THE Interior Department on Saturday urged local government units to conduct befitting activities to honor the country’s heroes and reawaken the sense of nationhood of the Filipinos as the nation celebrates National Heroes Day on Monday.
In a directive, the Interior Department told LGUs to conduct simple but meaningful activities such as flag-raising ceremony, wreath-laying and commemorating rites, display of the Philippine flag in LGU offices, and such other fitting activities in their respective localities.
Local governments in Metro Manila are likewise enjoined to participate in the commemorative rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City which will be led by the National Historical Commission, Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Other government agencies and non-government organizations are also expected to take part in the ceremony in other parts of the country.
National Heroes Day is a holiday which traces its roots to that day meant to honor all the country’s heroes, particularly those whose names have been lost to history.
The lack of a specific individual’s name was meant to create an opportunity for every Filipino who has braved death and persecution for the country to be commemorated.
Initially set on the last Sunday of August by a declaration of the Philippine Legislature in 1931, the holiday was moved to Nov. 30 during then President Jose P. Laurel’s term.
In 2007, the public holiday started being celebrated on the last Monday of August with the enactment of Republic Act 9492 or the Holiday Economics Law.