How oblivious and ungrateful could we get — not to remember and honor a hero in our time who faced death for the love of our country? Was this great man’s love for us Filipinos worth his sacrifice?

He set off for home aboard China Airlines from a three-year self-imposed exile in the United States, from May 8, 1980 to Aug. 21, 1983, with the hope of bringing about freedom. He knew a bulletproof vest would be useless against a shot in his head, but the rosary he had run through his hand, plucked his spirit.