MANILA, PHILIPPINES — On this coming August 28th, it is the day to commemorate the National Heroes Day for the Cry of Pugad Lawin revolt against the Spanish Empire.
The Philippines eventually earned complete independence at the end of World War II, after a protracted battle that put the small island nation against major world powers after centuries of control by Spain, the United States, and Japan.
The date was chosen to commemorate the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” in August 1896, the first act of rebellion by the Katipunan, a previously covert Filipino revolutionary force against Spanish colonizers. This is regarded as the beginning of the Philippine Revolution and independence movement.
On an expedition in 1542, Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain. After three hundred years of Spanish colonial domination, the Katipunan organization, led by Andres Bonifacio, organized an armed insurrection after discovering the Spanish had no intention of releasing their hold on the island region.
The Spanish-issued cedulas that Bonifacio and his soldiers tore up in front of the people while yelling, “Long live the Philippines!” launching a revolution.
Filipinos memorialize the well-known and obscure Revolutionary War soldiers on Soldiers Day by holding parades, ceremonies at neighborhood shrines, and fireworks displays.
One of the country’s first public holidays is National Heroes Day celebrations. In actuality, it got started when America occupied the nation. On October 28th, 1931, Philippine lawmakers passed Act No. 3827, formalizing the observance of National Heroes Day.
The national holiday was moved to the final Monday in August by Republic Act No. 9492, which was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2007. The Arroyo administration promoted long weekends for residents to participate in domestic tourism and said that shifting the holiday to Monday was in accordance with the “holiday economics” policy.
Parades and the laying of wreaths are held to remember those who died defending the Philippine nation on this day. – WhatALife!/Zain
Also read: Is August 25, 2023, A Holiday in the Philippines?
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