City exalts Rizal on principles, values

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City Government of San Fernando led by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez exalted Dr. Jose Rizal on Tuesday for his strong nationalistic principles and values that had resulted in the freedom Filipinos enjoy today.

During the commemoration of Rizal’s 151st birth anniversary at Heroes Hall here, which was graced by the hero’s great grand nephew Health Undersecretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa and attended by hundreds of students, officials, free masons and multi-sectoral representatives, Rodriguez emphasized the importance of “keeping in heart and instilling into one’s consciousness the principles” the national hero lived by.

“In order for us to be resilient, we must not simply throw away his principles, especially the love for country, the value of learning and education and the strong spirit of being a Filipino. Rather, we should emulate these by continuing to remember the life of Dr. Jose Rizal,” said Rodriguez.

For his part, Herbosa gave tribute to the “Tao sa Piso” or his great grandfather, while thanking Rodriguez and Fernandinos for continuously remembering the hero.

The current undersecretary is kin to Delfina Herbosa, one of the women who sew the Philippine Flag.

Herbosa also disclosed Rizal’s 14 “don’ts” and stressed their importance today, which include: “Don’t gamble; Don’t be a drunkard; Don’t break laws; Don’t be a rabbit partisan; Don’t condone anyone without hearing his side; Don’t abandon the poor who has rights; and Don’t over cease working for prosperity and welfare of our native land,” among others.

“Iyung mama sa piso saw the importance of fraternity, equality and liberty. I hope that we could all live by his code of ethics, especially the youth of today. It is his greatest legacy to us,” said Herbosa. (JTD)