Beneath every towering building, every busy street, and every small victory this nation holds dear lie the calloused hands and unyielding hearts of the workers who built it all. Every May 1st, we honor not just labor, but the spirit that turned struggle into strength. Behind every right we hold today are the hands that shaped dreams from dust and the hearts that dared to fight for more. This is a tribute to them — the unyielding backbone of our nation.

In the Philippines, Labor Day has its roots in the early 1900s. On February 2, 1902, Isabelo delos Reyes and Herminigildo Cruz formed the first labor union, Union Obrero Democratia de Filipinas. On May 1, 1903, workers marched to Malacañang, demanding fair wages and treatment. By April 8, 1908, May 1st was officially recognized as National Labor Day — a victory carved from sweat, sacrifice, and sheer defiance.

And more than a hundred years later, that fight continues. The street vendor still stands beneath the scorching sun, selling everything from balut to iced drinks, creating a livelihood with nothing but hustle and resilience. The teacher continues to impart knowledge in overcrowded classrooms, shaping the minds of the next generation despite the challenges and limited resources. 

The farmer rises early, laboring under the heat, planting crops that nourish the nation’s body, yet often struggles to see the rewards of his harvest. The garbage collector’s hands, calloused and stained, yet still cleaner than those who profit from the suffering of others, are a testament to his labor. While one hand sweeps away the trash of a broken system, the other clings to it, perpetuating the very rot it should be sweeping away.

But where there is struggle, there is strength. Through inflation, injustice, exhaustion, and broken promises, the Filipino worker endures — not out of mere obligation, but driven by something deeper: hope. Hope that every drop of sweat, every ounce of effort, is not in vain. The spirit of 1903 lives on in every Filipino who refuses to settle for less, who continues to fight for dignity in the face of a system that still needs fixing. It is in their hands, weathered by hard work, and in their hearts.