PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte today lauded frontliners, especially healthcare workers who remain steadfast in fulfilling their duty amid the risk of COVID-19 pandemic, as the nation commemorates National Heroes Day today.
“I join the entire Filipino nation in celebrating National Heroes’ Day. With pride and joy, we honor the noble sacrifices of our ancestors who fought to celebrate our country and establish the thriving democracy that we are today,” Duterte said in a recorded video.
In a separate message, he divulged that the nation marks the holiday to recognize Filipinos who put themselves upfront in the battle against an invisible enemy.
“Every year, we dedicate this day to honor the countless unsung heroes upon whose collective sacrifice the foundation of this nation was built on. This National Heroes Day, we pray tribute to a new breed of heroes who readily answered the call to fight in a war against one of the greatest threats to our way of life.”
Duterte said that for the past two years, health workers, uniformed personnel, government employees, and essential workers—whose nature of work is twice challenging than usual—led the fight in the middle of the crisis.
The president also emphasized that to celebrate this significant day is to not only recall the past heroes entrenched in historical books but also to honor the country’s heroes of today and tomorrow.
“Their names will not be etched on any edifice, statues will not be erected in their honor, banknotes will not be graced by their portraits, and their individual explores will not be immortalized on the pages of history books,” Duterte expressed.
“Yet, for selflessly risking their lives to ensure the survival of our society, I can confidently say that they have more than earned their rightful place in the pedestal of heroes,” he added.
Duterte lastly urged the public to “fight for a cause far greater than our own” as only with selflessness could the nation rise above the status quo and portray extraordinary heroism.
The National Heroes’ Day is a regular holiday initially celebrated on November 30 but was later changed and now marks the anniversary of the 1896 Cry of Pugad Lawin where the Philippine revolutionary movement began.