Tarlac City Plazuela, Tarlac City
30 December 2013 

President Benigno S. Aquino III led the commemoration of the 117th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal held in Tarlac City.

In a simple ceremony, the President was accorded full military honors followed by the laying of the wreath with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.

On this day, simultaneous activities were commenced in honor of the country’s national hero. Flag raising ceremonies at exactly 7:00 a.m. were done in Manila, Laguna and Dapitan City, while Philippine embassies across the globe did their respective commemoration as well.

The Rizal Day celebration was already being observed during the term of President Elpidio Quirino but it was only during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino when this was included among the roster of regular holidays in the country.

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