On Rizal’s birthday, Vico Sotto honors ‘bayanihan’ amid pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Friday honored the “bayanihan” efforts of workers during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as the country celebrates the 159th birthday of national hero Jose Rizal.

“Ang kabayanihan, naipapamalas sa iba’t ibang paraan at ngayon pong pandemya, nakita po natin ang maraming halimbawa ng kabayanihan,” Sotto said during his short speech during the Pasig City government’s celebration of Rizal’s birthday on Friday.

(Heroism can be demonstrated in different ways and we have witnessed a lot of instances during the pandemic where heroism was shown)

“Nakikita po natin ang kabayanihan sa ating community kitchen. ‘Yung mga volunteer na pumapasok ng madaling araw kahit wala pong pumipilit sa kanila para maghanda ng pagkain sa ating mga frontliners,” Sotto added.

(We can see heroism in our community kitchen, the volunteers who wake up at dawn to prepare food for our frontliners)

The mayor underscored the sacrifices of medical workers who are exposed to the coronavirus disease as they continue to treat COVID-19 patients.

“Nakikita po ang kabayanihan sa ating medical frontliners, sa mga health workers sa ating ospital kahit po nakakatakot na baka magkaroon din sila ng virus,” he said.

(We can see heroism in our medical frontliners and health workers in our hospitals who continue to work even under threat of contracting the virus.)

Meanwhile, Sotto urged the public to emulate Rizal’s heroism in their daily lives.

“Nawa’y mabuhay ang diwa ni Jose Rizal sa ginagawa natin sa ating pang araw-araw na buhay (I hope that we can adhere to Jose Rizal’s virtue in our daily lives),” Sotto said. (Jim Mendoza, Trainee)