Beyond the Statues and Holidays

As the long weekend comes to a close, many students who traveled to their home provinces are now returning to their dormitories. On this Monday, they reopen their books, perhaps rushing to review for their Life and Works of Rizal class after enjoying the break so much that they almost forgot about an upcoming recitation. But is this really how we commemorate our heroes—by merely recalling names and memorizing dates etched in history books and articles?

National Heroes’ Day traces its origins to Act No. 3827, passed by the Philippine Legislature in 1931. Originally celebrated on the last Sunday of August to mark the Cry of Pugad Lawin—Filipinos’ first bold step toward revolution against Spanish rule. It was later moved by Republic Act No. 9492 to the last Monday of August. Since then, it has become an annual occasion not to honor a single figure, but to pay tribute to the collective sacrifice of all who fought for freedom, democracy, and justice.

When we think of Philippine heroes, names like Rizal, Bonifacio, Goyo, and Mabini naturally come to mind. However, the Philippines today faces many challenges such as climate change, rising costs of living, disinformation, and lack of national unity—all of which shape how heroism is perceived which reflects with the campaign of Friedrich Naumann Foundation (Andres, 2024). Heroes are no longer just those in barong or camisa de chino, immortalized in statues for leading revolutions. 

During these cries for freedom, farmers continued to sow the land, not just to sustain their families but also to provide sustenance to those in need in their battles for sovereignty. Some may even leave the fields and serve on the vanguards in the very same battles of those they have fed. The very same tools they used to plow the fields were then used to dig trenches and made into weapons. 

There were mothers who raised children amid war and scarcity, instilling in them the values of courage and dignity despite colonial oppression. There were also townsfolk who harbored fugitives, risking imprisonment or execution. Even those who never held a weapon contributed by how they relayed information in the middle battles. 

These heroes are the nurses pulling double shifts in overcrowded hospitals, yet unwavering in their duty to care and attend to those in need. They are also the teachers who stretch limited resources to ignite the minds of their students, shaping futures despite systemic neglect. They are journalists who put themselves at risk to uncover the truth, defending democracy in an age of disinformation. 

There are also the jeepney drivers who navigate long days for a small amount of pay, construction workers going through unsafe conditions, and overseas Filipino workers enduring homesickness to support their families. In calamities, we see rescuers wading through chest-deep floods, risking their own safety to save people they barely know. 

Today’s heroes align with the heroes of the past by having the same heartbeat: the willingness to put others before themselves, to endure hardship for the greater good, and to contribute and imagine for a better future for the nation. Their names may never be etched on stones or written in textbooks, but their impact shapes the soul of the Philippines today. 

In a country suffering from poverty, inequality, corruption, and environmental crises, the call to be a hero is not an invitation to wage war but to stand for what is right, to protect the vulnerable, to defend truth, and to nurture hope for future generations. Heroism today may mean choosing honesty in a culture tempted by shortcuts, practicing compassion in divided communities, or advocating for justice in systems that resist change.

As the sun sets on National Heroes’ Day, speeches may fade and ceremonies may end, but the spirit of the holiday lingers. It reminds us that heroism is not frozen in statues or confined to the past. It is alive in every Filipino who dares to act selflessly, to dream bravely, and to serve wholeheartedly. It is not simply a holiday but a call to continue building the kind of nation collectively envisioned by our fellow Filipinos. 

References:

National Commission for Culture and the Arts. (2017). National Heroes. https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/selection-and-proclamation-of-national-heroes-and-laws-honoring-filipino-historical-figures/

Raymundo Jr., P. (2017). LGUs urged to conduct fitting rites for National Heroes Day. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1007492

Andres, R.B. (2024). Friedrich Naumann Foundation. PHILIPPINES: Heroism from the Eyes of the Young Generation. https://www.freiheit.org/philippines/heroism-eyes-young-generation

Guinita, S.M.V. (2024). Unsung Heroes in the Modern-day World. Sun Star https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/cebu/lifestyle/unsung-heroes-in-the-modern-day-world