President Gloria Arroyo signed a bill into a law that declared the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr a national hero, and his 18th death anniversary on August 21 a public holiday.

The announcement was made in time for the 18th anniversary of the country's first peaceful revolt that has been called People Power or EDSA Revolution.

"The law finally gave due recognition to the heroism of the man whose selfless efforts and supreme sacrifices moved millions of peace-loving Filipinos to march to EDSA (a major thoroughfare) and collectively claim democracy back for the Philippines in 1986," said Arroyo.

"I hope we will remember the sacrifices of Ninoy," said former President Corazon Aquino as she thanked everyone for her husband's recognition.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia sponsored the bill in Congress, which declared August 21 as a special non-working holiday.

Senator Aquino died from the hands of the paramilitary men of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos during a homecoming at the Manila International Airport in 1983.

It sparked anti-Marcos rallies that culminated into a people-backed military mutiny that paved the way for the ouster of the ex-strongman and the ascendance of ex-president Aquino to power in 1986.

Instead of giving a long speech, Arroyo led in recitation of the government's pledge to make the spirit of people power alive and vibrant.

"I pledge to be always thankful for the nation's freedom regained in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution," Arroyo said, adding, "What the Filipino people did at that time was to defend the rights of their fellow Filipinos, and to show the world that the way to freedom and democracy is the path of peace."

As Tex Ordonez, a famous singer, sang, Heal our Land, two helicopters showered confetti on the people attending the ceremonies. Ivy Violan, another famous singer, sang, Bayan Ko (My nation), which was virtually the national anthem of the anti-Marcos protesters in the 80s.

Hoping to make young Filipinos and the older ones remain loyal to the cause of people power, Corazon Aquino said, "I want all of us working together to make this country of ours the great country that it was meant to be."

Former President Fidel Ramos downplayed the thin crowd at the event. Most of them were government officials.

"The celebration of EDSA has become universal because it was the non-violent, peaceful revolution of the Philippines that sparked the light of freedom all over the world," Ramos boasted.