Yellow is the Color of Blood

Yellow became the color of a nation
when one of its favorite son was slain
Shot in the head, body on the tarmac,
never given a chance to have his voice heard
Conspiracy theories abound from within,
as to whom the real trigger man was
Controversial investigations produced
no definitive results, only scapegoats.

Yellow ribbons tied on trees and houses
kinda reminded me of a popular song—
only to show love of the whole nation
Miniature yellow ribbons on buttons
became favorite car emblems, as well
Yellow tee-shirts flooded the market
carrying the slogan of the times:
“Ninoy, you’re not alone!”

So you see, the color yellow means a lot
to every freedom loving Filipinos;
It was blood and guts of our beloved martyr
who knew beforehand he was going to be killed
yet, defied the odds--despite of his heart condition,
insisted on returning to his beloved motherland.
His assassination was pivotal—
to a despotic ruler’s downfall
eventually restoring democracy
to a nation which was formerly
under a decade of martial law!


(Thirty years ago, Benigno Aquino Jr. was assassinated on Aug. 21,1983. This tragic event sparked the famous, yet peaceful Edsa Revolution eventually leading to the lifting of martial law in the Philippines and making his wife, Corazon Aquino, the first woman president of the Republic.)