President Aquino leads National Heroes' Day rites

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 31): President Aquino leads National Heroes' Day rites

President Benigno S. Aquino III led on Monday the commemoration of National Heroes' Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Upon his arrival, the President was accorded a 21-gun salute. He then laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

In his speech, President Aquino emphasized the importance of commemorating the heroism of those who had fought for the country.

"Taimtim nating ginugunita at tinitingala ang mga bantayog dito, bilang pagpupugay sa mga bayaning Pilipinong nanindigan, nagsakripisyo, at nag-alay ng buhay para sa kapwa at sa Inang Bayan. Lubos tayong nagpapasalamat sa mga kababayan nating buong-loob na sinuong ang panganib para ipaglaban ang tama at makatarungan; silang sinubok ang pananagutan at tinimbang ang paninindigan, at hindi nagkulang; silang mga humarap sa sangandaan, at piniling unahin ang interes ng mas nakararami, bago ang sarili," he said.

The President noted that according to American-Jewish writer Cynthia Ozick, there are three ‘participant’ categories of the Holocaust -- murderers, victims, and bystanders.

“Which are we most likely to become? When a whole population takes on the status of bystander, the victims are without allies; the criminals, unchecked, are strengthened; and only then do we need to speak of heroes," he said, quoting Ozick.

"Totoo nga po: Kapag may nangyaring karahasan — may gumawa ng karahasan at may biktima ng karahasan; at kung hindi ikaw ang salarin, at hindi rin ikaw ang inapi, ano ang ginawa mo? Sa mga pagkakataong ito raw kinakailangan ang mga bayani. Dito lumilitaw at nangingibabaw ang kadakilaan ng ilang mga indibidwal," he said.

He then urged the public to make a stand against unjust practices.

"Kapag may mali at di-makatuwiran sa lipunan — di ba’t kung manonood ka lang sa isang sulok, kung susunod ka lang sa dikta ng status quo, o magrereklamo nang walang inaalok na solusyon, di ba’t nakakadagdag ka lang sa problema, at pinapahaba ang pagdurusa ng iyong kapwa? Sa kabilang banda naman, kung may kahit isang taong titindig at haharang sa kanila para sabihing ‘Mali ang ginagawa ninyo. Hindi ako papayag na pagsamantalahan ninyo ang Pilipino,’ hindi po ba tiyak na mapapatid ang siklo ng panlalamang at kawalang-katarungan?" said the President.

The Chief Executive emphasized that in Philippine history — from the 1896 Revolution, to the country’s liberty from Spain in 1898, to the independence gained from the United States in 1946, to the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986, and to the solidarity the nation displayed in 2010 — many Filipinos have proven that they can create meaningful change.

"Kaya nating iangat at paunlarin ang ating bansa. Ang kailangan lang, isang bayan tayong magkapit-bisig, kumilos, at magbayanihan, nang sa gayon hindi na kakailanganin pang iatang sa iilang balikat ang mas mabibigat na pasanin ng bansa. Gagaan ang dalahin ng bawat isa, at hindi na magagawang ipasa pa sa mga susunod na henerasyon ang anumang suliranin ng kasalukuyan," President Aquino said.

Present during the ceremony were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairperson Maria Serena Diokno, Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri, and members of the diplomatic corps.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=798909