Think about it
“Daang Matuwid” has its roots in Ninoy, Cory Aquino
By Jun Velasco
“The Filipino is worth dying for,” Ninoy Aquino
NOT very many know that P-noy’s Daang Matuwid creed has its roots in his parents, former President Cory Aquino and iconic father, former Senator Ninoy Aquino.
Although Ninoy, now a declared national hero, never became president like his wife and son, he was much more.
In point of fact, without him, there would have been no President Cory, there would have been no President P-noy.
And for all we know, there would have been no zealous crusade against crooks, graft and corruption and malfeasance of public funds.
Maybe, we are giving Ninoy too much credit for the straight path mantra. But by gum it’s only Ninoy who dared all odds to give meaning, flesh and blood to this noble cause.
It’s awfully sad very few could follow his example. The vast majority, most of us anyway, could only show our nobility, if you can call it so, in speeches, rhetoric and mass action. Ninoy put his life on the line, a mark of authentic integrity, heroism and commitment to virtue.
It was most apt that the nation, beleaguered and blustered by massive and wanton corruption in high places was able to mount some energy to celebrate the martyrdom of Ninoy last Thursday, August 21, 2014.
That was all we could do anyway. Celebrate, observe, mark, fete, recall his martyrdom. Emulate his example? Aw, come on, ala tayo sa kalingkingan.
At 10:00 A.M. on his death anniversary day last Thursday, we found our self being interviewed by ABS CBN particularly Michelle Soriano and her cameraman Boy Marcos while we were having coffee with former Vice Mayor Andoy Decano and Carlos Munoz at McDonald’s along Arellano Street.
When we were asked what we thought were to us the most meaningful contribution of Ninoy, a former journalist, to the nation, we said it was his raw courage in reporting the truth and because of it, has awakened the nation against political abuse (i.e., Marcos’ perpetuation in power.)
Ninoy was like Rizal, our foremost national hero, who opened the people’s eyes to Spanish mis-rule. Both Ninoy and Rizal were exemplars of Jesus Christ who was nailed on the cross for his espousal of purity and love for His creatures.
In the local milieu, we have Ninoy’s counterparts the likes of Ermin and those who unceasingly expose and criticize public abuse.
How about those who criticize, attack and denounce politicians in order to “collect later?” They are no different from those that Ninoy and Rizal and Christ blasted. They are the scams, termites and evils of society.
Someone asked: wasn’t Ninoy just like the other power-hungry politicians who was only obsessed to put and end to Marcos rule?
True, but something happened when he was incarcerated, maimed tortured, subjected to bartolina in Laur, Fort Magsaysay.
He was transformed into a benign and saintly leader out only to free his fellow Filipinos from mis-rule and evil.
It is in this context that we are giving P-noy and his Daang Matuwid mantra a chance to succeed. It’s true it’s taking his campaign tough and long time to take root, what with the PDAF and more so, the DAP that have emerged as hindrances and bottle necks to its success?
It’s all a question of what Divine Providence would allow for this nation to end up with.
Our take is to take the hard line — as there’s no other way, no other path — to greatness.
Ninoy knew this. His life story should inspire us.
* * * *
Sometime in June 1980, our Dallas, Texas—datelined news dispatch on Ninoy Aquino was the second headline story of the Bulletin Today, now the Manila Bulletin.
Ninoy and this columnist, then a Texas visitor, were slated for a one-on-one, as arranged by our high school classmate Leo Palaganas who has since resided there, and Ninoy’s Filipino physician, Dr. Rolly Solis, at the Baylor Hospital where he had undergone a heart bypass.
The interview did not happen because the senator had then on agreement with the Marcoses for a complete news blackout of his hospitalization at the Baylor Hospital.
But that brief near-encounter was more than made up for by our interactions with Fil-Ams in Dallas capped by our speech before the Fil-Am Ass’n at the Methodist Church there.
Our introducer was then the late Rev. Silverio Ignacio of Pangasinan.
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