Had Ninoy lived, he would have allowed Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani

I must admire President Aquino. Nagpakatotong tao siya when he publicly told the public that he felt he needed to exact revenge against those who conspired to kill his father. He believed then that the Marcoses were responsible.

He was, however, constrained by his friend, who told him that he, and his mother, had a loftier mission--to bring to justice the dictatorship. Aquino realized that there were many other people victimized by the system, and his role is to help them.

And help them he did.

Aquino even remembered how his father told him the very reason why he left Boston to go back to the Philippines despite threats to his life---Ninoy, his father, still believed that there is still goodness in the heart of former president Ferdinand Marcos, and that the president was just being given bad advices by those who surround him.

Ninoy got killed at the tarmac and all hell broke loose.

What is significant in what his father did was Ninoy showed Noynoy the power of forgiveness and of hope. Ninoy just taught Noynoy that people, even if others perceived them as bad to the bone, are inherently good. There is goodness in people. People act the way they do due to circumstances.

That is the power of Ninoy---he is now considered as a martryred hero of this land because he did what no other hero did---he showed people the true path towards political rectification. Instead of perpetuating injustice, Ninoy thought of instituting justice.

Now, when Ninoy was alive, he respected other people, especially his enemies. Noynoy Aquino must learn from his father.

There is still time for Noynoy Aquino to do what his father expected him to---forgive his enemies and erase every shred of enmity in his heart.

Noynoy Aquino could start by allowing the burial of a war hero at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. I sincerely believe that had Ninoy lived, he would have allowed his former friend and fraternity brother the right to be buried there.

The Ghosts of Those Thirsting for Justice Roam the Land

There is a belief among old people that spirits of victims of injustice still remain on earth. They roam the landscape, seeking for people to help them get justice. Do you believe this?

A cycle of injustice exists in our generation today because the injustices committed in the past remain unsolved. From the treachery committed against the Supremo, to the treachery committed against Ninoy Aquino, there seems to be no let-up on the crimes committed against people of principle.

This just shows that the justice system in this country is flawed and serves only the caprices of the rich and powerful among us.

It is not that we lack laws that punishes those who violate them---it is that the implementors of the law are weaklings and are readily influenced by money and influence.

As they say, the system can only be as strong as the people who operate them.

Even in a very ideal system, if the people who run this system is corruptible, then, there is nothing anyone can do except accept this or totally fire all these people and throw this system down.

Now, what President Aquino said in his speech is highly relevant. He personally wanted revenge. He felt that his family got the raw end of the deal when his father was assasinated.

However, a friend gave him a valuable advice--save your strength and focus on how to help other people victimized by the dictatorship.

This he did, according to Aquino.

An injustice cannot undo a previous injustice. It is only thru the imposition of true Justice can injustice be undone.

Now, if Aquino decided against using violence, then, why is it that he continues to do injustice to the perceived political nemesis of his father?

Refreshing to hear Senator Ninoy Aquino February 15, 1981

Not a few tears shed. How my soul longed for another Ninoy Aquino! Great men are really prophetic ones. Value their words. Heed their warnings. Save our country, please!

Ninoy spoke before a throng of people that fateful day of February 15, 1981, a few months before he went back to the Philippines unto martyrdom.

I reviewed his video tape and the cruz of Ninoy's speech is the lack of constitutional basis of the actions of a single man. Ninoy lambasted President Marcos for doing acts without constitutional anchor.

Let this be a reminder to all those who believed in Ninoy. Ninoy fought for the Rule of Law. Ninoy fought for democracy. Ninoy fought for what is Right.

Those who professed to have believed and loved Ninoy and did all these things contrary to what he envisioned this country to be, please take a look at this speech.

Those who betrayed his vision, repent. And that includes you, Mr. Noynoy.

Ninoy Aquino's and the ignominy of the present upon his memory

Cory Aquino, her husband, and scores of others died all because of one thing--they want to rid graft and corruption of our system. They died not because they want their sons and their daughters and their in-laws rich--oh no. They sacrificed their lives because they want the poor, the widows and the orphans get a more decent and a more humane life.

Several thousands shared that vision and these people are either living or have died or are still continuing the struggle.

August is this time of the year when we commemorate the sacrifices of a few for the sake of the many. This is the time when we re-live the sacrifice of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr who braved the vilest of storms and accepted his destiny with open arms. His memory etched in our memories was that of a wrenched body lying in a tarmac, lifeless yet embracing his fate, his sacrifice. Ninoy did all he could for his country and he expects his son, his daughters, their sons and daughters to do the same thing.

