iamninoy

Last August 2008, I made my own SuperDog tribute to the great Ninoy Aquino that was featured and included in the iamninoy project. My blog was removed this year with no valid reason and I am still barking and waiting for Blogger to restore that award-winning blog. So to restore the link to my iamninoy tribute I am reprinting my tribute (with special thanks to Google who provided the missing article!):




iamninoy
by Sweepy


Almost 25 years ago
a man decided to return home
from living abroad in exile
with his family.


He went home
even when there's a threat to his life.


He went home
because he wants
to take a stand
against a Dictator.


He went home
to give hope
to the hopeless
and the helpless
because maybe,
he remembered a great advice
"you are your brother's keeper"


He went home
because these people
are also his family
his brothers and sisters . . .
and they needed people like him
to make them remember
that they are not forgotten.


He went home
because he wanted
to offer peace
to those who wanted him killed
and possibly,
to offer solutions too
to change the world for the better.


He went home
armed only with faith
and hope in his heart
and the love of his country
and his trust in God.


He went home
and was killed
before he can even
take the first step
back to his homeland.

And his gruesome death
inspired people everywhere
to have the courage
to take a stand
for freedom
and justice.


I need not be in exile.
I need not be in a dilemma
of having to come home
when my life is threatened.
But the real threats
exist in my life too
and with all the animals around the world.


Like the man
who dared dream
and dared pursue his quest
for peace,
and for a better life,
I join Ninoy
and all the other men like him
and all the animals who chose
to change the world for the better . . .


I Am Ninoy too.
I chose to take a stand.



I chose to remember
and make that memory serve me
and my fellow beings
when I take courage and hope
for a world without war
cruelty, abuse, neglect,
and discrimination.


Ninoy, hindi ka nag-iisa.
(You Are Not Alone)




Ninoy Aquino, a former senator and opposition leader, was killed on August 21, 1983 at the Manila International Airport on his return from self exile in the United States.

The iamninoy project was inspired by rock star and activist Bono to fight HIV and AIDS and bicycle racer Lance Armstrong for his campaign to help people with cancer by offering products to raise funds and create awareness for their campaigns.

This article was posted under the http://sweepyinheaven.blogspot/2008/08/iamninoy.html on August 22, 2008 whose link is presently disabled. Except for the photographs (the one above was taken only in August 2009) the post is reprinted and copied from last year's archive.