President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday, August 21, 2025, issued a statement on the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day, urging Filipinos to choose peace and reconciliation as the nation reflects on the legacy of the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
In his message, Marcos called the day an opportunity for “sobriety, conscience, and foresight,” stressing that the lessons of history should guide governance and public service.
“History invites reflection more than reaction, and from that reflection arises a clearer understanding of civic duty,” he said.
The message carries added weight given the longstanding political rivalry between the Aquino and Marcos families.
Aquino Jr. was assassinated in 1983 during the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., an event that fueled public outrage and ultimately led to the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos regime.
Despite this history, Marcos Jr. emphasized reconciliation, saying the observance signals the nation's readiness to uphold leadership that strives toward unity.
“Through this observance, we advance the work of statecraft: disciplined, steady, and shaped by the enduring imperative to choose peace above quarrel, and dignity beyond differences,” he stated.
Marcos concluded his message by calling for a solemn and meaningful remembrance of the day, which marks the assassination of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in 1983, a turning point in Philippine democracy.
