An official of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines said yesterday that debates on naming revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio as the national hero must end as they divide the nation.
NHCP Deputy Executive Director for Administration Carminda Arevalo said that all of our forefathers who fought for our freedom such as Bonifacio are national heroes.
“National hero silang lahat. May iba-iba silang ambag na ibinigay para sa bayan…’wag na natin pagsabungin kung sino ang mas magaling,” Arevalo said in an interview following a ceremony for the 155th birth anniversary of Bonifacio at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila.
Instead, Arevalo said that we must be one in learning and being inspired from the sacrifices of our heroes.
“Sana tayo rin…mabigay rin natin yung mga sakripisyong nagawa nila…sa ganitong paraang mapasalamatan o maibalik natin ‘yung mga sakripisyo na nagawa nila para sa bayan,” she added.
Dr. Daisy Distrito-Morales, a descendant of Bonifacio, said in a speech that at these modern times, anyone of us can become a hero by being compassionate with other people.
“Di kinakailangan magkaroon ng kapangyarihan, pangalan, posisyon, o maging mataas na antas ng pamumuhay sa lipunan para maging hadlang ang pagkakaroon ng pagmamalasakit sa ibang tao,” she said.
Morales, a rural dentist in Ternate, Cavite, said she strives to follow the footsteps of her granduncle by “extending more services to the public to the best of my knowledge and skills as well as through other means aside from my profession.”
“Sa simpleng pagdamay, pagkilos, pagtulong, at malasakit sa ibang tao tayo ay maituturing na isang bayani ng ating bayan,” she said. “Sama sama po tayo as one nation for a better tomorrow,” she added.
