President Marcos calls for unity as he pays tribute to Ninoy Aquino

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued a message on Friday honoring the memory of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., calling on the nation to draw strength from Aquino's historic convictions.

Aquino was the most prominent opposition figure during the regime of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the current president's late father.

Known as the "Young Man in a Hurry," Aquino was elected as the country's youngest mayor, governor, and senator.

After the declaration of Martial Law in September 1972, he was arrested as a political prisoner and incarcerated for nearly eight years.

While in military detention, he endured solitary confinement and staged a 40-day hunger strike to protest the regime.

After three years of self-imposed medical exile in the United States, Aquino chose to return home to help restore Philippine democracy.

He was assassinated at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983, a tragic turning point that galvanized anti-dictatorship opposition and catalyzed the 1986 People Power Revolution.

In his statement marking Ninoy Aquino Day—which commemorates Aquino's 1983 martyrdom—President Marcos Jr. highlighted the enduring value of that sacrifice.

He observed that the occasion serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the past and gather the resolve necessary to face modern challenges to independence and democratic institutions.

“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,” Marcos Jr. said.

The President acknowledged that while the nature of national challenges has evolved over time, every citizen's obligation to protect democracy remains constant.

He warned against contemporary threats such as rampant disinformation, deep-seated societal division, institutional distrust, and civic indifference, citing them as urgent reasons for greater public engagement.

“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 Jr. added.

Marcos Jr. concluded by calling on the public to channel historical lessons into building a peaceful, united, and prosperous Bagong Pilipinas.

He promised that his administration would remain committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting national sovereignty, and pairing fundamental liberties with tangible economic opportunities for all citizens.

Aquino Museum Meanwhile, the Aquino Museum in Tarlac City said admission is free on August 21 in commemoration of the death anniversary of the late senator Aquino. Guided tours are available at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.