Brief History:
This regular national holiday is celebrated on the last Monday in August. It is known in the Philippines as 'Araw ng mga Bayani' to honor and remember all the heroes of the revolution who helped to establish the foundation for the country's independence.
It is a day to honour the bravery of all Filipino heroes who struggled for the nation's freedom, including those who vanished into anonymity.
Who are the National Heroes?
In 1995, a year before the centenary of the revolution against Spain, a committee produced the following list of key known National Heroes who should be honoured for their contribution to the Philippines:
- Jose Rizal,
- Andres Bonifacio,
- Emilio Aguinaldo,
- Apolinario Mabini,
- Marcelo H. del Pilar,
- Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat,
- Juan Luna,
- Melchora Aquino
- Gabriela Silang,
Two of these heroes, Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal were key figures in the fight for independence from Spain that they also have specific national holidays in their honour.
The date chosen is intended to mark the 'Cry of Pugad Lawin' in August 1896, which was the first act of insurrection against the Spanish colonisers by the Katipunan, a hitherto secret Filipino revolutionary movement. This is seen as the start of the Philippine revolution and movement towards independence.
After centuries of rule by Spain, the United States, and Japan, the Philippines finally achieved full independence at the end of World War II.
The celebration of National Heroes Day is one of the oldest public holidays in the Philippines. In fact, it began during the American Occupation of the country. The Philippine legislature enacted Act No. 3827 on October 28th 1931 institutionalizing the celebration of National Heroes Day.
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During the past two years, health workers serving at the frontlines of stemming the tide of Covid-19 transmission have been aptly hailed as heroes — along with delivery riders, supermarket and drugstore employees, and security guards who enabled people to work from home and carry on with daily activities during protracted periods of enhanced community quarantine and lockdowns.
Overseas Filipino Workers, estimated at around two million, sent home remittances prior to the pandemic. By dint of hard work and personal sacrifice, they, too, are heroic Filipinos who deserve the nation’s gratitude.
Finally, we salute, too, the quiet heroism of our teachers, soldiers, police officers, street sweepers, construction workers, farmers and other Filipinos who work diligently and cheerfully to keep our nation safe and ensure the well-being of our communities and families.
