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Starring Bea Alonzo as Corazon “Cory” Aquino and Piolo Pascual as Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
The episode begins with a recap of the last episode. Following that, we see detained politicians and personalities answering to a roll call in a detention camp, among them Ninoy Aquino. His family, meanwhile, is at the Cojuangco residence watching Marcos proclaiming Martial Law on TV. Cory tells her family about Ninoy's detention at Fort Bonifacio. They visit him at the prison where they are subject to humiliating strip checks.
Cory and the children tell Ninoy about what has happened; he tries to persuade them to go into exile but they disagree. In prison, Ninoy and one other prisonmate talk about people's attitudes on Martial Law. On 27 November 1972, Ninoy celebrates his birthday in jail with Cory and his prisonmates; they sing a chorus of Jose Corazon de Jesus's “Bayan Ko.” A montage shows prisoners being released, but Ninoy remains in solitary confinement. The Aquinos celebrate Christmas in advance.
The narrator, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, relates how Ninoy wrote his memoirs in prison, smuggled out through candy wrappers. On 12 March 1973, Ninoy is made incommunicado; Cory has difficulty learning of his whereabouts. It is revealed that he was placed in solitary confinement at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. Ninoy's family visits him there. At home, they are distraught, but none more so than Mrs. Aquino. Eventually, he is returned to Fort Bonifacio after a month in solitary detention.
Ninoy exhorts his children in another letter, which is read over another montage. He misses Ballsy's 18th birthday. Later, he writes the poem for Cory which Jose Mari Chan later set to song, as the song plays in the background. He goes on hunger strike in protest against the regime, supported by his wife. He later ends his strike after 40 days, following a sharp note from a priest (identified there as Fr. Horacio de la Costa, SJ). Ninoy is given leave to celebrate his daughter's graduation. On 11 October 1979, Ninoy and Cory celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary at home, under military escort.
After suffering from a heart attack, Ninoy receives an offer from Imelda Marcos for him to go into exile in America. His family joins him in exile in Newton, MA, and celebrate their first Christmas there in 1981. He continues to speak out against the Marcos regime, Ballsy narrates. Ninoy's 1981 remarks in Los Angeles are played. Cory tries to dissuade Ninoy from returning. He insists on returning alone, discussing the consequences of his return, including possible assassination. He bids his family farewell. In August 1983, Ninoy returns home to the Philippines. He is assassinated on 21 August after writing his last letter to Cory from Taipei and calling his family from there. A final montage shows Ninoy's funeral and President Corazon C. Aquino assuming power. The special episode ends with her funeral, with a final word from Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and Charo Santos-Concio.
MMK: "Makinilya" excerpt. (BeaLloydieBeLievers)
Photo: “Corazon Aquino” by philippinepresidency , c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved.
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