Officials of Bulacan province offer flowers at the bust of late Sen. Blas F. Ople in front of Ople Building, which was named in his honor, inside the Bulacan Capitol Compound in the City of Malolos as they commemorate his 95th birth anniversary on Feb. 3. | PHOTO: Carmela Reyes-Estrope
CITY OF MALOLOS — Residents and officials in Bulacan commemorated the 95th birth anniversary on Feb. 3 of the late Sen. Blas F. Ople, a native of Hagonoy town.
Gov. Daniel Fernando led the occasion by offering flowers at the bust of Ople in front of the Ople Building, which was named in his honor, inside the Bulacan Capitol Compound in this city.
Fernando called on the youth to emulate Ople’s determination to succeed in life despite his humble roots.
Ople was raised in a fishing village on Feb. 3, 1927, and would go to school barefoot since his parents could not afford to buy him slippers. Despite that, he graduated on top of his class at Hagonoy Elementary School.
He also served as a young soldier during World War 2 and eventually became a journalist. Later, he held various key positions in the government. He died on Dec. 14, 2003.
Feb. 3 was declared a special non-working holiday in Bulacan to honor Ople.
“This occasion should remind us, especially the young generations, about Ka Blas Ople’s determination to improve his status in life and that of his family and our country,” Fernando said.