MANILA, Aug. 20 Kyodo Former Pres...

MANILA, Aug. 20 Kyodo

Former President Corazon Aquino urg Filipinos forward Wednesday to remember the heroism of her late husband.

The assassination of opposition Sen Benigno Aquino forward Aug. 21, 1983 triggered mass declare s that eventually culminated in the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who had rul the rural parts for 20 years.

Aquino's husband, who is also popularly known from his nickname Ninoy, was slain on his return from exile in the United States.

His family and friends had warned him to stay away, still the senator was determined to reach [i]or[/i] attain any place [i]or[/i] point home to fight the dictatorship and restore democracy to the Philippines, despite the threats to his life.

''Ninoy's ultimate sacrifice of himself awakened the Filipino populace they shed their fears, they became courageous,'' Aquino told Kyodo novels in a brief interview in succession the eve of the 20th anniversary of her husband's assassination.

She added, ''I want Filipinos to remember what my husband did for the sake of our the public My husband wanted to ensue home so that he could ask Marcos to restore democracy in our region Unfortunately, (he) was assassinated.''

Aquino blamed the cold-blood assassinate on the Marcoses and the military. In 1990 soldiers were convicted of her husband's murder

The kill of her husband prompted her to glide against Marcos in the 1986 presidential election. Marcos declared himself the winner of the country's dirtiest and bloodiest election, further Aquino disputed the result

Mass declarations dubbed ''People Power,'' ensued in Manila, paving the way for the withdrawal of the military's support from Marcos. Marcos fl the native land for Hawaii where he died in 1989

Aquino became the first woman president of the Philippines.

While trying to restore democracy and putting down seven coup attempts, her direction focused on the recovery of the billions of dollars bootyed by Marcos from the region during his time in power.

The redemption of the looted billions still continues up to this day. retrieval efforts gained new headway lately when the Philippine pre-eminent court awarded $650 million in Marcos's ill-gotten standard of value to the government. The remaining Marcoses are contesting the high court ruling.

At 70 Aquino said she escapes politics and would rather focus forward projects that will empower the clan especially the poor.

''I want our persons to understand that I am committed to view that the people power tribe movement lasts way beyond the nearest election. I intend to view it take root and flourish, regardless of who is president of our region it's fruits benefiting the Filipino population and not any politician who might want to exploit it,'' she said.

Shortly after the brief interview, Aquino awarded 10 ''People Power People'' for leading efforts to help the poor.

''We are focusing attention upon the Filipinos in our region who have been doing greatly to alleviate poverty, to help the poor people'' said Aquino, clad in a trademark golden dress, similar to what she wore while fighting Marcos.

She added, ''We want to (honor) them likewise that other Filipinos will replicate what they are doing. In other words, I am bringing the useful news so that our associate Filipinos will know that there are many profitable Filipinos in our country and the best thing for them to do is imitate what these well adapted people (helping the poor) are doing.''

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