Marcos to lead Heroes Day rites; Gen Z students weigh in on holiday

BY ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Aug 27, 2023 05:05 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• This year's observance theme is "Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan."

• The National Heroes Day is one of the oldest public holidays in the Philippines. The celebration started during the American Colonial Period and became a holiday through Republic Act (RA) No. 3827 on Oct. 28, 1931.

• Laws about the holiday did not specify any hero for Filipinos to celebrate, allowing the public to commemorate the bravery of anyone who has "braved death or persecution for home, nation, justice, and freedom." 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will lead the country in remembering the country's fallen heroes as Filipinos mark National Heroes Day on Aug. 28.

Libingan ng mga Bayani (Photo from Libingan ng mga Bayani’s official Facebook page)

Marcos will lead the National Heroes Day rites at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Fort Andres Bonifacio in Taguig City.

The event will take place on Monday morning with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Romeo Brawner joining the President.

Other expected guests are Dr. Emmanuel Franco Calairo, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chairperson, and Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni Cayetano.

During National Heroes Day, the country is expected to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for its liberation from foreign entities. Last year, President Marcos paid tribute to the countless Filipinos "of extraordinary courage and valor" who fought and sacrificed to establish and preserve the nation.

He also encouraged the citizenry to "never forget" them as their legacy and heroism live on in the hearts of medical professionals, civil servants, uniformed personnel, and ordinary citizens.

Marcos likewise honored modern-day heroes such as farmers, teachers, police, military, barangay officials, community leaders, ecological warriors, healthcare workers, overseas Filipino workers, and those working in other sectors.

This year's observance theme is "Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan."

When did it start?

The National Heroes Day is one of the oldest public holidays in the Philippines. The celebration started during the American Colonial Period and became a holiday through Republic Act (RA) No. 3827 on Oct. 28, 1931.

Initially, the law declared the last Sunday of August of every year an official national holiday until the late President Jose P. Laurel signed Executive Order No. 20 on March 20, 1942, which set the National Heroes Day on the 30th of November, coinciding with the celebration of Bonifacio Day that started in 1921.

In 1952, the late President Elpidio Quirino reverted the date of National Heroes Day to the last Sunday of August. This continued until former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law RA 9492, which moved the holiday to the last Monday of August. This was to promote "Holiday Economics," which aimed to reduce work disruptions and allow extended weekends to boost domestic tourism.

What makes a hero?

According to the Official Gazette, the laws about the holiday did not specify any hero for Filipinos to celebrate. This allowed the public to commemorate the bravery of anyone who has "braved death or persecution for home, nation, justice, and freedom."

To student writer Aaron Sabile, 21, a hero can be defined as someone who has morals and is compassionate and hardworking.

"A hero can be someone who has no extraordinary powers but has the power of moral code or dignity and knows what is right from wrong," he said.

"Someone who understands compassion, hard work, and belongingness," he added.

For 20-year-old student paper editor-in-chief Hannah Leonardo, a hero explores new things to improve any situation.

"I believe that what truly makes someone a hero is a willingness to learn or explore something new to know what change they need to create— even if discomfort is part of the process," she said.

"Having that mindset proves to me that people are doing something not for the sake of being praised by others but because of their genuine regard for their surroundings," she added.

Both students also agreed that it is important for Filipinos to continue celebrating National Heroes Day.

"Everyone loves heroes, and National Heroes Day is a great way to honor and commemorate those heroes who established the country's basis of independence and made the world a better place," Sabile said.

"Such commemoration can help us remember and not turn the things our heroes fought for in vain— I believe that having the consciousness about our heroes from the past would help us envision the future they once believed in and push us to start actions that would inform change," Leonardo shared.

Miley Cyrus: Introspective Barbie

 BY PUNCH LIWANAG

  

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AT A GLANCE

• At 30, Miley is still too young to contemplate her life choices. But 30 is probably 50 for someone thrust into the entertainment world at a young age. And the irony of it is that her wild ride started as a teen actor during her Disney days as Hannah Montana.

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Miley Cyrus (Image courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment Philippines)

After breaking big with her previous single, “Flowers,” pop’s favorite wild child, Miley Cyrus, turns introspective on her latest single, “Used To Be Young.”

