by Jose A.P. Ampeso*
To many Filipinos, Ninoy Aquinos assassination in August of 1983 was a very tragic incident. The dreadful loss of his life was a supreme sacrifice that spelled the beginning of the end of Ferdinand Marcos hedonistic rule, indeed well beyond the bounds of democratic processes.
My personal view of Ninoy was that of an elderly though youthful, vibrant but well-grounded journalist-turned politician of post World War I vintage, among the several brilliant colleagues of his time. For sure, he was a new player on the bloc, one sort of in- a-hurry. From Governor of Tarlac in 1965, he was in 1967 elected as senator, the lone one from the opposition Liberal Party to survive the senatorial rout (7 pro-administration Nacionalista Party winners) in the Marcos administration part I. Indeed, he was making a catch-up with or against a shrewd and veteran political leader (then Pres. F. E. Marcos who was a proven scholar and bar topnotcher who suffered the rigors of World War II, and fought himself to the top of Philippine politics, having won the Philippine presidency twice)!
I belong to the Diliman batch 1968 of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Asias oldest born and greatest known greek-lettered Fraternity, having been established in 1918 (just a decade after U.P.s foundation). Fellows Ferdinand E. Marcos and Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. were among the more well-known Brods, having undergone initiations in 1937 and 1950, respectively.
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*Editors Note: The author is an member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi, UPs University Students Fraternity. He joined the Upsilon in 1968, with Ninoy Aquino having joined earlier in 1950. This is an excerpt from his personal account of the authors fraternal and personal association with Ninoy, especially up to his last days. It was originally written on July 20, 2002, and subsequently published in the book We Gather Light to Scatter: Ninety Years of Upsilon Sigma Phi.
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