Today is a National non-working holiday in the Philippines. In Filipino, this day is commonly known as ‘Araw ng Kabayanihan ni Ninoy Aquino’. This holiday commemorates the assassination of former Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr. in 1983 at then, Manila International Airport, now known as Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
His wife, Corazon Aquino, who later became President of the Philippines, and as a couple, are seen as two heroes of democracy in the Philippines.
This was first celebrated in 2004 after the Republic Act 9256. It was included as part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s program of ‘holiday economics’, which adjusted the date of public holidays so that they would be taken on the nearest Monday to boost the tourism industry with long weekends. It was moved back to its original date by the late President Benigno Aquino III (Ninoy’s only son) in 2010.
