August 21, 2008 · Posted in: i Report Features, In the News, Media
A million came for Ninoy as reporters battled with censors
TODAY the nation marks the 25th death anniversary of opposition leader Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Various civil society groups will also launch a year-long civics education campaign, “I Am Ninoy,” for young Filipinos.
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) hopes to help inform the process with a package of stories and a folio of photographs taken by our colleagues who covered the death and burial of Ninoy for both the crony and the “mosquito” press. Those events triggered possibly the biggest protest rallies in Philippine history, even as standing up for press freedom and democracy at the time was not without threat of reprisal.
To kick off the series, we have asked veteran journalist Joel C. Paredes to write a “First Person” account of how journalists tried to fight off Marcos’s censors in Malacañang, as the streets of Metro Manila swelled with protest rallies for Ninoy.
The story comes with a photo (above) of Ninoy’s death at the airport tarmac taken by veteran photojournalist Recto Mercene. A soldier of the Aviation Security Command was pointing a gun at Mercene while he let his camera roll to capture this photo, one of 12-sequence shot frames.
Read on at pcij.org.
6 Responses to A million came for Ninoy as reporters battled with censors
lin de Haan
August 21st, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I don’t understand very well the point of going back to what happened 25 years ago. I thought these stories and pictures were already presented in court.
It would be much better if you focus more on the present. It has more relevance. Like whatever happened to the accusations to GMA on the Garci tapes, the NBN deals and its whistle blowers, the railroad deals with the Chinese, the overall mining approval given to foreign companies etc. It’s like there is no stopping of corruption everywhere and murders in the country.Not even the Supreme Court is immune to it! It is not at all positive for the economy. Not very inspiring to live in a country like this. The government has not even a clear definition of its territorial boundaries ! Now GMA is making a deal with Indonesia for a fishing ground! It’s a shame! The Phil. is surrounded with waters! Or is the gov’t, just going to give in to the claims of China and Malaysia. I wonder!
At least Musharraf has the decency to step down due to the people’s protest. Does the Phil. President has still some decency and shame!
Luna Tic
August 21st, 2008 at 11:02 pm
You dont understand why it’s important to go back to 25 years ago? that is so sad. because what happened 25 years ago was a catalyst and broke the proverbial camel’s back, as far as being a filipino is concerned. it also gives an insider’s view of what really went on that sad day in philippine history.
why go back to 25 years ago? because all filipinos need to be reminded of what we, as a people, were given back after a true nationalist literally gave his life to the country and to the filipino people around the world. we need to be reminded again and again because us as a people have been so numbed by everything that’s going on with the country’s politics. we need to be reminded that we can as a collective and as individuals can give the people in power a very good run for their money.
and finally, in my opinion, the story was published to let every single filipinos know that there doesn’t need to be another ninoy aquino for us as a people to let the government know ENOUGH. because the story being published keeps the legacy of Ninoy Aquino for the country and our kababayans alive. that all we have to do is to think about what Ninoy gave up for us to remind us…WE AS THE MASA CONTROL THE COUNTRY AND NOT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
so if you think reminding the filipino people of the world why the fight against corruption, cronyism, government abuse of power, etc. etc. etc. is not worth the time of day….then you’re one of those filipinos i was mentioning that has forgotten why Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino gave his life to you, me and the rest of our kababayans. and it’s a crying shame because for you to fight for reforms….you have to have national pride.
Marcelo Augusto A. Cosgayon
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Joel Paredes’ piece on Ninoy Aquino brought tears to my eyes, tears for the loss of our country’s hope, tears for the loss of a hero who we need now more than ever. I was a young boy when he died and, as all young boys, did not realize the significance of the event. It was only years later, when I grew older, that I realized why and for whom he died. All I knew was that someone important had died, and, with his death, something in the grown ups had died with him. But his death sparked an historic revolution that propelled our country to greatness, even for only a little while. His death stirred long buried anger, resentment, and revulsion at the way things were being done.
Sad to say, but I believe that our country has lost hope. In a time when all three branches of government are vilified and regarded in contempt by most if not all of the populace, we need Ninoy now more than ever. The revolution his death gave birth to was bloodless, but I fear the next one, if and when it comes, will not be.
nosi balasi
August 24th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
1983, i was a grade 4 student in Cainta Rizal then…I have no idea who Ninoy Aquino was. from grades 1 to 3, our teachers from those grades never missed to enumerate the govt officials, and most of the time they include this in our exams as bonus questions, and i do still remember some of them…
President: Ferdinand E. Marcos
* there was a name Cesar Virata
Foreign Affairs: Carlos Romulo
Justice Secretary: Juan Ponce Enrile
Agriculture: Hernando Lopez
Labor: Blas Ople
Education: Onofre Cruz
Defense: Armando Mata
Health Secretary: Ernesto Corpus
I know there’s a lot of them, its on the tip of my tongue, o my gosh! someone help me please hahaha.
When I asked my parents who’s Ninoy was, they told me that he is the opponent of President Marcos, a better man than the President. My parents told me that do not talk anything to anybody of what they told me- these makes me more curious- i told my peers in the school of what my parents have told me about Ninoy and who my parents think killed him, a teacher approached and warned me not to talk about this matter in school.yes, my parents was right-curiosity kills. A couple of years come, people are busy in a Yes or No vote- i still do not know why they need to have an election in changing the constitution- i say to myself- these people are crazy- they are campaigning for Yes and the others for No, and it is easy to change the constitution , just make a new one and throw the old one in the garbage- anyways I do really adore Ninoy- he did make a change for the better. Sana mayroon pang isang tulad ni Ninoy na magbibigay lakas sa mga Filipno para labanan ang corruption at katiwalian ng kasalukuyang gobyerno.
nosi balasi
August 24th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
today, the present government wants to change our form of government without a yes or no vote election. kasi nga pede naman niyang gamitin ang kongreso-kasi nga hawak niya lahat-lahat mula ulo hanggang paa ang kongreso. syempre, sasabihin ni congressman na siya ang tinatawag na mamamayan dahil sila ay representante ng kanilang mga nasasakupang distrito.
Noonoy
August 25th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
@lin de Haan
how can you fix the present if you don’t know very well what happened in the past? never mind the future it’ll take care of itself.
the reason Filipinos are looking back at Ninoy’s “execution” was that
1. the real reason why he was executed is still a mystery
2. the mastermind of the execution are still roaming around Philippine society occupying powerful seats in both the government and private institutions
for each and every new president that will come along nothing will change unless and until a cultural revolution takes place in the same magnitude as what happened with China and Singapore.