Even if it’s a red letter day, people from all walks of life will paint the town yellow on Friday as they pay tribute to the late former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., who was assassinated 26 years ago while fighting for Philippine democracy.

Inspired by the signature color of Ninoy’s wife, the late former President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino, many will be wearing yellow, while motorists tie yellow ribbons on their vehicles in honor of the heroism and martyrdom of the senator.

According to Mrs. Aquino’s spokesperson, Lourdes Siytangco, the public’s wearing of yellow shirts and ribbons is reminiscent of how the public mourned the recent demise of Mrs. Aquino, who succumbed to cardio-respiratory arrest last August 1 after months of battling colon cancer.

“We encourage everybody to wear yellow shirts or ribbons as we observe the 26th death anniversary of Ninoy today. In praying and paying tribute to Ninoy, we are also celebrating the legacy that Cory has left us,” Siytangco said.

Yellow came to be identified with the Aquinos because of the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon.” which was the song of a former prisoner coming home and asking his loved one to tie a yellow ribbon around an oak tree in their yard if she still wanted him; he would keep going on if he saw no ribbon. The nation responded by tying yellow ribbons all over the country to show they still loved Ninoy.

Aquino supporters are expected to flock to Ninoy’s monuments on Roxas Blvd. in Manila, on Ayala Ave. in Makati City, and at the Aquino Rotonda in Tagaytay City.

“I heard Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino will simultaneously lead wreath-laying ceremonies at the Ninoy statues in their respective cities at 8 a.m.,” she said.

Maria Elena “Balsy” Aquino Cruz will lead her family in a 10:30 a.m. mass for their father’s death anniversary at the Don Bosco chapel in Makati City.

Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III will be at the prayer memorial assembly on Ayala Ave. led by the August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM). ATOM was formed shortly after Ninoy’s assassination on the tarmac of the then Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983, on his return from self-exile in the United States.

The killing triggered mass protests that culminated in the 1986 People Power Revolution that ended the Marcos regime.

A one and a half hour-long documentary titled “The Last Journey of Ninoy” is set for special screening at the Powerplant Mall in Makati at 7 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10:30 p.m. on Friday. The film by award-wining director Jun Reyes includes unpublished facts about Ninoy as remembered by Cory.

According to Noriel Barrios of the iamninoy Youth Movement, admission to the screening is priced at P300 per ticket, with the proceeds to go to the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Foundation.

Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday ordered the building of a monument of the late President Corazon Aquino in Rizal Park to honor her contribution to the restoration of the counry’s democracy.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez said the construction of the monument, which will be overseen by the National Historical Institute, should be completed within six months.

“With this monument, our nation will honor for posterity the memory of an extraordinary woman who united our people for one shining week in February, 1986 and presided over the rebirth of the democracy,” Golez said. (With a report from Genalyn Kabiling)