Emulate Rizal's heroism Aquino urges Filipinos
CALAMBA, Laguna – President Benigno S. Aquino III urged Filipinos to emulate the heroism of Jose Rizal whose supreme sacrifice paved the way for the freedom we enjoy today.
In his speech keynoting the celebration of the national hero’s 150th birthday here, the President praised Rizal for choosing to do the right thing instead of looking the other way.
He said Rizal could’ve used his wealth and education to become rich and marry any girl he fancied but instead chose to correct the injustices made to the motherland.
“Humarap din sa sangandaan si Rizal: sa isang banda, maaari niyang huwag pansinin ang mga nangyayari sa kaniyang paligid. Pwede niyang gamitin ang mga pinag-aralan niya sa iba’t ibang pamantasan sa Maynila at sa ibang bansa para magpayaman at maghanap ng magandang mapapangasawa. Maaari siyang magpatangay na lamang sa agos ng baluktot na sistema, at kahit pa alam niyang mali, ay makipagplastikan na lang sa mga prayle tuwing may handaan,” the President said.
“At sa sunud-sunod na pagharap niya sa sangandaan—mula sa pagkabinatang pinagkaitan ng ilang karangalan, hanggang sa pagkabayaning tinawag na mag-alay ng buhay para sa bayan—hindi naligaw si Rizal mula sa tuwid na daan,” he added.
The President said that the dilemmas that Rizal faced in his time was not far from the dilemmas Filipinos face today such as: “choosing to use the overpass or just jaywalk, to pay the correct taxes or not, or choose to right a wrong or look away.”
“Hindi po lahat ay pinapalad na tawagin upang magbuwis ng buhay para sa bayan. Subalit para sa nakararami, nasusukat ang pagkabayani sa araw-araw nating pagharap sa maliliit na sangandaan: Ang pagsunod sa batas, ang paggalang sa kapwa, ang paggawa ng tama sa sinumpaan nating mga tungkulin,at ang manindigan sa ating prinsipyo,” thePresident said.
He said this has been the driving force to get up every morning and complete the job of running a country.
“Nagtatrabaho tayo para sa bata sa lansangan na kayang maghibla ng isang kuwintas ng sampaguita, ngunit ni hindi pa nakakatapak sa loob ng eskuwela,” the President said.
“Nagtatrabaho tayo dahil sa isang malayong baryo, sa isang maliit na isla ng Pilipinas, maaaring may sanggol na magiging tulad ni Rizal: tapat ang puso, walang-kapantay ang talino, walang-hanggan ang malasakit sa kapwa, at may wagas na pag-ibig sa bayan,” he added.
“Nagtatrabaho po tayo upang wala nang Pilipino angkailangan pang magbuwis ng buhay para sa kapakanan ng mga susunod sa kanya,” the President said. (PCOO)
Aquino unveils tallest Rizal Monument
CALAMBA, Laguna – President Benigno S. Aquino III unveiled the tallest statue of national hero Jose Rizal in ceremonies commemorating his 150thbirth anniversary here Sunday.
The President, who was joined by Calamba City Mayor Joaquin Chipeco, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairman Maria Serena Diokno, Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon Ejercito, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Eduardo Oban and local officials, led the unveiling of the22-foot new Jose Rizal monument erected on a 6.7-hectare property in front of the Calamba City Hall complex.
The bronze statue, which began construction on December 2010, was designed and created by renowned sculptor Jonas Roces of Marikina.
Prior to the unveiling, the President was presented with five commemorative tokens for the sesquicentennial of Jose Rizal: 1) a certificate of restoration of the Noli Me Tangere by German ambassador to the Philippines Christian Ludwig Weber Lorssch; 2) the e-Rizal tablet from Laguna gov Ejercito; 3) a Rizal at 150 Commemorative Medal from Central Bank governor Amado Tetangco, Jr.; 4) a Rizal at 150 Commemorative Stamp from Post Master General Antonio De Guzman; and 5) a Book on the Lineage, Life and Labors of Jose Rizal by Tulay Foundation chairman Manuel Chua.
Earlier, the President led flag-raising ceremonies at the Rizal ancestral home compound here to formally kick-off the celebrations.
He then led a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of a bronze sculpture of Rizal as a boy.
