Last time as president: Aquino leads Rizal Day rites

MANILA, Philippines – For the last time in his term, President Benigno Aquino III led the commemoration of the 119th death anniversary of national hero Dr Jose Rizal on Wednesday, December 30.

Aquino graced the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Rizal Park in Manila, as commemorative programs were also held at the Rizal Shrines in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, and in Calamba, Laguna.

In his message, Aquino urged Filipinos to reflect on Rizal’s sacrifices for the country’s independence, and to emulate his vision and love of country.

“Dr Jose Rizal worked hard to pursue our independence, serving as a catalyst for change; his works remain relevant to this day, a reminder of a past when freedom seemed beyond our reach. Let us remember him on this occasion, along with other heroes who shared their strength and vision to make the Philippines the nation it is today,” he said.

Aquino also expressed his hope for Filipinos to be “heroes in [their] own way” by committing to Daang Matuwid or straight path – the catchphrase for his administration’s good governance and anti-corruption platform.

“Let us all be heroes in our own way, and reaffirm our commitment to the Daang Matuwid. Only by traversing this road towards fairness and progress can we translate our dreams into tangible realities for our people,” he said.

This year’s Rizal Day rites also featured a flyby of Philippine Air Force assets, including a showcase of the PAF’s newly-acquired supersonic fighter jets, the FA-50s.

The FA-50s, which arrived in the Philippines from South Korea in November, marked the return of the PAF to the supersonic age a decade after it retired its US-designed fighter jets in 2005. – Rappler.com