Every time this nation needs saving, an Aquino dies!

The Aquinos and Cojuangcos of Tarlac and their - in – laws are intertwined in so far as the dates of their deaths are concerned.

Three Aquinos’ (two of them, Cojuangcos) deaths are intertwined with the history and politics of the Philippines and its People.

Cory’s father and Ninoy’s father – in - law, Don Jose Cojuangco y Chichioco (July 3, 1896 – August 21, 1976, served as the Representative of the 1st District of Tarlac from 1934 until 1946), Josephine Cojuangco y Sumulong’s husband and Cory’s brother – in - law, Dr. Nicanor Reyes y Mendoza, Jr. ( - August 21, 1982) and Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino y Aquino, Jr. (November 27, 1932 - August 21, 1983), all died on an August 21.

Former Mayor, Governor and Senator Benigno Simeon ‘Ninoy’ Aquino y Aquino, Jr., had planned to come home on Sunday, August 7, 1983, after more than three years of medical furlough and political exile.

However, President and Dictator Ferdinand Marcos y Edralin, thru Minister of Defense Juan ‘Johnny’ Ponce Enrile y Puruganan, asked him to postpone his trip for a month to September 4.

Ninoy compromised halfway and came home on August 21.

During one of my trips to the USA in 1984 and/or 1985, I entered Ninoy’s birthday, November 27, 1932 and three dates in 1983: August 7 and 21 and September 4.

Both the 1st and 3rd dates were good and OK for Ninoy, while the date that he chose to come home was bad and tragic for him.

However, Ninoy’s and the Aquinos’ and Cojuangcos’ loss, suffering and tragedy was the good fortune of the political opposition and the Filipino nation and people.

Take note also, that Cory had long been suffering from colon cancer but she (or God) chose (her) to die in the month of August, in the early hours of Saturday, August 1, 2009.

Some cynics as well as pundits have called our attention to the politics of death that have dominated the ‘Snap’ Friday, February 7, 1986, elections, as well as the May 2010 elections.

From the point of view of former San Juan Mayor, Senator, Vice President, President and Manila Mayor Joseph ‘Erap’ Ejercito Estrada, Ninoy’s death caused him to be removed from elective office and Cory’s death deprived him of the opportunity to win reelection as President in May 2010.

In the history of Philippine Presidents, the death of the incumbent President led to the succession of the Vice President: Manuel L. Quezon to Sergio Osmena, Manuel Roxas y Acuna to Elpidio Quirino, Jr. and Ramon Magsaysay to Carlos P. Garcia.

However, these were part of the system design and mandated by the 1935 Constitution.

The 1983 death of Ninoy and the 2009 death of Cory were not part of a political design, plan or structure of the Opposition.

If at all, they were Divine Intervention in Philippine Politics and Elections.

Still, it took a long time, from August 21, 1983 – Ninoy’s assassination, a full two years and six months plus a day, until the start of EDSA I on Saturday evening, February 22, 1986.

Although much less dramatic, Cory’s death from colon cancer on Saturday, August 1, then – Cory’s Wake, Funeral Procession and forty - day mourning period, until the Wednesday, September 9, Club Filipino, announcement that Noynoy would run for President (and Manuel ‘MAR’ Roxas y Araneta for Vice President), led to a much quicker belief and realization that victory was possible and probable.

The political energy and momentum generated by Ninoy’s assassination overwhelmed the three G’s – Gold, Guns and Goons and undid the Batasan Pambansa’s Proclamation of Marcos as the winner in the fifteen days between February 7 and 22, 1986.

And its aftermath? ’‘GMA’ Macapagal Arroyo’s Campaign and Cheating Machine.

Former Tarlac Congressman and Senator Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ Aquino y Cojuangco III quickly overtook Lakas – NUCD – UMDP’s Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro y Cojuangco, UNO’s ‘Erap’ Estrada and the Nacionalista Party’s former Speaker ‘Manny’ Villar.

In spite of being the sole formal Administration candidate, Teodoro, never did better than fourth place.

Estrada overtook Villar midway thru the ninety - day campaign period. Aquino won by an uncheatable margin.

The question now arises and friends and relatives ask me, ‘How will PNoy’s death, four months before the October deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy, seven months before the start in February of the official ninety - day national campaign period and ten months before the May elections, affect the Administration and the Opposition, the Funding and Organization of the Campaign and the May National and Local Elections?’