Speech of Senator Benigno S. Aquino III at the Dilaw
Para Sa Pagbabago Gathering
Ayala Ave., Makati City. August 21, 2009

Lately, I have noticed that every turn I take is a reminder of something great.

It seems every corner I look to, every street I pass, almost every building has been designed with a constant picture of how great our country is.

Everywhere I looked, there was yellow.

Ito ay tunay na nakatataba ng puso. Ang aming pamilya ay patuloy na nagpapasalamat sa inyong paggunita ng mga sakripisyo ng aming magulang na si Ninoy at Cory.

Ito po ay paalala sa amin, at sa buong bansa na ang mga sakripisyo ng aking mga magulang ay buhay pa rin sa mga puso ng mga Pilipino.

Ngayong araw po ay muli nating binibigyang parangal at ginugunita ang pagbubuwis ng buhay ng aking ama para sa bansa na kayang patuloy na pinaniwalaan hanggang sa huli.

Back in 1973, my father, Ninoy Aquino wrote a letter to the Military Commission saying, "I have faith in the Filipino. I believe that with all the resources at his disposal and given the facts and the truth, the Filipino can resolve any difficulty and achieve his vision of a good and just society."

It was with great courage and strength that he stood up against injustice and stood his ground in full belief that the Filipino is capable of lighting that candle of hope.

Pagkalipas ng ilang taon, isang simpleng maybahay na si Corazon Aquino ang naging patunay sa wikain ng aking ama na kapag sandata mo ang katotohanan, ang pagbabago ay iyong makakamit.

Ang aking mga magulang ay kinilala ng ating bansa at pati ang buong mundo sa kanilang kagitingan. Kinilala sila at hinangaan sa kanilang pakikibaka laban sa mga yumuyurak sa karapatan ng mga Pilipino.

Masasabi ko po na sila ay ordinaryong mga mamamayan. Sila po ay mga ordinaryong mamamayan na naatasan na gampanan ang malaking responsibilidad sa mga hindi pangkaraniwang pangyayari. Sa bawat pagkakataon na sila ay kailangang magdesisyon, doon sila sa kung ano ang makakabuti para sa inyo, mga minamahal nilang kababayan.

Both Ninoy and Cory had an abiding faith that deepened in times of adversities. This faith in the guiding power of God and faith in genuine democracy gave them courage and direction.

Sa kanilang paniniwala, hindi kailangan ang dahas at hindi kailangan ang pagdanak ng dugo upang muling magtipon-tipon at magtagumpay ang taong bayan sa pagsulong ng iisang adhikain.

They both believed so much in this nation and the power of each individual to effect change through peaceful means. In their minds, the key to our country's long-term stability is to encourage consensus-building in place of dictation; and to practice persuasion in place of coercion and oppression.

Today, we take a step further and continue the mission of Ninoy and Cory and pursue the vision of our countrymen. It is now our turn to keep and secure the democracy that they both have fought for - a society where each and every individual is equally important.

In a democracy, everybody contributes to the improvement of society. This is its very heart and essence. However, with freedom and opportunity comes responsibility. This is a burden that we all must share.

When people come together, like today, to push for a common cause, to be there for each other, in those moments, we can truly say that democracy is alive. No force of evil can match the strength of a people willing to put the welfare of others before themselves.

Both my parents advocated simplicity and humility. I may be aware of my strengths, but I am doubly aware of my weaknesses. Alone, I may make a small difference, but together, we can achieve significant change. What our fate will be tomorrow depends on how we choose to act today - and if we will choose to act together. Truly, as my father once told me- "the ball is now in our hands."