‘Be a hero’ — President Aquino in Rizal Day rites

For the last time in his term, President Benigno Aquino III led the flag-raising ceremony at Rizal Park to commemorate the 119th anniversary of the martyrdom of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

In his message for Rizal Day, Aquino said Filipinos should be inspired by Rizal’s intelligence, sense of duty, hunger for knowledge, passion for reform and undying love for the country.

“Dr. Jose Rizal worked hard to pursue our independence, serving as a catalyst for change; his works remain relevant to this day, a reminder of a past when freedom seemed beyond our reach. Let us remember him on this occasion, along with other heroes who shared their strength and vision to make the Philippines the nation it is today,” Aquino said.

“Let us all be heroes in our own way, and reaffirm our commitment to the Daang Matuwid. Only by traversing this road towards fairness and progress can we translate our dreams into tangible realities for our people,” Aquino added.

Aquino was joined by former President, now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

This year’s celebration featured the newly acquired supersonic fighter jets, the FA-50s.