CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Government officials urged the public Sunday to emulate the life and advocacies of socialist hero Don Pedro "Perico" Abad Santos.
The city and the officials, together with multi-sectoral groups including Abad Santos' brother Masons from various lodges led by Alfrito "Bong" Mah, commemorated the 134th birth anniversary of the peasant hero.
During the wreath laying ceremony, the historical marker of his monument at Heroes Park was also unveiled and transferred to the city by National Historical Institute Executive Director Ludovico Badoy and witnessed by Abad Santos' heir Rafael Abad Santos Galvez.
"It is from the standpoint of freedom and democracy that we should emulate the life of Don Perico Abad Santos dahil ang kanyang alay ay galing sa puso," said Governor Eddie Panlilio.
"He recognized injustice and served the poor as his personal commitment and we should recognize this," said Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, who was bound to endorse the candidacy of Liberal Party (LP) congressional candidate Adonis Simpao later in the morning in Sta. Rita.
For his part, Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said: "Pinakita niya kung paano ang manindigan. Tinalikuran niya ang karangyaan upang ipaglaban ang mahihirap. Our basis for recognition is this sacrifice. Gumalaw siya ayon sa kanyang paniniwala. Dapat tayo ay gayun din where ideology is immaterial but we walk our talk. Thus, the obligation and duty of remembering him and our other heroes is ours."
Pedro Abad Santos was born in this city on January 31, 1876 and died on January 15, 1945 after serving the freedom fighters under Gen Maximino Hizon from 1899 to 1901. He served the judiciary here from 1907 to 1909 and established the Socialist Party of the Philippines in 1932. He was incarcerated by the Japanese Kempetai in 1942 before he was freed in 1944 and joined the guerilla movement.