The Spirit that Lived On

After 26 years of incarceration, all remaining ten of the 14 soldiers convicted for the Aquino-Galman double murder case have been released after their sentences were communed by the President. Much to the disappointment of the Aquino family and Ninoy Aquino supporters all over the world. For them, it was Arroyo’s way of getting back at Ninoy’s widow, Cory Aquino, who has joined the opposition’s side.

There’s nothing anyone can do to stop their release, with the exception of course of the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, the SC is the President’s pet.

But come to think of it, there’s no reason to cry over spilled milk. Sure we still don’t know who planned his assassination, or so much the guy who pulled the trigger on him. But let’s look at it from a positive view, at least we got something from it.

Because of Ninoy’s sacrifice, if you would call it, we Filipinos learned to be strong. We learned to unite against the same enemy and the common goal, atrocity and freedom. And we showed this three years later in what we commemorate today as the People Power Revolution.

Sure, evil did prevail in killing the leader of the revolution, Ninoy, but we learned that no matter what weapon they use they will never kill the spirit. The spirit of courage and patriotism. We regained the hope we lost and picked ourselves up from the ground and continued to fight. Ninoy’s death taught us to be Filipinos.

It has been twenty-six years after the crime that shook not only the country but the world at that time. No cases have succeeded in putting Marcos’ widow, Imelda, into prison. Nor did anyone with the Marcos family name spend a single second in prison. Neither have close Marcos allies like General Fabian Ver. The soldiers convicted, members of the Aviation Security Command (AVSECOM), had no basis of being imprisoned. But you see, if Ninoy hadn’t been killed perhaps tyranny and corruption would still cloud over our heads. We learned People Power and we have used it effectively in ousting two Presidents in the past. And when time calls for it again, no doubt Filipinos will use it again.