The Demo Site

The Filipino community in Vienna, Austria held a mass to commemorate the 26th death anniversary of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.

The mass officiated by Fr. Ron Sandoval recollected the life and sacrifices of Sen. Ninoy Aquino for the Filipino people and for the Philippines.

Sandoval recalled that in the first quarter of 1983, Ninoy received news about the shaky political situation in the Philippines and the rumored deteriorating health of former President Marcos’s.

He recounted that Ninoy decided to go back to the Philippines fully aware of the dangers that awaited him.

He said Ninoy wanted to help prepare the nation for an orderly and peaceful transition in case Marcos' illness worsens. He added that Ninoy knew that unless this was done, a power grab by right wing opportunists would bring the nation into further turmoil under a more oppressive regime.

Lito Gaspar told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau that he has very limited knowledge about the life of Ninoy. He knows that Ninoy is the father of actress and television host Kris Aquino and that he was assassinated at the airport.

“When I was in school in the Philippines we did not talk much about him,” he said.

However, after reading stories about the late senator, Gaspar came to realize and appreciate Ninoy’s many contributions to the country.

“I admire his courage to stand up and contradict a powerful man like Marcos. I wish Filipinos would appreciate him and his ideals,” Gaspar said.

Violeta Gerstl said “Ninoy Aquino’s ultimate sacrifice for our homeland is yet to be compensated”.

She added “his vision for social equality and economic upliftment of marginalized Filipinos are still an elusive dream. I hope he did not die in vain. He is a great Filipino and I will always cherish his memory. His love for his country and people are paramount than his own life.”

Robert Nemec, an Austrian who was in the Philippines during the EDSA Revolution in 1986 commented that Ninoy’s “death ignited the hearts of every Filipino who longed for freedom and were long sufferers of a country governed by a dictator. His death catapulted the EDSA Revolution, famously known as People Power.
Filipinos and Austrians who attended the mass acknowledged that Ninoy contributed a lot for the Filipinos. They regard Ninoy as a good role model and an inspiration to Filipinos.


Source URL:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/22/09/pinoys-vienna-pay-tribute-ninoy