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REACTION PAPER on the SPEECHES OF NINOY AQUINO As a person of influence and widely considered by most Filipinos as a national hero,

Senator Ninoy Aquinos words will echo throughout history and will continue to be embraced by men and women who carry the torch of nationalism burning in their hearts. Ninoy Aquino was a brilliant speaker, eloquent and full of charisma. His passion for the fight for freedom was steadfast amidst the test of time and trials. He could indeed have been a great president, but sadly in the words of former Senator Jovito Salonga, he became the greatest president that we never had. There has never been a single dictator in history that has lived forever and so I tell Mr. Marcos to study the lessons of history before it is too late. The late president once said that the proclamation of Martial Law in the country was for the better cause for a better country. With respect to Mr. Marcos, there was indeed benefits that can be accounted to such proclamation. However, it was later realized by political analysts and members of the opposition that there was selfish desires for lengthening power brewing behind the bold proclamation. Marcos may have succeeded with his plots of building up himself for a bigger power. In spite of this, the united efforts of pawns during the People Power Movement were able to topple down the most powerful piecethe dictatorship of Marcos. From here, we see that no single person can carry a power that can last eternal. Everything must come to an end. The great legitimizer of government is the ballot not the bullet. One of the most controversial elections in history was that of the February 1986 elections. Elections were treated with such high respect and honor as it is one of the means through which we express our freedomfreedom to select a

fitting leader who shall carry the country to prosperity. The snap elections did otherwise as it donned on massive electoral fraud, violence, intimidation, coercion and disenfranchisement of voters. Marcos believed in himself so much that he would win everything by the power of his army. It cannot be helped that the ballots cast was wasted as it was not duly recognized, thus the cry for justice in the victory rally. Filipinos of various sectors of the society with Cory Aquino emerged victorious in their efforts for justice for the elections. In the end, Cory Aquino was declared winner after two of Marcos trusted allies divulged the deep secrets of the dirty elections. As the saying goes, you can hide everything but the truth. What can one man do if the Filipino people love their slavery, if the Filipino people have lost their voice and would not say no to a tyrant, what can one man do. I have not an army, I have no followers, I have no money, I only have my indomitable spirit. During his speech, Ninoy Aquino was asked how the condition of the country was during such proclamation of Martial Law. He answered saying how Japanese have difficulty speaking the letter L, and instead, they utter it as R. He then proceeded to telling how an acquaintance of his, who was a Japanese Investor in Mindanao, told him how the country was. The Japanese, struggling in English answered, The Firipinos (Filipinos) are very rucky (lucky) because they have a president who robs (loves) them and a first lady who robs (loves) them more. The country was in a very depressing situation at that time. Justice became illegal and crime was rampant. The righteous was in jail, and the criminals were free to roam the streets and continue their evil plots. But, the most depressing part was how the Filipinos tolerated such heinous treatment to them by their tyrant president. This line of Ninoy Aquino was more than a wake - up call, but a shove on the head on the Filipinos who fell out of hope and lay lazily in the beds of apathy. When Ninoy Aquino was imprisoned, he was many times

tempted to give up his noble cause and submit to the government of Marcos in exchange for his freedom. He even recalls moments when he would linger for the hugs of his wife and his children, but suffer the longing for the sake of justice to the country. However, his unfailing spirit to fight for justice would never count if the Filipinos wont come up and work for the same cause. Such line will continue to inspire Filipinos and even other people who stand witness to the insurgencies of our time, and do nothing as their freedom gets crumpled and stepped on. This is Ninoy Aquinos way of summoning the inner Lapu-lapu, Andres Bonifacio, and Jose Rizal in every Filipino. We are the solutions to the struggles of our time. As he said it, when you condone tyranny you share in its corruption and its lowliness. While its true, after 8 years in prison, I have lost appetite to run for office. I am no longer seeking the presidency of this land. I am not seeking anymore any office in this land. But, believe me when I tell you that I vow never to enter the political arena again. I shall dedicate the last drop of my blood to the restoration of freedom and the dismantlement of Martial Law. Finally, Ninoy Aquino will be best remembered for his patriotism for the country. It is never an easy decision to give up one self for someone. It is even harder when you give it up for a nation. But, Ninoy Aquino will be a living testimony that amidst the corruption of our time, heroes still live among us, taking form as students, teachers, nurses, policemen, soldiers, businessmen, lawyers, politicians, mothers, fathers, and children. Indeed, it is never too late for the country to witness the sunrise of the Philippines that Jose Rizal dreamed of seeing. The challenge today is bestowed on us, the present, to prepare a better country for our children and for the generations that shall spring forth from us.

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