FILE PHOTO: About 200 nurses and public health workers in protective suits stage a “sit-down protest” outside the Department of Health building in Manila on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, the day the Bayanihan 2 stimulus spending law lapsed. The workers are demanding the release of their benefits, including a monthly P3,000 COVID-19 hazard pay. INQUIRER/RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines – Several senators on Monday honored medical frontliners and other modern-day heroes in the commemoration of National Heroes Day.
In a series of tweets on Monday, Senator Jinggoy Estrada honored essential frontline workers who served during the pandemic, risking their lives for the safety of the Filipinos.
He commemorated the heroism of the country’s forebears who fought for the Philippines’ freedom.
“Today, we commemorate the heroism of our forebears who responded to the call of their times and fought for our freedom and laid the foundation upon which our nation proudly stands,” Estrada said.
“It is also befitting to honor today our present-day heroes – our health workers, teachers, uniformed personnel, service crew, and others who served as frontliners in battling the pandemic. Their dedication, courage, and daily sacrifices during this pandemic deserve our deepest gratitude and admiration,” he added.
Today we commemorate the heroism of our forebears who responded to the call of their times and fought for our freedom and laid the foundation upon which our nation proudly stands on. pic.twitter.com/WnTjAM2lXm
— Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada (@jinggoyestrada_) August 28, 2022
In a separate video message, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian hailed frontliners as “modern heroes” who sacrificed their lives, serving in the country’s battle against the pandemic.
“Espesyal ang araw na ito dahil sama sama nating ginugunita ang kontribusyon ng ating mga bayani. Puno ng pag-asa ang ating pagdiriwang dahil matapos ang mahigit dalawang taon, unti-unti nang bumubuti ang lagay ng bansa at unti-unti na tayong nakakabangon dahil sa ipinamalas na sakripisyo ng ating mga modernong bayani, ang mga COVID-19 frontliners,” he said.
(Today is significant because it is a day set aside to honor the past achievements of our nation’s heroes. With the help of our modern-day heroes, the COVID-19 frontliners, the country is slowly recovering from the pandemic after more than two years; that is a reason to celebrate.)
“Tulad nina Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, at marami pang iba, pinamalas din ng ating mga frontliners na ang kahulugan ng pagiging isang bayani ay walang alinlangang pagseserbisyo sa ating kapwa at sa bayan”, he added.
(Like Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, and many more, our frontliners have shown us the true meaning of being a hero, which is to serve the Filipino people and the nation with no hesitation.)
Taos-pusong pasasalamat sa sakripisyo ng ating frontliners. Happy National Heroes Day po!#WINTayongLahat pic.twitter.com/ZYLbTuS2LJ
— Win Gatchalian (@WinGatchalian74) August 29, 2022
For her part, Senator Nancy Binay honored past and present Filipino heroes. She also tweeted her message about the occasion.
“Pagpupugay at pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga bayaning Pilipino noon at ngayon!” she wrote on a Twitter post.
(Thank you to all of our past and present Filipino heroes.)
Pagpupugay at pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga bayaning Pilipino noon at ngayon!
Happy #NationalHeroesDay 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/tHHNIxYsv2
— Senator Nancy Binay (@SenatorBinay) August 29, 2022
Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara touted how Filipinos can triumph over any challenge once they unite.
“Happy National Heroes Day! Tuwing nagkakaisa ang Pilipino, lahat ng suliranin ay kaya mapagtagumpayan! Mabuhay ang ating lahi and God bless the Philippines! #TatakPinoy #AlagangAngara,” Angara said in a tweet.
(In times of national unity in the Philippines, any obstacle can be surmounted. May God eternally bless the Philippines and its people.)
