Ninoy

Today is "Ninoy Aquino Day" in the Philippines, a holiday dedicated to one of the most important political figures in modern Philippine history. We were in the Philippines when he was assassinated (it's still not quite clear by whose trigger finger), though we were in Atlanta when the resulting People Power Revolution occurred in 1986. He was an enormously popular figure--I remember the street protests that took place in 84 and 85, as Ninoy's martyrdom sparked popular resistance to the Marcos regime (yeah, it was his wife with all the shoes).

Twenty years ago. . . doesn't seem possible that much time has gone by. I know that for most of us, the whole Ninoy/Marcos/People Power thing was a minor sidenote--but it's important for me to remember. I still feel a strong tie to that country.