National Heroes Day
The annual National Heroes Day, also known as “Araw Ng Mga Bayani”, honours all Filipino heroes who have fought and given their lives to defend their nation. National Heroes Day is observed annually on the last Monday in August following Republic Act No. 9492. This year, it will be celebrated on August 29, 2022, because it is the final Monday of the month. It is a recognized national holiday in the Philippines that pays tribute to all Filipino patriots—known and undiscovered—who have fought for their nation’s independence.
National Heroes Day has been marked annually on the last Sunday in August since Act No. 3827 was passed in 1931. The national holiday was moved to the final Monday in August by Republic Act No. 9492, signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2007. Parades and the laying of wreaths are held to remember those who died defending the Philippine nation. On this day, Filipinos also remember the Cry of Pugad Lawin. This uprising ignited the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire in 1896 and began the long fight for Philippine independence.
Our nation’s heroes are frequently portrayed as a pantheon of distinctive and robust individuals who, through their words or deeds, have managed to secure their names in our history books. However, the law that established National Heroes Day does not mention any particular heroes. This lack of specifics provides a chance to honour the bravery of all Filipino heroes who have risked their lives or been persecuted for the sake of their country, their homeland, justice, and freedom. A National Heroes Committee was established in 1995 to suggest those who should be considered “National Heroes.” They identified a select group of individuals they thought deserved to be honoured for their contributions using a set of criteria. Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, and the like. Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal, two extraordinary heroes who played a significant role in the struggle for independence from Spain, are commemorated with specific national holidays.
Your children or even family members would undoubtedly be interested in learning why we celebrate national heroes day in the Philippines, given the extended weekend created by Monday being a holiday. Answering this question will probably be even more impressive if you observe National Heroes Day at home by participating in the following activities:
• Watching Filipino films about Philippine National Heroes.
• Learning about Philippine history in a fun way.
• Spending quality time with your family on National Heroes Day,
• And celebrating our modern-day heroes.
Enjoy a fantastic start to a new season by making this special day all about spending time with loved ones and commemorating those who sacrificed for your freedom!