Ninoy had just cleansed his family's surname from the dirt the people threw at it during World War two. His sacrifice made the people forget the betrayal his father did to the people during the Japanese occupation. Of course, the elder Aquino had his reasons for collaborating with the enemy, but for the people, this is unpardonable.

Honestly, we know better. Prior to World War two, several Katipuneros collaborated with the Japanese because the Japs were the Katipuneros' strategic partner during the war against the Spaniards. The fact was, the Katipuneros see the Japs as a worthy ally than the Americans whom they consider as colonialists.

Aquino was one of those who believe this.  That's why Aquino became a collaborationalist because he thinks like a Katipunero.

Anyway, Ninoy died for something---the cleansing of this country from the very evils of corruption.

Corruption is a plague that eats the soul of a Nation. When a Nation indulges in corruption, it slowly loses its humanity and eventually, that Nation becomes a barbaric one, eating its own sons and cannibalizing every shred of humanity left in its wake.

Corruption wastes a society away, like leprosy. Worse, a nation which indulges in corruption wagers the very future of its sons, and generations.

Aquino realized that and fought against it.

Woe then for those who are benefitting from his death! Woe that the very disease that Ninoy fought against and tried to find a cure, is deeply entrenched and is slowly eating a few shred of humanity left in this country.

Woe those friends of Ninoy who benefitted from his sacrifice and are now rich, and powerful, and are giving his name a blot.

Woe to some members of the BUreau of Customs who continually smear the very sacrifice of Ninoy by their very acts!

Woe to other government officials and employees who steal the monies of the people and is too carabao skinned to even feed their families with stolen monies.

Ninoy and Cory Aquino--the sacrifice of a couple

I always look at this photo. Fact is, this is framed in my house, near my workstation for me to remember one thing---they died and sacrificed their very family so that millions of Filipino families will live. What about you? What have you done for your country?


Their time were spent defending the rights to life of others. They probably were not the greatest parents. Ninoy probably forgot to be the best dad and Cory, probably, not the best mom.


But when it comes to the welfare of the many, when it comes for fighting for what is right, and when it comes for correcting the errors of History, these two souls, Ninoy and Cory were forever there, with us, struggling.


A poem, for this great and wonderful couple.


Piping saksi ang mga larawang ito.
Nang humarap sina Cory at Ninoy, bahagi ito ng kasaysayan ng Inang Bayan.
Dalawang kaluluwang nangarap ng magandang buhay hindi para sa kanila, para sa iba.


hindi sila alipin. hindi sina panginoon. 
bahagi sila ng mga mayayamang angkan.
maaaring isang maaliwalas na buhay sana
ang napasakanila
ngunit kanilang piniling
tahakin ang landas ng mga hampas-lupa.


ilan s atin ang makapagsasabing
isinasakripisyo natin ang ating mga sarili
para sa Inang Bayan?


ilan sa atin ang tunay na nagbuwis ng 
buhay at kapayapaan kapalit ng
karahasan sa ngalan ng Inang Bayan?


at ilan sa atin ang makapagsasabing
nabuhay tayo ng marangal at may
paninindigan?


walang yamang makahihigit sa
pagsisilbi sa Inang Bayan.
walang yamang mas higit pa sa
pagiging tunay na Bayani ng
sambayanan.


si cory at si ninoy,
pamilyang Pinoy.
Pamilyang tunay na may pagmamahal
sa naghihikahos na Inang Bayan, 


si cory at ninoy.
tunay na pinoy
parang si Andres Bonifacio at ang kanyang asawang 
si Gregoria de Jesus,
tunay na mga bayani.
tunay na kayamanan ng bayan.

God in Politics or Nine Years Without God

After "some contemplation" again, Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio said he's now withdrawing from the presidential race. Remember that a few months (or weeks?) ago, Ed said that God himself told him to run. Now that he withdrew, is that a direct contravention of God's instructions to him?

Or, this is a classic case of a Miriam---I lied! :-) (remember that Miriam promised to jump from a bridge during Erap's time. When that event which Miriam said will not happen, happened, then, she dropped that classic line)

Jesus is Lord Movement leader Ed Villanueva said that he's not doing a Roxas, meaning, he will pursue his presidential run. Question--is God really behind his decision to run? Remember that it was Ed who started this " I talked with God" thing when he ran and lost in 2007. Don't tell me that God was wrong when the Almighty instructed Ed Villanueva to run?

