Political Career

 Not only was Benigno the youngest mayor, but also became the youngest vice governor of
the nation at the age of 27.
 In 1961, he went on to be the governor of Tarlac province. He was 29 years old.
 In 1966, he became the secretary-general of the Liberal party.
 He set a record again in 1967 by being the youngest ever elected senator at the age of 34.
 As the only member of the Liberal Party in the senate, Benigno was seen to be the biggest
political threat to Ferdinand Marcos. During his first year he warned Marcos that he was well on
the way to establishing a garrison state by his actions, including militarizing the civilian
government.
 It was only four years before he was proven right and martial law was established.
 Aquino was public in his disapproval of the government and Imelda Marcos, whom he said
was extravagant. This angered Ferdinand and he called Aquino a liar. While he was senator,
Aquino was named an outstanding senator by the Philippine Free Press magazine.
 Martial law was declared on September 21, 1972 and Aquino was one of the first to be
arrested on made-up charges of murder, subversion, and firearm violations.
 He went on a 40 day hunger strike to protest the injustices of his trial, and although he was
sentenced to death, his sentence was later commuted, probably because the government did not
want to make him a martyr.

Final Years
 After seven years in prison, Aquino had a heart attack. Imelda Marcos visited him in the
hospital and told him that the United States offered to send him to the U.S. for surgery if he
promised to return and not to speak ill of the government while in the U.S.
 In May of 1980, he made the trip to the U.S. and was operated on in Dallas, Texas. He lived
near Boston, Massachusetts for three years, writing and making public speaking appearances
where he criticized the Marcos government.
 In 1983, Benigno Aquino decided to return to the Philippines. On August 21, 1983, he was
shot in the head as he left the airplane under guard. An investigation did not find the guilty party
or parties. However, after the Marcos government was overthrown another investigation was
launched and 16 people were found guilty and sent to prison.

Ninoy's Legacy
 After Ninoy was killed, his wife Corazon's opposition to Ferdinand Marcos resulted in her
leading the opposition against Marcos.
 In 1985, Corazon ran for president against Marcos, but it was announced in 1986 that she had
lost the election.
 Aquino believed that she had been the rightful winner of this election and she called for Civil
Disobedience to protest the injustice.
 The "People Power Revolution" began as a result of her call-to-action. It resulted in Marcos
being ousted and Corazon being named the first female president on February 25, 1986.
Ninoy, therefore, made an important contribution not just in life but also in his death.