President Duterte called on Filipinos yesterday to emulate the patriotism and courage of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio as militant groups and Duterte supporters chanted and marched their way to Welcome Rotunda in Quezon City and Mendiola in Manila.
In a message commemorating the birth of the father of the Katipunan and the Great Plebeian from Tondo, the President paid homage to Bonifacio and expressed hope his sacrifices would inspire others to show love for country.
“May this occasion serve as a reminder for us to live up to the spirit of Bonifacio, whose spirit remains patriotic, unfettered, and independent,” the President said in his Bonifacio Day message.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, for his part, said that Filipinos should never give up fighting for what is right even if the odds seem to be overwhelmingly against them just like freedom fighter Gat Andres.
PRIDE AND HONOR
The President urged all Filipinos to look at “every waking day as an invitation to dedicate our lives for a worthy cause; to uplift the quality of life of our countrymen; and to bring back the pride and honor in our identity as a people.”
He said the public should get involved in community and national issues that affect their lives and should find strength in their collective voice “so that we can know ourselves better and understand our struggles in history.”
“Let us cultivate our capacity to act united and share common aspirations for a peaceful, just, prosperous, and truly free nation,” he said.
The President also recognized that Bonifacio’s life and legacy have inspired countless generations and whose actions have shaped the course of the country’s history.
“It was Bonifacio who dared to lead a mass action that defied the colonial rule and quelled the hunger of a people longing for change,” he said.
He said Bonifacio belongs to the “league of heroes” willing to lay down his life and put aside his own interests to honor the nation and defend it from its enemies. “His courage and love of country served as a guiding torch in the midst of darkness,” said Duterte.
MARCH TO MENDIOLA
Critics and supporters of President Duterte merged at Mendiola, Manila on Bonifacio Day as the opposing groups chanted with vigor and conviction their respective issues for and against the president’s policies.
Human rights, labor and other cause-oriented groups that came from Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City criticized Duterte for reneging on his promise to once and for all end the unfair practice of contractualization.
Other progressive groups also lambasted the president for allowing the burial of the Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB).
Groups critical of Duterte also slammed him for showing his authoritarian leanings by befriending the Marcos family.
Anti-riot policemen were on hand to prevent Duterte’s critics from reaching the Mendiola Peace Arch where the president’s supporters were holding a program.
The protesters assembled instead along Legarda and Recto Avenues.
Former Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon “ER’’ Ejercito showed up in the rally and vowed his support to Duterte.
Traffic in the area of Mendiola was virtually at a standstill as the crowd of pro and anti- administration groups start to arrive in droves.
Mendiola Outpost Commander Police Chief Inspector Leonardo De Guzman said the protests were generally peaceful with the anti-Marcos crowd estimated at 1,200 and the pro-Duterte group at 400.
FORWARD NOT BACKWARD
Pimentel reminded Filipinos to remember and learn from the values of the revolutionary leader.
“We enjoy our freedom today because Bonifacio dared to fight the oppression of the Spaniards,” he said.
Pimentel said the Supremo’s “selfless love” for his motherland should inspire the youth to fight to make the country better.
He said that the life of Bonifacio, who rose from humble origins to lead a national revolution, shows that power and riches are not necessary to make a difference.
“Bonifacio fought for change in the most difficult way possible. Today we don’t have to join the Katipunan and charge at loaded rifles. All we need to do is speak out against injustice and be a real Partner for change,” Pimentel said.
“Change has come, but we must be wary and ensure the country would move forward and not backward,” he added.
CALL FOR FEDERALISM
Ejercito said that it’s about time to switch to a federal form of government to balance the distribution of the government’s power and money.
“Ang objective is to fight for good and happy life at matigil na ang corruption ng mga trapo. With President Duterte’s political will and strong leadership, hopefully, the country will be federalized,” he said.
Ejercito also said that the groups protesting the burial of Marcos are being “financed by the ‘yellow cult’.”
He called on the millennials who are joining the anti-Marcos calls to study history again.
The post Duterte tells Pinoys: Be like Andresappeared first on Manila Bulletin.
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