Right now, Noynoy is inside the Carmelite sisters convent in Zamboanga. He has a week or so to do some spiritual contemplation, also asking God if running is a good thing to do. The question is--what if God told Noynoy not to run? What then? Will Noynoy be able to face the media and the crowd this September 9 and tell them that God has asked him not to run and instead, throw his support behind Erap? Will Noynoy follow what God told him?

And just like Noynoy, Noli de Castro is also asking God if he'll run or not. Noli is also contemplating on whether to run or not for the highest post.

The question is---which God? Noli, as popularly known, is a Catholic. So, it's a Catholic god then? Nah. Noli said that he's a Balik-Islam, meaning a Muslim revert. He always say that whenever questions about the legality of his marriage with now, wife(?) Arlene Sinsuat-de Castro comes up. So, sinong Dios kaya ang papanalanginan ni Noli? Jesus Nazareno or Allah?

And obviously, Gloria Arroyo is also praying to God. The question really is---is it God that she's praying before and kneeling or another God, the god of sloth and gluttony?

And I totally understand these people.

Living for more than eight years under a society without God, people like Noynoy, Noli de Castro, Ed Panlilio and Ed Villanueva will definitely want to see and talk to God.

Imagine, everyday we see photos like these (see photo on the right). Pano mo pa iisiping may Dios nyan?

Cory Aquino: 1st Filipino Citizen

Undeniably, former president Cory Aquino is not just an icon of democracy--she was its staunchest defender. During her term as president, she survived seven coup attempts, the last was in 1989, when rebel soldiers nearly brought the government to its knees. At that time, many commented about her weak leadership, since most thought that it was not a fitting time for someone, a lady and a "mere" housewife, to lead a young nation out of tyranny. Yet, Cory succeeded. She not only revived institutions of governance but through her sheer moral leadership, brought back the people's trust and confidence in their government. It was only during her time as president that that famed "people's park" in Malacanang truly lived up to its name.

Cory was never our weakest leader. Truly, she was our strongest. Her work in the restoration of our democratic institutions is no easy walk in the park. Those were the times when forces were at work to rewrite or reconfigure the ideals which her husband fought for and standing tall against these forces show not just a strong fortitude of spirit, but of sheer courage and strength of convictions.

Truly, our weakest leaders are those who resort to underhanded tactics and weaken our institutions for the sake of their own personal desires and thirsts for power.

I think the greatest contribution of Cory Aquino to all of us is she was the illustrious example of a Filipino citizen; someone who never forgot her duties and responsibilities as a part of the Filipino Nation. Cory imparted to us the message that, service for one's nation means standing up when injustice exists. That each and every Filipino citizen has the duty and the responsibility of defending democracy at all costs.

Service to the Nation means doing the right thing whenever democracy is threatened by elite domination. Service means sacrificing one's own life for the sake of others. And service means getting out of one's comfort zones so that others may have a better chance in life.

Cory Aquino was an illustrious member of her class, but never acted like one. She never cheated an ordinary citizen out of their monies. She never tried to fool them with overarching promises. She never even dared to exploit their weaknesses when she was president. And she never used the office and the power entrusted to her for her fiduciary gain. We can even say that Cory belonged to us, the unwashed Filipino masses, who, like her, longed for a Truthful, Just and Humane Filipino society.

Cory Aquino was our First True Filipino Citizen. Whenever the Motherland needed her, Cory was there. When the Motherland needed her in 2000 to fight a morally decrepit regime, Cory went out of retirement and marched with the people. When Arroyo cheated her way to power and threatened to again plunged this country to a conjugal dictatorship, Cory Aquino was also there. She was the only one among our leaders who knew and lived her oath of allegiance to the pursuit of the Filipino People's welfare.

Cory Aquino was also a dutiful wife to her martyred husband, Ninoy. She never brought dishonor to her husband's illustrious name. In fact, because of her work in democracy, Cory honored her husband. Her love for Ninoy and the causes that defined him was her only inspiration.

For all my Filipino brothers and sisters, I urge every one of us to forever keep Cory in our hearts. Emulate her. Be one with her cause. Strive to be like Cory. Keep her legacy always burning in our hearts forever.