After her number one hit “Flowers” – a song about staying sane and strong post-breakup – Miley Cyrus is ruminating about life on this rising mid-tempo ballad, the latest single from her most recent album “Endless Summer Days.”

At 30, Miley is still too young to contemplate her life choices. But 30 is probably 50 for someone thrust into the entertainment world at a young age. And the irony of it is that her wild ride started as a teen actor during her Disney days as Hannah Montana.

From “Party In The U.S.A.”  to her eventual one-eighty turn as a twerking wild child in “Wrecking Ball,” Miley’s been around enough to have her fair share of shedding images (to the extreme at that).

And that’s what she’s singing about at the onset as she goes, “The truth is bulletproof, there’s no foolin’ you / I don’t dress the same, me and who you say I was yesterday have gone our separate ways / left my livin’ fast somewhere in the past ‘cause that’s for chasin’ cars.” And what a wild ride it has been so far, but just before the first chorus kicks in as if with a pang of mixed regret realization, she adds: “turns out open bars lead to broken hearts and going way too far.”

So though it may sound as if she’s regretful, it’s not so when she intones at the chorus: “I know I used to be crazy, I know I used to be fun / You say I used to be wild, I say I used to be young.” She says: “It’s fine, I’ve had a good run.”  

She confirms this in her own words when she describes “Used To Be Young” as “honoring who we’ve been and celebrating who we will become.” She goes on to say that she’s learned much from her experience. “I feel proud when reflecting on my past and optimistic about the future.”

With the arrangement starting with an arena-ready piano motif, we’re immediately reminded of similar power ballads of hers that echo that same big-ness. There’s “The Climb” from 2009 and another twerk-era hit in “We Can’t Stop.”

Chime-y keyboard sounds that eventually give way to a full chorus, punctuated here with a prominent, ethereal-sounding slide guitar and an almost hypnotic but steady drum beat.  

Kudos to Miley for writing such heartfelt lyrics, but credit goes to producers Michael Pollack and Shawn Everett for nodding to two big Miley signature tunes in one go.

Miley Cyrus is in her Debbie-Harry and-Joan-Jett-inspired rock and roll phase as deep as her long legs can take her. It’s all so interesting as her other eras were, but “Used To Be Young” is a nice break – and a reminder of what has been and will be – for long-time fans as we all wait for what comes next from this pop chameleon.

By the way, Miley acknowledged her fandom when she said something about being grateful to her loyal fans about dreams being her reality and that she’s sincerely thankful for the steadfast support.

Keep making tunes like these, and you'll always have our ears, Ma'am Miley.

'The Missing Husband' delivers suspenseful action drama

Beginning today, a unique story of action suspense drama is coming on GMA Afternoon Prime via "The Missing Husband."

The series is headlined by some of the country's brightest stars Yasmien Kurdi as Millie, Jak Roberto as Joed, Sophie Albert as Ria, Joross Gamboa as Brendan, and Rocco Nacino as Anton.

Also starring in the action-suspense drama are Nadine Samonte, Shamaine Buencamino, Michael Flores, Maxine Eigenmann, Cai Cortez, Bryce Eusebio and Patricia Coma.

"The Missing Husband" follows the story of OFWs in Qatar, Anton and Millie, who venture to work abroad away from their families to save enough money for their future. However, their plans were disorganized when Millie got pregnant. They try to start anew in the Philippines. After getting married, the two signed up for an investment opportunity. Anton invests all their life savings and invites several others to join.

Later on, Anton finds out that the business is a scam. He and Millie lost all their hard-earned possessions, which caused conflict in their marriage. Things become more complicated when Anton started receiving death threats from those he invited to the investment scheme.

Anton promised Millie that he would fix everything. Until one morning, Anton vanishes, leaving blood all over their kitchen. Was there someone who tried to kill him? Or was it all part of his escape plan? Where can Millie find her missing husband?

The highly-talented creative team behind "The Missing Husband" is composed of creative director Aloy Adlawan, creative head Dode Cruz, head writer Marides Severino, writers Renato Custodio Jr., Mark Duane Angoas, Maria Christina Velasco, and brainstormer Cynthia Paz.

Catch the world premiere of "The Missing Husband" — under the helm of esteemed director Mark Reyes — Mondays to Fridays at 4:05 p.m. on GMA Afternoon Prime and Pinoy Hits.