Limitado lamang ang mitambong sa ika-124 nga katuigon sa pagsaulog sa National Heroes Day niining adlawa sa dakbayan sa Dipolog.
Bisan paman niini, nahimung mahinungdanon ang maong selebrasyon tungod kay gipahinungod kini sa atong mga bag-ong bayani taliwala sa krisi nga giatubang sa nasud karon nga Covid-19.
Giila sa mayor ning dakbayan ang mga personaheng nanumpa aron nga mapabiling hapsay ang dakbayan ug luwas sa bisan unsa mang kagubot, lakip na sa panglawas.
Ania ang kinatibuk-ang mensahe ni Mayor Darel Uy sa kasaulogan sa 124th National Heroes Day karong adlawa:
??????????” ??????? ?? ??? ??? ??????
Message of Mayor Darel Dexter T. Uy, City of Dipolog
National Heroes’ Day Celebration
Aug 31, 2020 | Plaza Magsaysay, Dipolog City
Maayong buntag kanatong tanan!
Today, we pay glowing tribute once again to the heroism and ultimate sacrifice of our national heroes. Despite and in spite our present situation, it is important that we remember their heroism and contribution to building our nation.
It is through annual commemorations and frequent discussions – in stories and in books – that we perpetuate their memory. More importantly, we need to pass on to the next generation their stories of courage, patriotism and love for fellowmen.
In the past, there have been discussions on what makes a national hero. While there were attempts in the past to have one, there is no law, executive order or proclamation that has been enacted or issued officially proclaiming any Filipino historical figure as a national hero.
Despite the lack of any official declaration explicitly proclaiming them as national heroes, they remained admired and revered for their roles in our country’s history.
Heroes, according to historians, should not be legislated. Their appreciation should be better left to academics. Acclamation for heroes, they felt, would be recognition enough.
About four years ago, historian Dr. Ambeth Ocampo was featured in a documentary series. He said, “?????????? ?????? ??????, ???? ????? ??? ?????????? ?? ??????, ???????, ?????? ?? ? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?? ? ?????”
He then asked people, “???? ????? ? ???? ??????”
This is a summary of people’s quick responses: “?????, ???? ???? ??? ?????. ???? ??? ????????. ???????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ?? ???. ??? ?????????. ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????; ???? ???? ???? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ?? ???. ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ???????.”
Then one of the respondents said: “?? ? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ??????????? ??? ????? ??? ??????. ??? ???? ???’?? ?????, ??? ?????????? ?????? ???? ??????, ????’?? ??, ???? ??? ?????? ??????. ??? ??????? ?? ????? ???????????, ?? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??????.”
One trivia I wish to share this morning: Most of the national heroes that we have come to know actually lived and died in the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century.
Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Gregorio del Pilar, Apolinario Mabini and many other heroes were not able to live long enough to experience the 1918-1920 Spanish Flu pandemic. Although there might have been several disease outbreaks during their time, those are actually poorly compared to the 1918 and the present COVID-19 pandemic.
What I wish to point out is that just like wars and uprisings, these plagues, epidemics and pandemics have ravaged humanity throughout its existence, often changing the course of history. The present pandemic that we are experiencing is no different. COVID-19 is changing not only the way we live but also the course of history in the long end.
It is during periods of crisis like this that we should look up to heroes for inspiration. The virus has put us in a battle of survival but the greater war is how we can emerge from this pandemic as a healthy, strong, united and productive community.
During periods of difficulties in history, heroes would always emerge. We have seen many during the COVID pandemic. For six months now, we see our frontliners in action on a daily basis. They are family members, friends, colleagues, people we know who have been selflessly giving their services to make our community safe and healthy.
We are thankful to God that our City and Province are largely spared from the virus unlike other places. But just the same, keeping it that way only mean we also had to endure lots of sacrifices.
Towards that, I wish to add that there is something about how heroes achieve success and emerge victorious which is not very much highlighted in books: ?????????? ??? ?????????. Our heroes, despite personal imperfections, consider having discipline and integrity as important virtues in winning their battles.
This year’s commemoration of National Heroes’ Day gives us an inspiring new take on heroism. One may wonder what would Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini, Aguinaldo, Luna and our other national heroes have done during this period of crisis.
But I believe there are better questions to ask: ??? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ????????? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????
We may not need to redefine or find new meaning for heroism in the new normal. What we probably need is a new perspective. For the new heroes, nothing really is impossible.
Beyond commemorations, let us cherish our heroes’ supreme offering by keeping our nation free, vibrant, prosperous, healthy and safe. More importantly, we must likewise realize that we can be heroes, too, for our country by doing our small but great roles that build our nation and community.
Finally, let us remember that the sacrifices of our heroes are not in vain if we see ordinary people around us who continue to selflessly perform acts to be of extraordinary help to their fellowmen even during this time when all of us are affected by the crisis. ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ????????.
Thank you. Mabuhay tayong lahat! Happy National Heroes’ Day!
(OIC Lyza Bautista, RPN DXKD Dipolog)
(Source: Dipolog City Government Facebook page)