President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. speaks during the oath-taking of new members of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas at the Heroes Hall of Malacañan Palace on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Photo by Yummie Dingding / PPA POOL
MANILA, Philippines — For National Heroes Day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the public to remember lesser-known Filipinos who were important to shaping the country.
The President on Monday said that it was easy to forget these unsung heroes given the number of responsibilities Filipinos have.
“In the multitude of activities and responsibilities that fill our daily lives, we tend to forget the many heroes and heroines responsible for all the liberties we enjoy today. While we do dedicate time each year to commemorate the notable names that fill our history books, it is just as crucial to remember the lives and deeds of the many lesser-known and unnamed Filipinos who played pivotal roles in shaping our nation,” said Marcos in a statement.
Marcos said that heroism could come in different forms, from those who fought off foreign invaders to regular people.
“From the defiance of our ancestors against the first invading forces to the diligence that our soldiers and statesmen held to see the last of them off-our unsung champions prove that heroism is not limited to the Herculean; it also includes the honest, earnest, and compassionate living that we do every day. If all of this means anything, it is that each of us has the capacity to be a hero,” said the President.
Filipinos are urged to renew their understanding of heroism.
“On this year ‘s National Heroes Day, I enjoin every Filipino across the globe to celebrate with a renewed understanding and sense of pride for the fortitude that is naturally abundant in our hearts as a people,” said Marcos.
Apart from his message, Marcos is also set to lead the observance of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani later in the day.