AUGUST 21, NINOY AQUINO DAY

President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972. Senator Benigno "NINOY" Servillano Aquino Jr. was imprisoned 2 days after the declaration due to charges of murder, illegal possession of firearms and subversion. Ninoy went into hunger strike. He fasted for 40 days that almost caused him his precious life.
In March 1980, He was rushed to the Philippine Heart Center due to heart attack. While in the hospital, he again suffered a second attack that was diagnosed caused by a blocked artery. Fearing that foul play might happen, he refused to be operated by Philippine doctors. On May 1980, he was allowed to leave the Philippines to have his surgery in the United States. He had his by-pass operation in a hospital in Dallas, Texas. He spent 3 years with his family in Newton, Massachusetts.
In the first quarter of 1983 he heard of the worsening political status of the Philippines, that made him decide to go back.

August 21, 1983.....from Taipei (where Ninoy had his last stopover), China Airlines Flight CI 811 touchdown the Manila International Airport at around 1PM. Boarding the plane was the number 1 Marcos administration oppositionist Senator Benigno"Ninoy" Servillano Aquino Jr. While taking his steps down the plane, gunshots were heard. The youngest senator, Ninoy Aquino lies lifeless on the tarmac shot by an unknown assasins beside him lying dead was the body of Rolando Galman, who was then pointed out as the gunman but later on turned out to be a fall guy.
Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino has been anticipating this to happen as he was quoted saying "I'll be wearing a bullet proof vest but that is only good for the body, but for the head there's nothing we can do" hours before his departure from Taipei in an interview at the Taipei Grand Hotel.  He even told mediamen who was with him on the flight " you have to be ready with your and camera because this action can become very fast. In a matter of 3 to 4 minutes it could be all over, I may not be able to talk to again after this."
His death led Filipinos to revolt against the Marcos Administration. His death, eventually fulfilled the Filipinos dream of having a democratic country. His wife Corazon Aquino led the 1986 People Power Revolution that ended the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand Marcos.