Interviews compiled by TITA C. VALDERAMA

SIDDHARTA PEÑAREDONDO
33, young professional

Ninoy Aquino was assassinated at a time when I was barely conscious of what was happening around me — unless it directly affected recess and play time. However, I do remember the consequence of his death and the revolution that ended a regime.

His bravery, selflessness and patriotism strike me when I hear his name. I agree with him that the Filipino is worth dying for, but nobody has filled his shoes since 1983.

Honestly, I cannot recall if his life was taught intensively like Rizal or Bonifacio, but I do know bits and pieces from what I hear from my parents and what I read from the papers every time we celebrate EDSA and observe his death anniversary.

I do know that he was a maverick of his time. He did not advocate violence and he was brilliant as he was dangerous to the Marcos regime. He did not advocate his interests but was a feisty defender for what he was not: poor, underprivileged, desperate, and oppressed.

He is a hero, no doubt about that. But I have serious apprehensions (over whether or not) the younger generations know enough of him. In my case, I would be oblivious were it not for the papers. I'm not an authority to label (anyone) a ‘hero.’ But maybe he really is; he had a choice, he knew what was coming, but he went ahead. Maybe, like all heroes, he (thought) beyond himself. And maybe, just maybe, he knew that his death meant the birth of a revolution. If that is not what makes a hero, then you tell me what does.

JOSEPH HENRY ESPIRITU
35, overseas Filipino worker (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Ninoy Aquino was a very intelligent person, a very popular statesman, a brave freedom-fighter during the Marcos years. He deserves to be considered a hero. Then again, the recognition accorded him should be given to many others. Why are those like Macario Sakay, Lapu-lapu, and Dagohoy not given a similar day of recognition? What is the difference between what they fought for with those of Ninoy?  

August 21, 1983 was the first time I heard about Ninoy Aquino. The headline in all radio and television stations: "Ninoy Aquino assassinated." But when he died, I felt nothing. I didn’t know who he was, but I had all kinds of questions: Why do people look like the world ended? Why was their sadness that deep?

At that time, I had no way of knowing what it was like without martial law. When I was born, there was already martial law. (Now I know) freedom is worth dying for. The Philippines is worth dying for. I think that was what Ninoy meant when he said the Filipino is worth dying for.

Hope blossomed after Ninoy's death…hope for a new life, hope for good governance, hope for freedom from martial law, hope for a better Philippines. But hope remained just that — hope. Corruption, election cheating, and power-tripping are still there. Nothing has changed, just new faces and new names.  Hunger for power, money, and fame…I lost hope in the Filipino (because of these). Ninoy fought against these, but things have just gotten much worse than if they were under martial law. At least under martial law, you expected them, but now, politicians are just blatantly greedy and selfish.

The present and future generations of Filipinos should continue to look up to Ninoy Aquino as a freedom fighter. He should be emulated because he did not care what he would lose once he took up the fight for freedom, for our rights, and for justice. We regained our freedom at the cost of his life. We were on the brink of real change, but the leaders we have had after we got our freedom back destroyed what Ninoy had fought for.

The Filipino is worth dying for? In these times perhaps we have to define first who the real Filipino is and what makes him or her one.

JOAQUIN MA. TAMANO JR.
45, corporate executive

I was in college with a political science major when it happened in 1983. He did sacrifice himself for the country. He fought Marcos. But I was just curious. Did he fight Marcos for the sake of fighting Marcos, because he hated Marcos? Or did he really do it for the country? 

Parang sa coin, Ninoy was just the other side of Marcos. They both belonged to privileged families. Was it just a competition between two influential leaders? Looking back, it appears that it was only toward the end that it became something for the country. It looked like a clash between two political families that until today persists. We still have the same old system, the same old faces, and it goes back to history from World War II. 

To me, Ninoy's greatest contribution is still to his family. He has left his family politically safe. Cory became president, his son Noynoy became senator. 

Yes, we had democracy, but for whom? The years after Marcos brought us more hell. The rebels regained strength because of the peace talks.  In political science, democracy means having a strong middle class, a strong check and balance, but do we have that?  

I am not for Marcos, but in fairness, Marcos did a lot of good, but after he was ousted, everything identified with Marcos was dropped, no matter how good it was.

BIENVENIDA T. VALCOS
42, public school principal (Bulacan)

Ninoy was a disciplined public servant, a great Malay with dignity, compassion, integrity, and strong determination. He had an immeasurable love for freedom and democracy. He is a leader who stood for the truth no matter what is at stake, even his life, and his family. He is a man that any Filipino should emulate. He was imprisoned and yet he became like a Spartan. He was chained and yet he resisted. His sacrifices were incomparable. He tirelessly fought to free all Filipinos from the bondage of dictatorship of a stinking government. He did this for a worthy cause.  

When he was killed, I felt I lost my own father. A great pillar had fallen. My heart mourned. I asked myself, "Is there any freedom left for the future?" The villain had snatched the life of the precious leading actor, the director had aborted a scene and the channel for great reform was buried six feet under the ground. And we Filipinos were in despair over his untimely death.