(FILE) A hospital worker walks past a colorful mural honoring frontliners painted in front of the Mission hospital in Pasig City.
INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — A “wall of heroes” where the names of medical frontliners who have succumbed to COVID-19 will be built at the Libingan ng mga Bayani to honor them for their service during the pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday.
“Before I forget, meron tayong itong wall of heroes. Thank you for the gratuitous consent, pumayag ang ang Armed Forces na magtayo tayo ng wall of heroes dyan sa Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Duterte announced during the commemoration of the 123rd Independence Day in Malolos, Bulacan.
(Before I forget, we will have a wall of heroes. Thank you for the gratuitous consent, the Armed Forces allowed us to build a wall of heroes at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.)
“Lahat yung namatay, mga doktor, nurses, mga attendants na nahawa ng COVID-19, will be honored by their name inscribed in that wall. It is now being built,” he added.
(All doctors, nurses, attendants who died of COVID-19 will be honored by having their names inscribed in that wall. It is not being built.)
The President also posthumously bestowed the Order of Lapu-Lapu to revolutionary heroes Gregorio del Pilar and Marcelo del Pilar for their “extraordinary acts and heroism that serve as the foundation of this nation.”
The Order of Lapu-Lapu is conferred to those who accomplished extraordinary acts of service and exceptional contributions to the country.
Further, Duterte touted the Philippines for coming a long way to be a “modern, progressive, and ever thriving” nation.
“However, our continued progress will only be possible if we have a strong understanding and appreciation of the liberties that we enjoy today,” he said.
It was the second time for Duterte to physically attend Independence Day rites since taking office in 2016.
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