NHCP honors Mabini, Bonifacio on Heroes’ Day

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines celebrates National Heroes day August 26.

This year, the focus is on two heroes who lived exactly 150 years ago, Apolinario Mabini and Andres Bonifacio…

and how they remain relevant to a country in search of its identity.

Pia Ranada reports.

Inside the Polytechnic University of the Philippines stands an old house made of wood.
But it isn’t just an old house.
This is where the hero Apolinario Mabini lived and died.

ROSE GARCIA
CURATOR OF MABINI MUSEUM AND SHRINE
Galing lang siya sa mahirap na pamilya pero nag-struggle siya, nagpursige siya para maabot yung kanyang pangarap. Magbibigay inspirasyon yun lalo na sa kabataan. (He comes from a poor family. He struggled and strove to reach his dreams. That should inspire the youth.)

Called the “Sublime Paralytic,” his polio was not a hindrance to serving his country.

ROSE GARCIA
CURATOR OF MABINI MUSEUM AND SHRINE
Isa siya sa mga founder ng ating Philippine government. Unang una, naging adviser siya ni General Emilio Aguinaldo. Si Mabini rin naging cabinet secretary and then eventually he held the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs. (He was one of the founders of the Philippine government. He was the adviser of General Emilio Aguinaldo. Mabini was also a cabinet secretary and later held the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs.)

Next door, visitors can explore the Mabini Museum.
The museum introduces new ways of telling Apolinario Mabini’s story. Kids will enjoy flipping through this pop-up book that tells Mabini’s story one colorful page at a time.
There’s an animated video, interactive touchscreen, and cardboard cutouts.
Andres Bonifacio, a man of the masses has always been the icon of the working man.
He led the Katipuneros in a revolution against the colonizer, Spain.

BENIGNO AQUINO III
PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT
Kasabay nito, tila mapanghamon din ang titig ni Bonifacio: Ikaw, Pilipino, ano na ang nagawa mo para sa iyong bandila at kapwa? (At the same time, Bonifacio’s gaze poses a challenge: You, Filipino, what have you done for your flag and your neighbor?)

With two heroes about to celebrate their 150th birth anniversaries it’s time to think about what heroism means.
Gary Bonifacio, a great great grandnephew says heroism is about ordinary people answering the call of the times.

GARY BONIFACIO
BONIFACIO’S DESCENDANT
The modern heroes today are the ordinary people that do their work in extraordinary means. Bonifacio being an ordinary individual at that time, became a hero because he did an extraordinary act which is to sacrifice his life for the freedom of our country.

National Historical Commission Chairperson Maria Serena Diokno says there are plenty of modern Bonifacios today.

MARIA SERENA DIOKNO
CHAIRPERSON, NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION
You know Andres Bonifacio, he wasn’t the sort who demanded publicity or media mileage or that kind of public recognition. He believed in what he did and he did it. And I think there are still many Filipinos who are that way.

Its not hard to find selflessness and courage in the heroes of our past.
The big challenge for the historical commission: connecting them to the Filipinos of today.
Pia Ranada, Rappler, Manila. – Rappler.com