THE city government of Davao challenged Dabawenyos to follow the steps and emulate Dr. Jose Rizal’s love for the country during the commemoration of his 157th birth anniversary at the Rizal Park in San Pedro St., Davao City Tuesday, June 19.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in her message delivered by Davao City Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag, said the heroism exemplified by Rizal for the love for the country and his bravery should serve as an inspiration to the Filipinos to be selfless and put the country’s welfare first before own well-being.

“Rizal was a man known for his many accomplishments, for his genius, for the inspiration he gave countless Filipinos both during and after his time. Too often we memorialize only his death and how it became a catalyst for the revolution, but let us remember that his death was borne out of the things he did while he was alive,” Duterte-Carpio said.

She said, “His life and works did not only serve as an impetus for the himagsikan, his legacy also continues to challenge Filipinos today to think not solely about ourselves, but to think about what we can do for our country.”

She also said, “His opinions, his decisions, his principles, his actions – these are what made him a hero. And this is the very same challenge asked of us today: Are we willing to be as brave as Rizal was in his time? Can we stand for our beliefs and fight for what we know to be just and right and true even in the face of great adversity? How do we utilize the talents that we have been blessed with to make a difference in the communities we live?”

The mayor underscored that just like Rizal, one can make a difference in this world. There’s no need to sacrifice a life just be of service of one another to make Davao City, Mindanao, and the Philippines a better city and nation, one day at a time.

For his part, Al-ag said in an interview that Rizal’s love for the country can be compared with love of the Dabawenyos for the country and the city because despite the local policies that has been implemented; the Dabawenyos are willing to follow for the sake of development of the city.

He also encouraged the Filipino youth to further study Rizal’s life and works and be inspired by his bravery.

The event was likewise attended by different national government agencies, law enforcement units, and private sector.