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IN THE COURSE of our nation’s history, generations of patriots heeded the call to fight for nationhood against colonizers and tyrants. Lapu-Lapu, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and Ninoy Aquino are some venerated heroes who sacrificed blood, sweat and tears to help our country move forward.
Our national heroes are often portrayed as a pantheon of distinct and powerful personalities who have managed to get their names published in our history books by virtue of their words or actions. But National Heroes Day specifies no hero; the law that put into practice the celebration does not name a single one. This lack of specifics offers us an opportunity to celebrate the bravery of not one, not a few, but all Filipino heroes, past and present, who have braved death or persecution for home, nation, justice, and freedom.
Thus today’s occasion allows us to recognize the brave men and women who continue to ensure that we live in a society that is safe, free and peaceful. These include members of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines. Our law enforcers deserve to be recognized as modern-day heroes for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, illegal drugs and criminality. Our police and soldiers risk their lives in the line of duty to keep the rest us safe and secure. But we urge them to continue to uphold the rule of law and respect human rights.
We have other living heroes that similarly deserve recognition, our overseas Filipino workers, our teachers, our nurses and our farmers and fisherfolk.
Today, we are at a crossroads as a nation and as a people. The challenge is to fight and liberate ourselves against modern-day colonizers and tyrants. These include the corrupt, the terrorists, the drug lords, the criminal syndicates. We need more heroes to confront them. And we need not look far. We should rise to the occasion to keep society free from these present-day oppressors. Yes, this is a day-to-day battle that calls for the hero in all of us.
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