A 21-gun salute honoring Rizal was then accorded by members of the Presidential Security Group. (PCOO)
CALAMBA, Laguna – President Benigno S. Aquino III urged Filipinos to emulate the heroism of Jose Rizal whose supreme sacrifice paved the way for the freedom we enjoy today.
In his speech keynoting the celebration of the national hero’s 150th birthday here, the President praised Rizal for choosing to do the right thing instead of looking the other way.
He said Rizal could’ve used his wealth and education to become rich and marry any girl he fancied but instead chose to correct the injustices made to the motherland.
“Humarap din sa sangandaan si Rizal: sa isang banda, maaari niyang huwag pansinin ang mga nangyayari sa kaniyang paligid. Pwede niyang gamitin ang mga pinag-aralan niya sa iba’t ibang pamantasan sa Maynila at sa ibang bansa para magpayaman at maghanap ng magandang mapapangasawa. Maaari siyang magpatangay na lamang sa agos ng baluktot na sistema, at kahit pa alam niyang mali, ay makipagplastikan na lang sa mga prayle tuwing may handaan,” the President said.
“At sa sunud-sunod na pagharap niya sa sangandaan—mula sa pagkabinatang pinagkaitan ng ilang karangalan, hanggang sa pagkabayaning tinawag na mag-alay ng buhay para sa bayan—hindi naligaw si Rizal mula sa tuwid na daan,” he added.
The President said that the dilemmas that Rizal faced in his time was not far from the dilemmas Filipinos face today such as: “choosing to use the overpass or just jaywalk, to pay the correct taxes or not, or choose to right a wrong or look away.”
“Hindi po lahat ay pinapalad na tawagin upang magbuwis ng buhay para sa bayan. Subalit para sa nakararami, nasusukat ang pagkabayani sa araw-araw nating pagharap sa maliliit na sangandaan: Ang pagsunod sa batas, ang paggalang sa kapwa, ang paggawa ng tama sa sinumpaan nating mga tungkulin,at ang manindigan sa ating prinsipyo,” thePresident said.
He said this has been the driving force to get up every morning and complete the job of running a country.
“Nagtatrabaho tayo para sa bata sa lansangan na kayang maghibla ng isang kuwintas ng sampaguita, ngunit ni hindi pa nakakatapak sa loob ng eskuwela,” the President said.
“Nagtatrabaho tayo dahil sa isang malayong baryo, sa isang maliit na isla ng Pilipinas, maaaring may sanggol na magiging tulad ni Rizal: tapat ang puso, walang-kapantay ang talino, walang-hanggan ang malasakit sa kapwa, at may wagas na pag-ibig sa bayan,” he added.
“Nagtatrabaho po tayo upang wala nang Pilipino angkailangan pang magbuwis ng buhay para sa kapakanan ng mga susunod sa kanya,” the President said. (PCOO)
Aquino unveils tallest Rizal Monument
CALAMBA, Laguna – President Benigno S. Aquino III unveiled the tallest statue of national hero Jose Rizal in ceremonies commemorating his 150thbirth anniversary here Sunday.
The President, who was joined by Calamba City Mayor Joaquin Chipeco, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairman Maria Serena Diokno, Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon Ejercito, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Eduardo Oban and local officials, led the unveiling of the22-foot new Jose Rizal monument erected on a 6.7-hectare property in front of the Calamba City Hall complex.
The bronze statue, which began construction on December 2010, was designed and created by renowned sculptor Jonas Roces of Marikina.
Prior to the unveiling, the President was presented with five commemorative tokens for the sesquicentennial of Jose Rizal: 1) a certificate of restoration of the Noli Me Tangere by German ambassador to the Philippines Christian Ludwig Weber Lorssch; 2) the e-Rizal tablet from Laguna gov Ejercito; 3) a Rizal at 150 Commemorative Medal from Central Bank governor Amado Tetangco, Jr.; 4) a Rizal at 150 Commemorative Stamp from Post Master General Antonio De Guzman; and 5) a Book on the Lineage, Life and Labors of Jose Rizal by Tulay Foundation chairman Manuel Chua.
Earlier, the President led flag-raising ceremonies at the Rizal ancestral home compound here to formally kick-off the celebrations.
He then led a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of a bronze sculpture of Rizal as a boy.
A 21-gun salute honoring Rizal was then accorded by members of the Presidential Security Group. (PCOO)
