Gov: Everyone can be a hero

DAVIDE

As the country celebrates National Heroes Day today, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III is encouraging everyone to be a hero since everyone can be a hero.

“For me, everyone of us here, in our little way, we are heroes. What’s a hero to you? Somebody selfless, somebody who has made sacrifices for others, not necessarily dying for others. You don’t have to die to be a hero,” Davide told reporters when asked for a message to mark National Heroes Day.

He said farmers, journalists, public officials, government employees, and anyone in the community could be rightfully called a hero, if they would be selfless and would sacrifice themselves for others.

The National Heroes Day, which is a non-working holiday in the country, is commemorated today to remember Filipino heroes who started the Philippine Revolution more than a century ago and those who sacrificed themselves for the republic.

But while traditional heroes include those who have died in wars in order to liberate our country, there are also modern day heroes, who live among us, Davide said.

“Really, heroes sacrifice and contribute to the community, regardless of the size of the community and his or her contributions for the development of the community,” he said.

“It’s how you carry your life; how you live your life,” he added.

The Cebu provincial government is also celebrating its 447th Founding Anniversary this month with a series of activities.

Last August 12, the province celebrated Farmers Day.

Davide said that during the activity, they declared farmers the “heroes of the land” as they were the ones who toiled the land to produce food for the people.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently reminded private sector employers in the country to pay their employees who would be working today twice their daily salaries.

Former President Benigno Aquino III declared August 29 as a regular holiday nationwide by virtue of Proclamation No. 1105.