Emulate Rizal's genuine love for country - Marcos

As the nation marked the 127th anniversary of the martyrdom of Jose Rizal yesterday, President Marcos called on Filipinos to emulate the national hero's genuine love for the country and to have a deep sense of ownership of their motherland.

- HELEN FLORES

"I enjoin all of you to keep emulating the timeless values we can learn from his life and works," Marcos said in his message yesterday.

"I also call on everyone to let the genuine love for the country that he lived out, and later died for, propel us to have a deep and personal sense of ownership for our land and our future," he said.

The President arrived at the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park, Manila before 7 a.m. and was rendered arrival honors by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), followed by the raising of the Philippine flag.

He was joined by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and their children, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, Joseph Simon Marcos and William Vincent Marcos.

Government officials, led by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairman Em- manuel Franco Cairo, and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and the Philippine Army's security and escort, battalion also attended the commemoration of Rizal Day.

More than a century after his heroism, Marcos said Rizal’s influence continues to be felt in a world that is still afflicted by greed, oppression and injustice in various forms.

He reminded Filipinos to continue striving to follow in the national hero’s footsteps with the same purpose, passion and nationalism in everything that they do, to overcome all the challenges that come their way.