President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City as he called on Filipinos to celebrate National Heroes’ Day.

Accompanying the President were Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairperson Regalado Jose Jr., and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.

The President was the guest of honor and keynote speaker during Monday’s event, which carried the theme: Kabayanihan ng Pilipino sa Panahon ng Pagbabago (Heroism of Filipinos in the Time of Change).

The commemoration began during the American colonial period under Republic Act No. 3827 in 1931, which declared the last Sunday of August each year as an official national holiday.

However, the practice of commemorating Filipino heroes was also observed on November 30, the same day as Bonifacio Day.

During the Japanese occupation, Executive Order No. 20, s. 1942, declared that the holiday be commemorated on November 30 each year.

In 1952, Administrative Order No. 190 restored the commemoration of National Heroes’ Day to the last Sunday of August.

Eventually, in 2007, Republic Act No. 9492 moved the commemoration to the last Monday of August in line with the implementation of the “Holiday Economics” program. PND