MANILA – August 21 started early for the Liberal Party (LP), as members and party leaders remember the bombing of Plaza Miranda and the assassination of former Senator Ninoy Aquino.
As yellow ribbons were tied in some places around Metro Manila, over 30 members of the LP from around the country gathered early morning in Plaza Miranda to commemorate the 1971 bombing of an LP miting de avance that killed nine people and wounded around 90, including LP stalwarts Gerardo Roxas, Sergio Osmeña Jr., and then-Senators Jovito Salonga, Ramon Mitra, and Eva Estrada-Kalaw, among others.
Flying a Philippine flag along with a yellow “Defend Democracy,” the new members of the LP vowed to continue the fight of their forebears 47 years ago.
“We, of the revitalized Liberal Party, promise to tirelessly work to renew and strengthen democracy especially now when another gang of liars, plunderers, and murderers brutally and shamelessly subvert the freedoms we won back in 1986,” LP said in a statement.
Further south, former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III led the commemoration of the 35th death anniversary of his father and namesake at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City, where a mass was celebrated.
Present in the event were Aquino sisters Ballsy, Viel and Pinky, LP Senators Franklin Drilon and party president Kiko Pangilinan, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.
“A beautiful glimpse of the victory of love,” the mass celebrated Ninoy’s fight against the dictatorship over 30 years ago where he was jailed for seven years, exiled to the United States for medical treatment, and assassinated upon his arrival back to the Philippines on August 21, 1983.
Former President Aquino, in a speech after the mass, encouraged Filipinos to remain active about the issues hounding the Philippines today, and thanked those who continue to support their family.
After Manila Memorial, LP leaders and members proceeded to the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City, which was a sea of yellow-clad supporters. Yellow ribbons and LP flags around the church greeted them.
Vice President Leni Robredo, former Aquino Cabinet officials, LP congressmen, and supporters were among those who attended this mass.
Ending the day was the singing of “Bayan Ko” after the mass, with everyone doing the Laban hand gesture in remembrance of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.