyo itong bumago sa takbo ng ating kasaysayan,” Robredo continued.
Robredo, moreover, posited that the onus is now on Filipinos to preserve the fruit of the sacrifices the Aquino family had even amid the war against a pandemic and while exercising human rights.
“Ang hamon sa atin ngayon: Siguruhin na mananatiling buhay ang bunga ng sakripisyong ito. Mula sa pagharap sa mga hamon ng pandemya, hanggang sa paninindigan para sa ating mga karapatan, sa bawat pagkakataon, nawa’y ipakita nating sulit na sulit ang sakripisyo ni Ninoy para sa Pilipino,” she asserted.
If Ninoy perceived that the Filipino is worth dying for; to Cory, the Filipino is worth living for; and to Noynoy, the Filipino is worth fighting for, Robredo shared that the three paved the way to let us know one truth which states that the Filipino is also worth dreaming for.
“In Ninoy’s death, President Cory’s life, and PNoy’s fight along the straight and righteous path, they collectively pursued this vision; they showed what we all know to be the truth: That the Filipino is worth dreaming for,” the Vice President said.
Robredo lastly urged Filipinos to yield the goals that the Aquino family had for the country, hoping that their sacrifices will never wither but soon pay off.
“Nawa’y patuloy tayong magsikap para tuparin ang pinakamatatayog nilang mithiin para sa Pilipino. Kaisa ako at ang buong OVP family sa paggunita sa pagkabayani ni Senator Ninoy Aquino,” Robredo emphasized.