The Eastern Samar Community Blog

Being divorced from my favorite pastime which is news eaves-dropping brings such nostalgia to my searching mind. Hence, I thought of scanning the archives of our bookshelves in our boarding house. It was the 23rd August 2008 issue of the Inquirer that I saw a man in white face down in a tarmac. It was obvious that the man was the famous senator “Ninoy” – his death dubbed as the crime of the century. “Ah so maybe it was the reason why there was a holiday last August”. (Not so sure though!) I hope I am not wrong.

I never met Senator Benigno Aquino because for the obvious reason that I was not yet born. But his fame lives up until now. The man whose death awakened the Filipino’s battered spirit to fight against the tyranny of the “Conjugal Dictatorship”. His works, his speech, I have recited in some oratorical contest were and until now held precious. He was the man who went against the tide. But was put to silence on his glorious homeward return.

In spite of Senator Aquino’s works and death I bet few have realized its significance – especially the Filipino youth who are “worth dying for”. We forgot or more flagrantly we simply don’t mind at all. A thing of the past as one would put it. A culture of the youth nowadays that weakens the spirit of Nationalism. I met a friend from my hometown and he manifests this culture in his words “why should I care if nothing will change and I cannot change anything”. We kill the man (Ninoy) all the more and we destroy the noble cause of his death by being indifferent to what is happening to our country.

Like Ninoy several people have died in the fight for truth to reign and justice to be served to all people. I myself being a person who see the world as they are have meet a lot of friends and mentors that lived their lives following what Ninoy started. But like the man they were executed by “assassins” or by “whosoever”. Like Ninoy their death are piled up as events of the past – forgotten. And unfortunately same as Ninoy their death have not been resolved.

Why do I write?I write because of that old newspaper that I read. The paper that contained the news of the man named Benigno. The man that reminded me of my mentors that died doing his similar works. I write to unfreeze my stuck up ideology and awaken again those suppressed tongues.I write because the years of seeking justice (being hunted myself) have proven to be unfruitful. All sparks of hope turned out to be mirage in a desert sea. Pre-meditated dead-ends to weary down the souls of those who seek for Justice. Giving up, would be the logical choice because the odds of putting the true criminals behind bars are odds that are in vain.

Today, it has come to me that the search for the resolution of their death must be done in a different manner. Ninoy and my idol Atty. Bocar (of Eastern Samar) only hoped for a future that is bright for “Juan dela Cruz”. A future with true leaders whose concern is for the “common tao” and with the self-sacrificing virtue in them. In stead of “soul-searching” for their assailants who put them to rest which have proven to be a mimic of Mt. Everest. Then, why don’t we focus on their work. Focus in building the a better nation, focus in electing real leaders and focus in uprooting corruption in our homes, barangays, municipality, province and this country. This action would I know be efficient and pragmatic at the moment. Because moving on of one’s death and taking up the cause of this would indeed do a greater meaning of their slumber. Those human rights activist and Ninoy would I know be glad if we would a speck of realization to change.