Hontiveros: PH democracy still alive, but must be fought for

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Forty-three years after the assassination of former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Friday said that Philippine democracy remains alive, but its survival and evolution must continually be fought for.

Speaking at a press conference here, Hontiveros reflected on Aquino’s decision to return to the Philippines in 1983 despite threats to his life and uncertainty even among Filipinos seeking political change at the time.

“Let’s go back to the democratization process,” Hontiveros said as she recalled Aquino’s return to the country.

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“In 1983, he came home, not only in the face of the martial dictatorship of that time and in the face of threats and warnings that his life would be in danger,” she said.

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Aquino was assassinated on Aug. 21, 1983 upon returning to the Philippines after years of exile in the United States. His killing galvanized opposition to the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and became one of the pivotal events leading to the 1986 People Power Revolution.

READ: Ninoy Aquino family museum draws people in Tarlac

Hontiveros noted that Aquino also returned at a time when even some people involved in the movement for change had doubts about him and other leaders of his generation.

She said Aquino’s experience raises a question that remains relevant to Filipinos today: whether democracy and the struggle to preserve it are worth the sacrifices they demand.

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“Is it worth offering our lives?” Hontiveros asked as she reflected on the continuing democratization process.

For Hontiveros, the answer lies partly in the concept of “contested democracy” advanced by Filipino political scientist Nathan Gilbert Quimpo.

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Quimpo’s framework views Philippine politics as a continuing contest between an elite-dominated form of democracy and movements seeking greater political participation, equality and substantive democratic change. He argues that deepening democracy requires transforming formal, elite-dominated democracy into a more participatory and egalitarian one.

Hontiveros said she accepts that many issues confronting Philippine democracy remain unresolved.

“I believe Philippine democracy is still alive, but there are many problems, many challenges, but we must contest,” she said.

“We must compete for its survival and its evolution,” she added.

For Hontiveros, democracy should also go beyond elections and guarantees of political and civil liberties.

She said democracy must become something Filipinos experience “every day,” not merely something expressed in words.

“It’s not just in words, but it’s really in actions,” she said, adding that democracy should be felt even “in the food that Filipinos eat every day.”

She said the democratic project must therefore encompass not only political and civil rights but also the economic and social conditions of Filipinos.

The senator made the remarks as the country commemorated Ninoy Aquino Day on Aug. 21, the anniversary of Aquino’s assassination.

Earlier in the day, Hontiveros addressed around 200 young people attending Youth Converge 2026 at Phinma University of Iloilo, an event organized by Sakdag Philippines to promote youth leadership, civic engagement and nation-building.

Her reflections on Aquino and democracy gave added significance to her appearance before young leaders, linking the sacrifices made during the struggle against dictatorship with the responsibility of succeeding generations to defend and deepen democratic institutions.

Youth Converge 2026 brought together youth leaders and advocates for leadership talks, workshops, networking, and discussions aimed at translating civic engagement into concrete community action.

Hontiveros served as keynote speaker and joined a panel discussion on youth leadership, service and nation-building.

Her Ninoy Aquino Day message, however, emphasized that democracy should not be viewed as a finished achievement inherited from earlier generations.

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Rather, she said, it remains something Filipinos must continue to contest, protect, and improve so that democratic freedoms are reflected not only in political rights but also in people’s everyday lives. /cb