In August 1983, we had a rehearsal for our De La Salle University graduation, but there was a sudden blackout in metropolitan Manila. At the time, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was scheduled to return to the Philippines. I later learned the shocking news: Ninoy Aquino had been assassinated at Manila International Airport.
My family, led by my Kapampangan mom, Rosita Constantino Medina, now an American citizen whose birthday falls on August 21, went to Santo Domingo Church to extend our sincerest condolences to the Aquino family.
Eventually, I joined protest rallies, oftentimes on Makati’s Ayala Avenue. I often saw members of the August Twenty One Movement (ATOM), founded by public relations man Reli German and Ninoy Aquino’s younger brother, Butz Aquino.
Through the years, we have visited Ninoy Aquino’s tomb at Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City every August 21.
This year, I joined ATOM at Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 8 a.m. for a solemn wreath-laying ceremony. I saw my aunt Cecile Guidote-Alvarez of the Earthsaver DREAMS Ensemble, UNESCO Artist for Peace and PETA; Ramon Balang and Rebecca Quijano of the Chino Roces Foundation, two witnesses to Ninoy’s assassination; Karl Patrick Suyat of Project Gunita; Charlie Avila of NAMSERV; Jose de Jesus and Cristina Rodriguez of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation; Christopher Carrion of the Spirit of EDSA Foundation; Patrick Claudio of the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission; and Volt Bohol of ATOM.
I also saw Feliciana Santos of the Manila International Airport Authority; Henry Herrera and COO Jung Hoon Kim of New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation; and Regalado Trota Jose Jr. of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
While at NAIA, a young man approached me and asked if Sen. Bam Aquino would be there. We looked at the program, but his name was not included.
We then proceeded to Manila Memorial Park to attend Mass for Ninoy Aquino. There, I saw Kris Aquino’s son Bimby Aquino Yap; Viel Aquino-Dee’s son Kiko Dee; Pinky Aquino-Abellada’s son Miguel Abellada; and Ballsy Aquino-Cruz’s son Jiggy Cruz.
I also saw De La Salle Brother Armin Luistro, Cesar Purisima, Dr. Patricia Licuanan, Teresita Deles and Florencio Abad. I likewise met again my former officemate at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Well Martirez, and Alberto “Bullit” Marquez, a veteran photojournalist who served for decades as Manila bureau chief photographer for the Associated Press. Bullit is widely recognized for documenting major crises, political shifts and natural disasters across the Philippines and Asia.
Right after the Mass, I joined ATOM in attending a Mass for the late Reli German at a chapel in SM Megamall.
I still recall what ATOM President Volt Bohol said about Reli in a eulogy not long ago:
