3. Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. was born in Concepcion, Tarlac, to a prosperous family of hacienderos (landlords). His grandfather, Servillano Aquino, was a general in the revolutionary army of Emilio Aguinaldo while his father, Benigno S. Aquino, Sr. (1894–1947) was a prominent member of the World War II Japanese collaborationist government of José P. Laurel, as Vice-President. His mother was Doña Aurora Aquino-Aquino (who was also his father's third cousin). His father died while Benigno Aquino was in his teens prior to coming to trial on treason charges resulting from his collaboration with the Japanese during the occupation. Aquino was educated in private schools — St. Joseph's College, Ateneo de Manila, National University, and De La Salle College. He finished high school at San Beda College. Aquino took his tertiary education at the Ateneo de Manila to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree, but he interrupted his studies.[6] According to one of his biographies, he considered himself to be an average student; his grade was not in the line of 90's nor did it fall into the 70's. At age 17, he was the youngest war correspondent to cover the Korean War for the newspaper The Manila Times of Joaquín "Chino" Roces. Because of his journalistic feats, he received the Philippine Legion of Honor award from President ElpidioQuirino at age 18. At 21, he became a close adviser to then defense secretary Ramón Magsaysay. Ninoy took up law at the University of the Philippines, where he became a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi. He interrupted his studies again however to pursue a career in journalism. According to Máximo V. Soliven, Aquino "later 'explained' that he had decided to go to as many schools as possible, so that he could make as many new friends as possible."[6] In early 1954, he was appointed by President Ramón Magsaysay to act as personal emissary to Luis Taruc, leader of the Hukbalahap rebel group. After four months of negotiations, he was credited for Taruc's unconditional surrender. He became mayor of Concepcion in 1955 at the age of 22. Who is Ninoy?
