During his Rizal Day address last week at Rizal Elementary School, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia called the present “the most relevant times to make the death and heroism of Dr. Jose Rizal our source of strength and inspiration.”

He also quoted President Rodrigo Duterte, who said during his Rizal Day speech at the Rizal Monument in Luneta, “Let us therefore emulate the traits of Rizal, let us be willing heroes.”

The mayor noted, the ideals of the national hero will contribute to bringing the “real change” promised by the Duterte administration.

Leonardia called on various sectors to be heroes in their own right, including mothers as “models of strength and integrity;” fathers who “provide the material, moral, and spiritual support to their own families;” and made mention of teachers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as “modern-day heroes.”

This year’s Rizal Day rites marked the 121th death anniversary of the national hero./PLL, WDJ