Mayor Sara Duterte said that everyone should remember how Jose Rizal put the country first before himself and learn from his heroic deeds.
“Let us remember kung unsa ang contribution ni Jose Rizal sa atoang nasud ang let us learn from what he did for the love of our country, for what he did for our fellow men, fellow Filipinos na iyahang gibutang ang atoang nasud over and beyond himself,” the mayor said.
Mayor Inday also noted that the presence of President Rodrigo Duterte during the commemoration uplifted the spirit of City Hall employees who miss the President.
President Duterte offered flowers to the monument of the country’s National Hero. He left afterward.
Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) Chief Major General Erwin Bernard Neri also stressed that the heroism of Rizal that should be applied by Filipinos in their day to day lives.
“Rizal is both an icon and a role model not just for the youth but to every one of us. Rizal symbolizes the united Filipino nation one that helps one another, one that prioritizes the safety and well-being of everyone other than himself and to do that, I know that he sacrificed himself for everyone,” he said.
Neri narrated the recent calamities that the country experienced, including the series of quakes in Mindanao.
Neri said that in times of calamity, the Filipino people should show resiliency to stand up amidst the calamity.
“Niining mga panahona nga nanginahanglan og mga nasudnong bayani sama ni Jose Rizal, ako nga lumulopyo sa Mindanao, hugot nga naga too nga kitang mga taga Mindanao dili palupig sa bisan unsang pag sulay nga ihatag kanato,” he said. CIO
