BY MARCHEL P. ESPINA
The General Alliance of Workers Associations is commemorating the 37th death anniversary today of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.
Wennie Sancho, GAWA secretary-general, said they remember the life of Aquino with a highly resolved determination to never forget his sacrifices by way of honoring his memory to carry on his valiant struggle as immortalized in his words: “I believe the cause delaying our liberation may be found in ourselves, in our reluctance to assert our rights and frontally confront the forces of evil. We are afraid to die and our fear has immobilized us. We have forged our own chains with our cowardice”.
For GAWA, this is the challenge that Filipinos have to face in the midst of political oppression to honor the declaration of Aquino that the Filipino is worth dying for.
“We shall always remember the precious blood he shed and the life he has given. The death of Ninoy brings to mind his heroism for leading the onward march so that freedom would not be lost. Ninoy was a messenger who inspired us into action,” he said.
He added, “Our legacy from Ninoy was that he gave us our pride, not the arrogant and conceited pride that goes before a fall, but a pride that means self-confidence and strength or much more than that, self-respect…Ninoy is a shining light in the midst of the still encroaching darkness.”
He said that Aquino is a hero and he put all his fears and pettiness behind him and stepped bravely to meet his appointment with destiny and death.*
