The Power Couple

I waited with caffeine-stricken mind and palpitating heart (LOL, I drank coffee around 7 in the evening) for 10:45 PM last night to catch “The Last Journey of Ninoy”. It’s a documentary produced by the Benigno Aquino Jr. Foundation and Unitel Productions. For someone like me who’s a Post-EDSA baby, I needed some outside boost so that I wouldn’t droop while watching such a relevant and historical production that would give me a better insight on how to better appreciate my freedom as a Filipino.

 Ninoy Aquino, I believe, was marked with an important mission before he came to Earth (and specifically, to the islands of the Philippines). His character, his passion, and his determination just came serendipitously together in order to make a hero out of him. How intense he was during that speech when he was asserting his convictions about Marcos’ desire to save the democracy but by imposing his iron hand he killed it. 

“What can one man do? I have no money, I have no army. I only have my indomitable spirit.”

But he wasn’t just one man, he’s THE man. His mind was set to set the country free, and his faith, though tested countless of times, was unwavering. I was especially touched with his incarceration in Nueva Ecija. When he didn’t have anything with him and he shared that during those hard times he would fiddle his fingers, walk from side to side in his 4×5 room, count seconds to minutes to hours until he would fall asleep.  With that he knew what loneliness means. Oh man, the tears in my eyes were just flooding. More so when Cory and her children went there for a visit and they couldn’t really hold each other because a chicken wire stood between them. Wahwahwah. 

Watching the whole film reinforced in me the idea that in achieving your heart’s greatest desire, a lot of sacrifices would definitely have to be made, and a lot of hardships will have to be gone through. And I remembered what one of the priests said (I forgot his name, my memory gap bad) during Cory’s necrological service that those who are gifts from God shall suffer. Suffering, then is an essential element in the fulfillment of a particular purpose.

Cory and Ninoy’s love for each other is just so amazing it makes me cry. Much more than their love for the country, I can’t help but admire how strong their love for each other was and how they brought the best in each other,  how they kept their faith in God and in each other, as what Cory has shared in her final interview. Amazing Power Couple who became important catalysts for People Power. 

Ninoy’s final words in the film, which are actually part of his tear-jerking and riveting love letter for Cory, just tore me, but hopefully in a good way.

“I’ll try to call you tonight if the authorities will allow me. Otherwise just remember me in your dreams.”

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. True love. True love. True love. Lucky are those who get to know True Love and get to Save the World (or a Country, at least) at the same time.

And with all the cheesiness aside, I’m just so proud as a Filipino, sharing this race with two of the greatest Filipinos that ever lived.

Photo credit: Tribute to Ninoy