Taken from the iamninoy website:
Twenty-five years ago, a man named Ninoy Aquino fought
nobly for a cause he believed in. He was a man who believed
in heroism, in justice, in freedom, and he committed his life
to upholding these values in a manner he thought would be
for the greater good.
This man Ninoy lived bravely. And in his conviction and courage,
he died a hero.
These days, it seems the word “hero” has become
almost generic. It’s a term thrown about loosely in association
with matinee idols, professional athletes, musicians, and
other media stars, based solely on a recent box office hit
or a gold record. And while a great number of these pop culture
“heroes” are certainly good men and women of integrity,
are they truly what it takes to make positive changes in this
world?
The iamninoy movement
believes otherwise.
This advocacy puts its core belief in one thing – that it
is the youth of today who are empowered and ready to step
up and wear the mantle of heroism. Not necessarily through
massive acts on a national scale, but through such simple
deeds as offering one’s seat on the bus, or by picking up
their litter, or by treating their peers with the utmost dignity
and respect.
Through a simple credo, iamninoy
calls upon today’s youth from all walks of life, free of political
affiliation, socio-economic class, or geographic location,
to make a change in this world by standing by the same values
that Ninoy Aquino lived and died for 25 years ago.
I am a hero.
I do what I believe is right.
I do what I believe is good.
I fight for justice.I fight for freedom.
I am a hero.In a big way, in a small way.
In my own way.
I am a hero.
I am Ninoy.
This campaign, through the support of various partners from
the media, will speak directly to today’s new generation of
advocates through television, radio, print, and outdoor advertising,
and call on them to proudly assert themselves as heroes via
three simple words: I Am Ninoy.
And with generous support from such retail partners as Bench,
Penshoppe, Rudy Project, Analog Soul and Team Manila, this
generation of heroes who live by the iamninoy
values will have their own distinctive brand of bold, iconic
“costumes” to wear as they live out their day-to-day
lives heroically and bravely. Proceeds from this iamninoy
merchandise will go towards supporting various national foundations
who uphold and stand by the same values as this movement.
Who would have thought that being a hero could be a part
of Pinoy pop culture? The iamninoy
movement believes that this can become a reality. With full
optimism and faith in the youth’s ability to step up, it is
only a matter of time before being a hero becomes cool and
fashionable in ways beyond even Ninoy could have thought possible.
“I am a hero. I Am Ninoy.”
Beginning August 21, 2008, Ninoy’s 25th death anniversary,
these are the words that will ignite the torch of heroism
in today’s youth – in the way they speak, in the way they
dress, in the way they live.
Visit the iamninoy website
at www.iamninoy.com
for more details on how you can be a hero too.