Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Filipinos to choose country over personal interests as he called on the public to draw inspiration from the life and ideals of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal during the commemoration of Rizal Day on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
In his Rizal Day message, Marcos said Rizal’s writings and sacrifices awakened the Filipino sense of dignity, freedom, and responsibility, reminding citizens of their role in shaping the nation’s future.
The president said Rizal’s principles should continue to guide both public service and daily life, urging Filipinos to reject indifference and self-interest in favor of compassion, integrity, and love of country.
Marcos also emphasized that honoring Rizal goes beyond remembrance, calling on Filipinos to keep the national hero’s legacy alive by choosing accountability, unity, and the common good in their actions.
Rizal Day is observed annually on Dec. 30 to mark the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal in 1896, an event widely regarded as a turning point in the country’s struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule.
