21/08/2026
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On ๐๐ฒ๐ท๐ธ๐ ๐๐บ๐พ๐ฒ๐ท๐ธ ๐๐ช๐, we remember Benigno โNinoyโ Aquino Jr. and the political history surrounding his life, opposition to the Marcos dictatorship, and assassination in 1983. His story remains an important part of the countryโs historyโnot simply because of the person he was, but because of the political circumstances and national struggles that surrounded his life and death.
But remembering Ninoy Aquino should not mean glorifying the Aquino-Cojuangco family or placing its political legacy beyond criticism. The Aquino-Cojuangcos are part of a political dynastyโone that must be examined within the larger structure of Philippine politics, where political power is repeatedly concentrated among a small number of families.
This is also inseparable from the question of class and land ownership. The Aquino-Cojuangco family has roots in the landed elite, reflecting the historical role of landowning families whose economic power has long been intertwined with political influence. The concentration of land, wealth, and political power among powerful families is not simply a matter of surnames; it is connected to the structures that determine who has access to political power and whose interests are represented in government.
Recognizing Ninoy Aquinoโs opposition to the Marcos dictatorship does not require ignoring these realities. Opposing one dictatorship does not automatically place a political family beyond criticism. Historical figures must be understood within the social class, political institutions, and economic structures in which they operated.
As ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, we carry the responsibility to teach history beyond memorization. Our classrooms should become spaces where learners can ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, and distinguish historical understanding from political worship.
Ninoy Aquinoโs story invites us to look beyond a name, a photograph, or a familiar narrative. It encourages us to examine the circumstances of his time, the consequences of political decisions, and the continuing influence of political families in our democracy.
Today, we rememberโnot to place anyone beyond criticism, but to recognize that every chapter of our history deserves to be studied with ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐, ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ , and ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก.
๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐
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https://halalan.up.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Temario-Rivera-In-Search-of-Credible-Elections-and-Parties-The-Philippine-Paradox-Chasing-the-Wind.pdf?
https://old.pcij.org/stories/the-seven-ms-of-dynasty-building
https://www.bulatlat.com/2004/11/28/the-hacienda-luisita-massacre-how-it-happened/
https://www.bulatlat.com/special-archives-hacienda-luisita-and-agrarian-reform/
https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/wealth/family-matters-the-aquino-and-cojuangco-aquino-clans
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โ๏ธ: Kazumie Dantes | Publication Committee
๐ผ: Saldy Bejo Jr. | Publication Committee