Ninoy Aquino Day

REPORTED BY: MA. ASHLEY NICOLE S. PELICANO

When is Ninoy Aquino Day?
• This national non-working holiday is celebrated annually on 21 August.
In Filipino, it is known as 'Araw ng Kabayanihan ni Ninoy Aquino'.
• The holiday commemorates the assassination of former Senator
Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino, Jr. on 21 August 1983.
• His wife was Corazon Aquino, who later became President of the
Philippines, and as a couple they are seen as two heroes of democracy
in the Philippines.
• His assassination led to the downfall of Ferdinand Marcos on February
25, 1986, through the People Power Revolution. In 2004, the
commemoration ceremony for the holiday was held and events were
attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fidel V. Ramos.
History of Ninoy Aquino Day
• In the early 1970's Aquino was a prominent critic of the President of the
Philippines at that time - Ferdinand Marcos. Martial law was
declared in September 1972 and Aquino was imprisoned. While in
prison, Aquino continued to campaign for democracy and even stood
for election.
• In 1908, he suffered two heart attacks and rather than treat him and
have something go wrong and get accused of intentionally treating him
badly, the Filipino authorities allowed him to leave to go to the United
States for medical treatment, where he remained in exile for about
three years.
• His intention was to return to the Philippines to challenge Marcos in
the parliamentary elections of 1984. On 21 August 1983, while he was
being escorted off the plane at Manila International airport, he was
shot and killed.
• The assassination led to major political upheaval in the Philippines and
in 1986 after snap presidential election, Corazon Aquino was elected
president.
• The holiday was created by Republic Act 9256, which was signed into
law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 25, 2004,
twenty-one years after his death and the eighteen years after the People
Power Revolution., and was sponsored by Senate President Franklin
Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia. It requires an EDSA
People Power Commission (EPPC) to hold activities in observance the
day and shall be funded from the Budget of the Office of the President
and from private donations.[2]
• A commemoration ceremony was held at the People Power Monument
which was attended by Presidents Arroyo and Aquino, the Aquino
family, and government officials such as members of the cabinet, top
police, and military brass.
• The holiday was included in President Arroyo's program of "holiday
economics", adjusting the observance of the holiday to the nearest
Monday in order to boost the tourism industry with long weekends. In
2010, it was moved back to its original date by Aquino's only son,
President Benigno Aquino III.
What do people do on Ninoy Aquino Day?
• Being a special non-working holiday, employees who choose not to
work that day and/or are not rostered to work do not receive any pay.
Employees who do work receive an additional 30% of their hourly wage
for every hour worked.
• The EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) holds activities on the
day to commemorate Aquino’s fight for democracy. These activities are
funded partly by the Office of the President and by private donations.
Did you know?

• The scene of his death, Manila International

Airport has since been renamed Ninoy Aquino
International Airport in his honour.