BAGUIO CITY – The Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) urged Filipinos to have the integrity and loyalty needed in upholding the country’s freedom which was earned through the supreme sacrifices of fallen national heroes like Dr. Jose P. Rizal for the Philippines to be able to move on to greater heights.
PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Allan Ferdinand Cusi pointed out the present and future generation of Filipinos must sustain the burning desire for freedom and lasting peace to show our concern for the supreme sacrifices made by the country’s heroes before freeing the Philippines from its colonizers for over four centuries.
Cusi served as the guest of honor and speaker during the commemoration of the 123rd martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal held at the Rizal Park in the city last December 30, 2019.
He underscored Filipinos must pass on to the future generations the peace and freedom that the country is currently enjoying for them to experience the fruits of the sacrifices of the country’s national heroes for them to enjoy such freedom, especially from tyrannical colonizers.
As an officer of the country’s armed forces, the PMA official underscored the country will be able to sustain the gains of peace and freedom achieved through hard fought wars in the past that served as the turning point in the country’s rich history.
Cusi explained Rizal proved that ‘ the pen is mightier than the sword’ because with his writings, he created the burning desire among Filipinos to revolt against their abusive colonizers and it was already too late when the Spaniards realized the Filipinos are revolting against their over four centuries of colonizing the Philippines that resulted to the achievement of peace and freedom that generations of Filipinos have enjoyed.
According to him, Rizal also proved that conflicts can be won through peaceful means and through his writings, he informed and educated the people on the need to shy away from the colonizers and created in them the burning desire to revolt.
He stated that Rizal’s assassination on December 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan served as the turning point in the country’s rich history as it paved the way for other national heroes to continue the revolution against the Spanish colonizers until the declaration of the country’s eventual independence on June 12, 1898.
Various groups participated in the wreath laying ceremony accompanying the Rizal Day commemoration held at the Rizal Park last December 30, 2019 attended by hundreds of individuals from all walks of life in the city.
Aside from ranking police and military officials, city officials and groups aligned with organizations directly linked to Dr. Jose Rizal also participated in the simple and meaningful activities that were prepared for the said commemoration.
Baguio City joined the nation in the commemoration of the 123rd martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal that was held at the Rizal Park right in the heart of the city last Monday.
By Dexter A. See
