Timeline : Benigno Aquino, Jr.

1950 à At the age of 17, Ninoy Aquino was sent by the manila times to cover the war in Korea.

1954 àAs assistant to President Ramon Magsaysay he negotiated the surrender of HUK leader, Luis Taruc.

1955 àHe was elected the youngest mayor of conception, Tarlac, at the age of 22.

1959 à He was elected vice-governor at 26.

1961 à He assured the gubernatorial post of Tarlac.

1963 à He was elected governor.

1967 à He was allowed to run for senator only after deliberation regarding his underage status. He won a seat and became secretary-general of the liberal party.

1968 - 1971 à He was outstanding senator as voted yearly by the Philippine free press.

August 21, 1971 à Bombs exploded at the liberal party rally in plaza Miranda, injuring most of the opposition senatorial candidates and opposition senators. Senator Ninoy Aquino who had not yet arrived when the bomb went off escaped injury. Marcos blamed the attack on communists and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

1972 à Pres. Marcos declares martial law. Ninoy and 30,000 gather were arrested after exposing plans Sagittarius.

November 6, 1972 à Ninoy Aquino was arrested on order of defense secretary Juan Ponce Enrile by Rizal provincial commander, Col. Romeo Gatam in the early morning of September 23, 1972 at suite 1707 of Hilton Hotel in Manila.

“While in the actual performance of my duties as a senator of republic, it was a few minutes after midnight (Saturday, September 23, 1972) when Colonel Gatan called me up through the hotel inter-phone to inform me that he was in the hotel lobby with an important letter from secretary Enrile addressed to me”

1975 à Ninoy Aquino was tried before a military commission on charge of subversion and other crimes. He went on a 40-day hunger strike that began April 4, 1975 and ended May 13, 1975.

“One of the last basic rights of a human being even of a Prisoner in an army camp is the right to be let alone. If you, gentlemen, deny me this basic Right, by forcing me, against my will and against the dictates of my conscience, to be present in proceedings that are so palpably unconstitutional, illegal and unjust, then I shall have no other alternative but to go on a hunger strike , as a form of silent protest against a procedure that is intended to a press conference announced their break with Marcos. Cardinal sin appealed for people’s support over radio Veritas. Masses of people flocked to EDSA, giving birth to the first people power revolt which toppled the Marcos dictatorship.”

November 1977 à The marcos military commission sentenced Ninoy Aquino to death by firing squad.

1978 à Ninoy Aquino led the Lakas Ng Bayan(LABAN) ticket in Metro Manila for Batasang Pambansa elections while in prison. A successful first year “noise barrage” took place in Metro Manila on April 6, 1978.

1983 September 21 à While the government celebrated the declaration of martial law, Ninoy Aquino supporters held a “National Day of Sorrow” at Liwasang Bonifacio.

"I return from exile to an uncertain future with only determination and faith to offer - faith in our people and faith in God."

(Prepared Arrival Statement of Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. | August 21, 1983)

On August 21, 1983 à Ninoy Aquino was assassinated at the manila national airport.

1980 - 1983 à Ninoy Aquino was allowed to go to the United States for heart surgery. He received fellowships from Harvard University and Massachusetts institute of technology.