Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio issue National Heroes Day statements, lead activities
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio on National Heroes Day today, Aug. 29 issued statements and led ceremonies in the morning to commemorate the holiday.
In his National Heroes Day statement, Marcos Jr. said the legacy of heroism "lives on in the hearts of medical professionals, civil servants, uniformed personnel, and ordinary citizens."
"Their deeds not only remind us of the nobility of our race," he noted, "but also invite us to take part in the difficult but rewarding task of nation-building."
At around 8:00 am, Marcos Jr. alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines also went to the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig for a program.
Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, led a separate program in her hometown Davao City's Quezon Park.
In her own National Heroes Day message, she urged everybody to "never squander the lessons of the past," and instead "use them to awaken all the greatest heroes inside the hearts of Filipinos, especially the youth."
In the same breath, she called out "hostilities" that are supposedly "perpetuated by anti-people, anti-government, and local terror groups."
The National Heroes Day commemorates the Cry of Pugad Lawin, which marked the beginning of the Philippine Revolution led by Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan against the Spanish government in late August 1896.
The day honors Filipino heroes who took part in the revolution, which ultimately led to the country's independence. At present, the day also commemorates certain personalities and groups that made significant contributions to nation-building.
National Heroes Day was originally celebrated every last Sunday of August, but in 2007, then-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo via Republic Act No. 9492 moved it to every last Monday of the month—as part of her administration's "holiday economics" program that aimed to reduce work disruption, allow longer weekends, and boost domestic leisure and tourism.
The official statements from the Palace contrast the muted commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day last Aug. 21, which was also an official holiday.
It can be noted that most official government social media accounts did not release official statements to mark Ninoy Aquino Day. The observance of the special non-working holiday every Aug. 21 is held in accordance with Republic Act No. 9256.
