(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, Dec. 30, urged Filipinos to “embody” Jose Rizal’s patriotism in all their endeavors in order to build the society the national hero envisioned for the Filipino people.
“Let this be an opportunity to honor Rizal for shaping our history as a nation,” Duterte said in his Rizal Day message.
The President noted that “Rizal’s courageous life and inspiring works have been instrumental in awakening our collective consciousness to foster our Filipino identity and take a stand against our oppressors.”
He said Filipinos “remember him as a beacon of valor and solidarity at a time when darkness, injustice and tyranny prevailed over our land.”
“Even in death, his example continues to encourage us as we pursue ways to address the social ills that confront us up to this day,” he added.
The President is slated to lead Rizal Day rites in Davao today.
Earlier, in its Rizal Day message, the Palace urged Filipinos to become “modern-day heroes” in order to “sustain the fight” against the “ills of society.”
