Each year on the last Monday of August, the Philippines celebrates National Heroes’ Day to commemorate all the brave and self-sacrificing personalities who fought for the country in the name of nation, justice, and freedom. This day honors not one specific hero, but each one who came before us and put “Inang Bayan” before everything else, including their own lives. This also includes all the unnamed heroes that had not been immortalized in history books and national holidays.

One of the most significant Filipino heroes that have undoubtedly shaped history is Dr. Jose Rizal. Through his works Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, and articles in La Solidaridad, he was able to move not only his colleagues and other members of the elite, but perhaps most importantly, fellow revolutionary hero, Andres Bonifacio, who later founded the Katipunan rebel group to drive the Spanish force out of the country.

There’s also Emilio Aguinaldo who joined Bonifacio in the Katipunan movement and eventually became the first president of the country; Apolinario Mabini who served as a constitutional lawyer for the Revolutionary Government; Melchora Aquino or “Tandang Sora” who aided the Katipunan with her money, home and wisdom; Revolution leader Gabriela Silang of the Ilocos region; and many others who put aside their fear and pride to answer the call of the Filipino people, even before we realized the need in the first place.

Most, if not all, of the major heroes we celebrate as a nation are key persons during the Spanish era, a time when Filipinos were third-class citizens in their own country, and our ancestors were humiliated, disadvantaged, and robbed of their land, education, and rights. If we think about it, not a lot has changed since then. But “heroes” in the conventional sense of public acclamation and world-renowned victory are nowhere to be found, or perhaps we don’t recognize them enough.

A lot of the struggles that our forefathers faced remains present until today, in varying degrees all across the nation. Our brothers and sisters in Mindanao have been fighting years-long for their right to their own land and identity, with Lumad schools continually being bombed and destroyed to handicap its future generations; at a time of a pandemic, millions of our countrymen went unemployed and without sufficient assistance from those who hold responsibility; medical frontliners and other essential workers are belittled and scoffed at just when our country needs them the most; and inequality and injustice is rampant and palpable in every part of our country.

Over a hundred years later, nationalism is still ever a desperate call for Filipinos to put the Philippines and its people first. Only this time, we’re not battling colonizers, but fellow Filipinos who put themselves and their own personal interests before that of others.

Who knows what heroism looks like in 2020?

Are journalists and their contributions to unearthing truths and lies comparable to the novels and words of Rizal? Are activists and its leaders embodying the same bravery and charisma of Bonifacio, Aguinaldo, and Silang? Are lawyers and law-makers who fight against unjust and unconstitutional legislation the modern-day Mabini? Are organizations and individuals who distribute their wealth and resources to those who are in dire need of it akin to Aquino?

LOOK: Peasant and fishers groups join multisectoral organizations in commemorating the National Heroes Day at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

“We pay our highest tribute to our modern day heroes; the freedom fighters and human rights defenders such as Ka Randy Echanis.” pic.twitter.com/WRu0Jjrsi1

— Pamalakaya Pilipinas (@pama_pil) August 31, 2020

 

Paggunita, patuloy na paglaban sa Araw ng mga Bayani! Pagpupugay sa mga healthcare workers, teachers at lahat ng mga frontliners sa gitna ng pandemya, at mga nananawagan ng epektibo at pang-masang tugon sa COVID-19 para sa ligtas na balik-eskwela, trabaho at kabuhayan???? Mabuhay✊ pic.twitter.com/dj0sa0FSwr

— Sarah Elago (@sarahelago) August 31, 2020

These are just some of the millions of Filipinos who, in their own way, fight for the day we all can proudly say that we’re free, in every sense of the word, without leaving anybody behind. This means equal opportunity for farmers, public transportation drivers, indigenous tribes, nurses, service workers, teachers, artists, writers, construction workers, small business owners, helpers, caregivers, journalists, musicians, delivery workers, public servants, fishermen, and so, so many more.

We’ve made significant steps moving forward as a country and society, and also some unfortunate moves that take us back decades in terms of progress. This only means that the fight is far from over, and what we need right now is a continuous movement to protect, serve, and care for all Filipinos in the name of nationalism.

On that note, President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an official statement honoring frontliners on this very important day, and calls on Filipinos to show a new expression of nationalism, and to be strong in overcoming our current challenges.