MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday urged Filipinos to be heroes in their own way and be a source of pride and inspiration for the succeeding generation as the nation marked National Heroes’ Day.
“We are Filipinos – a people destined to greatness. As we celebrate this day dedicated to our nation’s heroes, let us strive to fulfill our own promise so that we may also be heroes in our own right and a source of pride and inspiration for the succeeding generation of Filipinos to emulate,” Marcos said as he led the celebration of National Heroes’ Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City yesterday morning.
In his speech delivered in Filipino, Marcos also honored the country’s modern-day heroes, including farmers, businessmen, laborers, teachers, health personnel, uniformed personnel and overseas Filipino workers for their contributions to the nation.
The President said their legacy of heroism lives on in the hearts of the country’s medical workers, civil servants, uniformed personnel and ordinary citizens “who toil daily to keep the Filipino dream alive.”
“Their deeds not only remind us of the nobility of our race, but also invite us to take part in the difficult but rewarding task of nation-building,” he said.
He announced plans for the construction of hospitals for Philippine war veterans in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte called on Filipinos to emulate the patriotism of Philippine national heroes by fighting “disunity, hatred, misunderstanding and acts of hostilities” and instead defend the country’s independence and interests.
“Today, let us honor our national heroes with a promise that their sacrifices will serve as our light and inspiration as we vow to protect the integrity of our independence and the interest of our nation against those who wish for us to fail, to fall and to break as a nation,” Duterte said in a press statement.
Modern day heroes
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. yesterday said the police would continue to push for the peace and security “that our heroes fought and died for.”
“With this commitment, we remain on the battlefield against crime, illegal drugs, corruption and terrorism even as we continue our tireless pursuit of cleansing our backyard of members unfit to be called the nation’s protectors and public servants,” Azurin said.
He also paid respect to “modern-day heroes” – the frontliners and police officers who died in the line of duty.
“Today, we gather as one family to revisit a significant milestone of our nation’s rich history as we pay tribute to the heroes of the past for their patriotic fervor and love of country, as well as the courage and sacrifices of countless and nameless Filipinos in our struggles for liberty and freedom,” he said.
For his part, Defense Secretary Jose Faustino Jr. called on every Filipino yesterday to “be heroes for others” whenever they can.
“I enjoin our compatriots to become heroes for others, whenever we can to our family, friends and strangers. Thus, during these times, we must show courage and strength in the face of challenges and remain united as we move forward in attaining peace and progress for our motherland,” Faustino said.
Faustino joined President Marcos and Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro in the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as a tribute to Filipino heroes.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano, National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairman Rene Escalante, AFP major service commanders, the PNP chief, Philippine Coast Guard commandant, Filipino veterans, members of the diplomatic corps and other guests also attended the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Romualdez urged all Filipinos to revisit the lives of the country’s heroes and learn to emulate the values they held and exemplified.
“Before Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Gregorio del Pilar and the others became heroes, they were ordinary Filipinos who were deeply moved by their love of the motherland. They were bound by a single dream: freedom for their country and a future for all Filipinos,” Romualdez added.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez lamented that Mindanao is not lacking in heroes but in all books on Philippine history, there is “very scant account” of the revolutionary heroes against Spain and the United States in the island region.
Rodriguez added it is not yet too late to correct the country’s history books. He said only by recognizing the heroic struggle of the people of Mindanao against colonial rule “can we achieve a truthful and truly national celebration of the Philippine Centennial and the unity of the entire Filipino people.” – Elizabeth Marcelo, Michael Punongbayan, Delon Porcalla, Sheila Crisostomo, Ralph Edwin Villanueva