Libingan ng mga Bayani, Taguig City
August 27, 2018

“I consider it a privilege to stand before you today, as we honor the extraordinary heroism of countless Filipinos who have faced seemingly insurmountable odds in defense of this nation and the values that it stands for,” remarked President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as he led the commemoration of the National Heroes Day held at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

In his keynote address, the President said that the celebration called for not only the remembrance of heroes with statues and with portraits embedded in the currency and history books, but for the “unnamed heroes” such as the Filipino troops, volunteers, police officers, educators, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) or the “everyday heroes” whom the youth should look up to.

“Today, let us honor ordinary Filipinos, who despite the challenges that come their way, continue to work for the well-being [of] their families, the betterment of their communities, and the advancement of our nation,” he said.

At the end of his speech, President Duterte expressed his hope for all Filipinos to continue to embody the ideals and values that the country’s heroes stood up for.

“Let us all become worthy heirs of their legacy, so that we may leave behind to the succeeding generations of Filipinos a nation that they will also proudly give up their lives for,” he ended.

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