Sen. Sonny Angara: Happy National Heroes Day! Tuwing nagkakaisa ang Pilipino, lahat ng sulirarnin ay kaya mapagtagumpayan! Mabuhay ang ating lahi and God bless the Philippines! #TatakPinoy #AlagangAngara pic.twitter.com/knGm78lN72
— Alagang Angara (@SonnyAngaraNews) August 28, 2022
For his part, Senator Lapid told Filipinos to remember the sacrifices of Filipino heroes made who gave up their lives to achieve the desired freedom, peace and independence of our country.
“Atin pong alalahanin at bigyang pugay sa araw na ito ang mga sakripisyo at kadakilaan ng mga natatanging bayani na nagbuwis ng kanilang buhay para makamit ang inaasam na kalayaan, kapayapaan at kasarinlan ng ating bansa”, the senator said in a press release.
(Today, let us remember and give praise to our heroes who gave up their lives for the country’s freedom, peace and independence.)
Lapid likewise recognized and thanked modern heroes who continue to give their service to the Filipino people.
Senator Loren Legarda meanwhile proposed steps on how one can remember the valor of national heroes to achieve the country’s independence.
“Una, bisitahin ang mga malalapit na pook-historiko sa ating mga bayan upang kilalanin ang ating mga bayani”, she said in a series of tweets
(First, let’s visit historic spots in our country so that we would know our heroes.)
“Pangalawa, bilang pamilya, maaari tayong magbasa ng mga libro o manood ng likhang- sining o mga pelikula tungkol sa buhay ng ating mga bayani,” Legarda added
(Second, as a family, we should read books or watch films about the lives of our heroes.)
“Ikatlo, ipakita natin ang ating appreciation o pasasalamat sa ating mga modern day heroes tulad ng frontliners – mga guro, health workers, pulis at sundalo,” she continued
(Third, we should show our appreciation or gratitude to modern-day heroes like the frontliners – teachers, health workers, police and soldiers.)
Paano natin bibigyang-halaga ang ating mga bayani na lumaban at nagsakripisyo ng kanilang buhay upang makamit ang kasarinlan ng ating bansa?
Una, bisitahin ang mga malalapit na pook-historiko sa ating mga bayan upang kilalanin ang ating mga bayani. pic.twitter.com/gsNmXaCjYl
— Loren Legarda (@loren_legarda) August 29, 2022
Meanwhile, a left-wing group, the Akbayan Party, which is the political party of opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, has called on fellow Filipinos to defend Philippine history just as national heroes bravely fought for the country’s freedom and independence.
The group reminded the public to become “heroes of history” and to defend the legacy of anti-martial law heroes against the “growing culture of pseudohistory” in the country.
“Maging mga bayani ng kasaysayan. Depensahan natin ang katotohanan ng ating nakaraan. Huwag nating hayaang patayin nilang muli ang ating mga bayani na lumaban at pinaslang ng diktatura. The freedoms and liberties we enjoy today are only possible because of our heroes’ bravery and selflessness. Let us not tarnish their legacy,” Akbayan spokesperson Dr. RJ Naguit said in a separate statement.
(Be heroes of history. Let us defend the truth of our past. Let us not allow them to kill our heroes again who fought and were murdered by dictatorship. The freedoms and liberties we enjoy today are only possible because of our heroes’ bravery and selflessness. Let us not tarnish their legacy.)
Akbayan said Filipinos can be a “hero of history” by: fact-checking claims and articles online; developing the habit of counter-checking before spreading content online; promoting credible sources, links, and media; and, refraining from patronizing films and media that rely on conspiracy theories and unproven sources.
“While it is our duty as citizens to constantly revisit the past and improve our understanding of past realities, our perspectives must be based on truth, justice and accountability. Ang kasaysayang walang katotohanan ay tsismis lamang na kinakalat ng mga magnanakaw, mamatay-tao, sinungaling at gahaman,” Naguit said.
(While it is our duty as citizens to constantly revisit the past and improve our understanding of past realities, our perspectives must be based on truth, justice and accountability. History without truth is mere rumors that are spread by thieves, murderers, liars, and greedy people.)