President’s Rizal Day message to people: Be like our national hero

File photo of Jose Rizal’s monument in Luneta. 📷:Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — During the commemoration of Jose Rizal’s 127th death anniversary, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told Filipinos to take inspiration from our national hero’s sacrifice and develop a sense of ownership to the land.

In his official message, the President told Filipinos to be like Rizal.

“On the 127th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, I thus enjoin all of you to keep emulating the timeless values we can learn from his life and works. I also call on everyone to let the genuine love for the country that he lived out and later died for propel us to have a deep and personal sense of ownership for our land and our future,” said Marcos.

READ: Rizal lives on in every Filipino

According to Marcos, Rizal’s sacrifice and influence could still be felt more than a hundred years later.

However, Marcos also reminded Filipinos that the national hero’s work began before his execution.

READ: Rizal and the enduring faith of his followers, believers

“While his sacrifice was the ultimate expression of his patriotism, it is crucial to recall that his work started even before that fateful day on the field of Bagumbayan. It began in his youth and childhood, when he embraced the wisdom of his family, teachers, and peers then, later on, embarked on a lifelong pursuit of excellence for a greater goal,” said Marcos.