Benigno Aquino, Jr.

:For the municipality, see Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat

Biography

Ninoy was born in Concepción, Tarlac to a family of hacienderos (landlords). His grandfather, Servillano Aquino was a general in the revolutionary army of Emilio Aguinaldo while his father, Benigno Aquino Sr. was a prominent official in the World War II Japanese-organized government of Jose P. Laurel. His father died while Ninoy was in his teens, and amidst a lingering cloud of distrust owing to his alleged collaboration with the Japanese during occupation. At the age of 17, he was the youngest war correspondent to cover the Korean War under the newspaper The Manila Times of Joaquin "Chino" Roces. Because of his journalistic feats, he received a Legion of Honor award from President Elpidio Quirino at age 18. At 21, he became a close adviser to then defense secretary Ramon Magsaysay. Ninoy took law at the University of the Philippines, where he became a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi. He interrupted his studies however to pursue a career in journalism. In early 1954, he was appointed by president Ramon Magsaysay to act as personal emissary to Luis Taruc, leader of the Hukbalahap rebel group. After four months of negotiations, he secured Taruc's unconditional surrender. He became mayor of Concepción in 1955 at the age of only 22. In the same year he married Corazón Cojuangco, where they had 5 children namely Maria Elena, Aurora Corazon, Benigno III (Noynoy), Victoria Elisa and Kristina Bernadette (Kris).

Related Topics:
Concepción - Tarlac - Landlord - Servillano Aquino - Revolutionary - Emilio Aguinaldo - Benigno Aquino Sr. - World War II - Japanese - Jose P. Laurel - Korean War - The Manila Times - Joaquin "Chino" Roces - Legion of Honor - Elpidio Quirino - Ramon Magsaysay - Law - University of the Philippines - Upsilon Sigma Phi - Journalism - 1954 - Emissary - Luis Taruc - Hukbalahap - Unconditional surrender - Benigno III - Kristina Bernadette

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