Members of the August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) led a wreath-laying ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Friday, August 21, 2026, commemorating the 43rd death anniversary of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
The solemn ceremony was held at the site where Aquino was assassinated on August 21, 1983, shortly after returning to the Philippines from exile in the United States. His death became a defining moment in Philippine history and fueled widespread opposition to the Marcos dictatorship, eventually contributing to the 1986 People Power Revolution.
NHCP Chair Regalado Trota Jose Jr. led the flower offering, joined by representatives from ATOM, the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission, Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, Project Gunita, Chino Roces Foundation, NAMSERV, and Earthsaver.
The commemoration honored Aquino’s legacy and remembered the significance of the airport as the place where his life was cut short. The ceremony also underscored the continuing importance of remembering the events surrounding his assassination and their impact on the country’s democratic history.
The event followed a visit by members of the Aquino family to NAIA Terminal 1 on Thursday, August 20, to see the relocated historical marker dedicated to Ninoy. Led by his eldest daughter, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, the family viewed the marker at its new location along the improved arrivals curbside, directly in front of the repositioned “Ninoy Aquino International Airport” signage.
The marker bears the date August 21, 1983, and describes the airport site as sacred ground where Aquino shed his blood for truth, justice, peace, and freedom. Its relocation prominently places the historical marker beneath the airport’s name, reinforcing the connection between NAIA and one of the most consequential events in modern Philippine history.
For ATOM, the annual commemoration serves as a continuing reminder of the sacrifice associated with Aquino’s name and the democratic struggle that followed his assassination.
Ninoy Aquino Day is being observed this year on August 21 as a special non-working national holiday, 43 years after the former senator was killed at the airport that now bears his name.
