06 September 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw, together with members of the Filipino community as well as Polish and other foreign guests, paid tribute to the memory and legacies of the Philippines’ modern-day heroes, namely, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and Secretary Jesse Robredo last August 31.
In her remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Poland Patricia Ann V. Paez said that “Senator Aquino’s death was the spark that ignited the prairie fire of the People Power Revolution in 1986. The dictator was ousted through non-violent means as Ninoy had wanted. The Filipino people regained their birthright to freedom for which Ninoy Aquino made the ultimate sacrifice.”
“A legacy of Ninoy Aquino is the legacy of courage of conviction - that you must be ready to stand up for what is right, against all odds. Indeed, ‘anyone who cannot stand up for anything, will fall for everything.’ His other legacy is his fierce love of nation and country before oneself,” the Ambassador added.
Speaking of Jesse Robredo, the Philippine envoy stressed:
“In all his years in government, Robredo had shunned the perks and privileges that usually come with power. This reminds me of a quote which says: ‘To know a person’s true character, give him power.’ He led a very simple lifestyle and I think I know the reason. He must have derived his sense of self-esteem and found gratification, not through the accumulation and display of material wealth. He derived them from rendering genuine public service and by remaining an authentic person who cares for the welfare of those who have less in life.”
“Jesse Robredo’s name was unblemished by graft and corruption. His legacies are excellence in governance and selfless service to people and country. As Robredo said: ‘The mission of public servants is ‘to serve; not to be served.’
Urging the members of the Filipino community to emulate Robredo and Aquino, Ambassador Paez said:
“By our humble and simple day-to-day deeds, we could emulate Jesse Robredo and Ninoy Aquino. As our President Benigno C. Aquino III said: ‘...each and every Filipino carries the potential to bring about lasting transformation in society. Let the heroes in each of us thrive in our everyday words and action, in service of the greater good.”
In closing, she quoted our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal who said: “It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming part of any edifice.”
Mr. Ronaldo Farrales of Pinoys in Poland also shared his thoughts on the legacies of Aquino and Robredo and paid homage to their heroism and patriotism.
Video documentaries entitled “Tsinelas Leadership” by the Kaya Natin Movement and “The Assassination of Benigno Aquino” by the History Channel were shown during the commemorative event.
August 18 was the first death anniversary of Sec. Robredo. August 21 was the 30th death anniversary of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.
BELOW IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE REMARKS OF AMBASSADOR PATRICIA ANN V. PAEZ ENTITLED “REMEMBERING THE LEGACIES OF OUR MODERN-DAY HEROES: SENATOR BENIGNO AQUINO, JR. AND SECRETARY JESSE ROBREDO” DELIVERED ON 31 AUGUST 2013, EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES, WARSAW, POLAND:
Magandang gabi sa lahat. Good evening to all.
Tonight, we honor the memory and legacies of two Filipino modern-day heroes.
August 18 was the 1st death anniversary of Jesse Robredo. August 21 was the 30th death anniversary of Senator Ninoy Aquino.
Let us recall their legacies.
Senator Aquino was among those arrested on the day martial law was declared in the Philippines in September 1972. He was detained for 7 years and 7 months. 6 years of these detention were in solitary confinement.
In 1980, the martial law regime offered to allow him to go to America for a heart operation because he refused to submit himself to doctors prescribed by the authoritarian government.
In America, he continued his fight against the dictatorship and his crusade to restore democracy. Speaking before the Asia Society in New York in 1980, he delivered his famous line: “The Filipino is worth dying for.”
Indeed, in 1983, he decided to return to his Motherland. He was warned many times, by many people, that he would either be imprisoned again, or be assassinated. This was his reaction: “if it’s my fate to die by an assassin’s bullet, so be it. But I cannot be petrified by inaction, or fear of assassination, and therefore, stay in the side.”
On August 21, 1983, immediately upon disembarking from his plane in Manila, he was felled by an assassin’s bullet. He was not able to deliver his prepared statement. It said: “I have returned to join the ranks of those struggling to restore our rights and freedom through non-violence. I seek no confrontation.” (end of quote)
His death was the spark that ignited the prairie fire of the People Power Revolution in 1986. The dictator was ousted through non-violent means as Ninoy had wanted. The Filipino people regained their birthright to freedom for which Ninoy Aquino made the ultimate sacrifice.
A legacy of Ninoy Aquino is the legacy of the courage of conviction - that you must be ready to stand up for what is right, against all odds. Indeed, anyone who cannot stand up for anything, will fall for everything. His other legacy is his fierce love of nation and country before oneself.
Jesse Robredo was involved in the struggle to dismantle martial law and in the People Power Revolution. In 1986, he was inspired by President Corazon Aquino’s call to public service. He gave up a good-paying executive position in a private company in Manila. He returned to his roots, to his hometown Naga, to help it grow and develop. In 1988, he was elected mayor. He upgraded Naga from a third-class to a first-class city. He improved public services and prioritized the needs of the poor. He served as Naga City mayor for almost 20 years and made it one of our country’s premier cities. For this, he was given the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service.
In July 2010, he was appointed Secretary of Interior and Local Government. In 2012, he died in the line of duty; in a plane crash while he was on his way home from a speaking engagement.
In all his years in government, Robredo had shunned the perks and privileges that usually come with power. This reminds me of a quote which says: “To know a person’s true character, give him power.” He led a very simple lifestyle and I think I know the reason. He must have derived his sense of self-esteem and found gratification, not through the accumulation and display of material wealth. He derived them from rendering genuine public service and by remaining an authentic person who cares for the welfare of those who have less in life.
Jessie Robredo’s name was unblemished by graft and corruption. His legacies are excellence in governance and selfless service to people and country. As Robredo said: “The mission of public servants is ‘to serve; not to be served.”
By our humble and simple day-to-day deeds, we could emulate Jesse Robredo and Ninoy Aquino. As our President Benigno Aquino III said: ”.. each and every Filipino carries the potential to bring about lasting transformation in society. Let the heroes in each of us thrive in our everyday words and action, in service of the greater good.”
In closing, please allow me to recall what our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal had imparted, and I quote: “It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice.”
MARAMING SALAMAT PO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. END