‘Still, we commemorate our national heroes every year on this day, for it is important to relive the efforts and sacrifices of the best Filipinos to bolster our spirit of nationhood and patriotism.’
AT this time when many citizens, especially those active online, have become conscious of the importance of history to the nation’s present and future — a realization stoked by movies about recent history — the celebration of National Heroes Day today should take on a more relevant character.
The first nationwide celebration of a day for our heroes was in 1931 because Act No. 3827 mandates that it be observed on the last Sunday of August. The basis of this holiday is the Cry of Pugad Lawin in August 1896, which was the first act of insurrection by the Katipunan against the Spanish colonizers.
It was under President Fidel V. Ramos in 1995, a year before the centenary of the Philippine revolution, that the government listed nine Filipinos who compose the honor roll in the pantheon of Philippine independence movement.
These heroes are Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino and Gabriela Silang. We know that this list is incomplete, and there are hundreds more Filipinos who gave their lives for the cause of freedom and thus should be considered heroes, but let us just consider this group as the best representation of all Filipino heroes, past and present.
We talk about present heroes because indeed, the overseas Filipino workers serving the country through their labor and remittances; the medical front-liners who took the risk and some gave up their lives fighting the COVID-19 pandemic; the soldiers and policemen who keep the peace and secure the Philippines’ air, sea, and land territories; the teachers who dutifully guide and mold young minds to prepare them to become responsible citizens in the future. They all are “heroes” in the broader sense of the word.
When in 2007 President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act 9492 moving this national holiday to the last Monday of August in line with her “holiday economics” program, the solemnity of the celebration was somewhat dashed by the people’s yearning for a relaxing long weekend.
Still, we commemorate our national heroes every year on this day, for it is important to relive the efforts and sacrifices of the best Filipinos to bolster our spirit of nationhood and patriotism.
