Chan honors frontliners as Lapu-Lapu City commemorates Rizal Day

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan says that the frontliners are the living heroes and that they are like our national hero, Jose Rizal. | Futch Anthony Inso

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan honors the frontliners — the modern day heroes — as the city government joins the nation in celebrating the 125th death anniversary of our national hero, Jose Rizal or the Rizal Day on Thursday morning, December 30, 2021.

“Karon nga atong gisaulog ang Rizal Day, kahibalo ta nga si Rizal mao atong nasudnon nga bayani. Hinaot ko nga kining atoang mga buhi nga bayani, magpadayon sila sa ilang trabaho. Hinaot ko nga si Dr. Jose Rizal ang nag-inspire nila,” said Chan during the ceremony to commemorate Rizal Day.

(Today as we celebrate Rizal Day, we know that Rizal is our national hero. We hope that our living heroes will continue to work. We hope that Dr. Jose Rizal is the one that inspired them.)

Chan was referring to the frontliners in the city, who lend their services since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic until the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette.

Like Rizal, Chan said that the frontliners did not stop in giving their services, sacrifices, and even risking their lives for the comfort of others.

“Ngadto sa mga DRRMO, sa atong kapulisan, sa BFP, AFP, sa atong mga frontliners nato, sa mga doctors, mga nurses, sa city health, sa clean and green workers, ang atoang solid waste workers, ang atoang social workers, ang CSWD, mao gyuy banati sa trabaho. So manghinaot ko nga sama ni Rizal, kamo para kanako. Kamo ang buhing bayani sa dakbayan sa Lapu-Lapu,” he added.

(To the DRRMO [Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office], to the police, to the BFP [Bureau of Fire Protection], AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines], to our frontliners, to our doctors, to our nurses, to our city health, to the clean and green workers, and to our social workers, the CSWD [City Social Welfare Department], who carried the load of work during the crisis. So I hope that you are like Rizal for me. You are the living heroes of the city of Lapu-Lapu.)

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan leads the wreath laying ceremony at the Jose Rizal statue at the Jose Rizal Plaza in Barangay Poblacion to commemorate the 125th Rizal Day. | Futch Anthony Inso

The city government commemorated Rizal Day with a wreath laying ceremony led by Mayor Chan at the Plaza Rizal in Barangay Poblacion of the city.

The activity was attended by first lady Cindy King-Chan, Vice Mayor Celedonio “Celsi” Sitoy and members of the city council, Police Colonel Arnel Banzon, and department heads, representatives from national agencies among others.

The Rizal Day program ended with the playing of patriotic songs sung by the Department of Education (DepEd)-Lapu-Lapu City Division Chorale.

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