
From 1972 to 1980, Philippine Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was imprisoned by the dictator under the Martial Law Regime. He was tried on treason on 1978 under a mock military court and was sentenced to death via firing squad. He went on hunger strike for forty days which led to his subsequent heart attack in Fort Bonifacio while jogging on the premises of his prison. He was taken to Philippine Heart Center and was diagnose of a heart block, prompting the doctors to inform him that he needed an immediate triple by pass surgery. Ninoy however refused the offer but instead asked to be taken to the United States to undergo the same procedure. Imelda Marcos on a surprise visit to his suit at the Heart Center offered him to go to the United States together with his family. At 6 pm that day, Ninoy, together with Cory and three of his children went to the US where they stayed in exile up to 1983.
On the United States, Ninoy and his family stayed in Boston, took the Fellowship in Harvard University and traveled all over the US in giving seminars and speeches. On February 15, 1981, Ninoy was invited to give a talk in a Freedom Rally Symposium spearhead by a group called Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) held at Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, California. In the said symposium, both Filipino and American guests was awestruck on the Senator’s dynamic and eloquence. Naturally articulate, Ninoy talked about his experience, conversion and sufferings inside his prison for seven long years.
Below is the complete videos of the only recorded speech of Ninoy in the United States. For the full text transcript of this speech, CLICK HERE (Special thanks to NinoyAquinoTV for this 9 parts Videos)
[...] Below is the full text transcript of the only recorded speech of Ninoy in the United States. To watch the complete speech of Ninoy on video, CLICK HERE [...]