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Yellow ribbons for Ninoy’s 20th year Streets in Metro Manila will be decorated with yellow ribbons for all of next week starting on Monday to commemorate the 20th death anniversary of the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., the organizing committee said Wednesday. Loretta Lina, executive director of the EDSA People Power Commission, said that Metro Manila will turn yellow during the affair, dubbed “Remembering Ninoy,” to be held from August 18 to 21. “All freedom-loving Filipinos are invited to participate in any of the following activities to honor the great martyr of the nation,” Lina said, adding that the death of Aquino will be commemorated nationwide. The EDSA commission members expressed hope that the activities will help leaders of the country and the new generation to remember the great sacrifice done by Ninoy for the country to achieve democracy. Victoria Garchitorena, commission cochairman, said the recent coup attempt is different from the military uprising which was supported by the people fighting martial law and the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand Marcos. “We suffered extremely, suffered for our freedom. The situation before [compared to] now is really different,” Garchitorena said. The commission said the coup plotters against Marcos should not take sole credit for the ouster of the dictator because the EDSA revolt succeeded with the support of the people. Members of the commission warned the people that such democracy achieved now should be protected for “the price of democracy is ‘eternal vigilance.’” Although
President Arroyo declared August 22 a public holiday to commemorate
Aquino’s death anniversary, the commission said there will be a
nationwide celebration after officials from other regions already
extended their support by displaying yellow ribbons in their plazas and
streets on August 18.
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